I was so wrong – about Koninginnedag

Queens Day / Koninginnedag : or is it Orange Crazy Day – for the House of Orange.

The shops are full of Orange merchandise right from 1st April – not just for the week prior to the big day. My memory from last year is obviously a bit out of tune. Is that short term or long term memory loss? (just checking being of the older age spectrum).

I have seen – Orange Stetsons, Orange boa, Orange eye lashes, Orange G Strings, so totally Orange sunglasses (worthy of Elton John), Orange pendants, flags, balloons, candles, Orange hats with Orange flowers, T-shirts, belts, Orange wigs (2 types even), Orange gumboots, aprons, Orange socks, and clogs, Orange crepe paper, Orange origami cranes, Orange bunting, posters, skirts, flowers including tulips, Orange Chefs Hats. In fact one could be forgiven for thinking one is in a vast stand of heavily laden Valencia orange trees and a mighty wind just blew all the oranges down to the ground and we are to be lost and swallowed under a mountain of Oranges or should that be under a mountain of things Orange. I think the later is kinder, a mountain of Oranges may not be so good for the bones.

Orange is so important, that if it can be made, it can be made in orange.

I have bought myself the perfect Orange hat with Orange flowers on it and when I have a photograph taken of it with me wearing it, I shall post it here. I am really not sure if silver grey hair and an orange hat will go well together or not. You can let me know later.

We have bought a couple Orange glass candle holders with candles. We did use them last evening, just testing the effect of Orange ambient light – and it was okay. We have not bought 3 foot high candles designed to be pushed into the ground and lit at the right time as we have absolutely no ground in which to put them.

I have bought Orange acrylic yarn – and if I can get it done in time I will create something knitted in Orange for out there in the world – for a small Orange yarn bombing, graffiti art knit (maybe not art) thing or two. trouble with Orange yarnbombing is that it may never ever be noticed amongst all that floaty, floating, flowing, flowering, flimsy, fragrant, fragile, and fresh Orange everywhere on April 30th.

On the day – there will be Orange food, not just Oranges – but food with Orange colouring, Orange cakes, Orange icing, Orange marzipan, Orange names of menu items, Orange menus, Orange boats, people wearing all sorts of Orange items (not all could really be called clothing, especially as this event is also part of the gay festival season as well as the celebration of the Queens birthday). It will be the Orange Party of the year – as of course every year it is the Orange Party of the year and the party will continue over the weekend.

This year we have noted that the Amsterdam railway station is having issues with its cleaners and the cleaners are on strike. The station is an absolute shambles.

Last year the day after Queens Day we were in Amsterdam and it was one largely orange covered place. I hope the cleaners will not be on strike in the streets of Amsterdam as well as those on strike at the station because then Amsterdam could be Orange for many many days – because Orange Day and the amazing party that happens creates soooo much Orange litter.

Which is of course why every year there is new mechandise to be purchased for this amazing event and celebration.

Tags: Amsterdam, boat, celebrations, Dutch, festival, flowers, Gay Pride Festival, hat, House of Orange, Knit art Graffiti, knitting, koninginnedag, Orange Craze, Orange Crazy, Orange Day, Queens Day, the Coach House Inn, Urban Art, weather