Old Fart Expats » koninginnedag

“The Horse has new Shoes”, unlike “The Emperor’s New Clothes” – these shoes are real

CJ — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 08:10:08 +0000

All will be very orange in the Netherlands for the World Cup 2010

The World Cup is coming!

and we are so very sad to announce that we will miss all the madness as we will be in New Zealand for a very special small persons birthday, and other family gatherings, during the very mad times ahead for those here in the Netherlands.

I know it will be mad times – because already the world is steadily becoming increasingly orange. Now I know we have seen orange here before for Koninginnedag and so on – but this will be much bigger than anything we have experienced so far here in the Netherlands.

And now the Horse has new shoes – new Orange clogs, and the little cafe (pub for the English) closest to us is covered in Orange – that is it is now a seriously Orange building.

The outside walls are covered in orange plastic – all over except the windows, the flowers are orange, there are orange pennants, orange balloons, orange plastic wrapped around the posts like a fence at the side of the road and I am sure if we made it inside the door that the inside is bound to be very orange as well.

There you are – I do have a photograph of this wonderful old building – I do not know its age, but it is far older than any we have in Auckland City, New Zealand and it is positively orange. I will hunt out further orangeness – for you all to see – if I have the time and before we leave for New Zealand very sadly, very soon.

It hasn’t actually even started yet – has it? the world cup I mean, really, properly.

The orangeness certainly has.

The madness begins.

It was Orange In Haarlem on April 30th 2010

CJ — Sat, 01 May 2010 08:57:47 +0000

My Characters from Koninginnedag – Queens Day – Birthday Celebration

There was much orange about as well as Red White and Blue. The Dutch flag flew with the pennant of the House of Orange flying proudly above it. Orange ballons, orange food, orange clothing and orange hats and some really interesting people in Orange.

Why do the Dutch wear Orange when their flag is red, white & blue

CJ — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 14:41:12 +0000

I did wonder, as I am sure many people do.
Why do the Dutch wear Orange when their flag is Red, White and Blue?

Why do the Dutch people have such a strong relationship with the colour Orange.

Orange is the colour of the Dutch Royal Family, the lineage of the current dynasty, the House of Oranje-Nassau which dates back to William of Orange (Willem van Oranje). William was born into the House of Nassau, as a count of Nassau-Dillenburg and became the Prince of Orange in 1544, and is thereby the founder of the branch House of Orange-Nassau.

In our modern world the colour Orange symbolises a pride in the country; the Netherlands, and in being Dutch.

The biggest display of Orange National Pride does occur on Queen’s Day or Koninginnedag, the April 30 holiday commemorating the birthday of Queen Julianna. That date is retained for the national celebration of the Queens birthday even though Queen Beatrix was born on 31st of January and this holiday is by far the most widely celebrated holiday in all the Netherlands. The Amsterdam festivities in particular are said to rival those of Mardi Gras in New Orleans or New Year’s Eve in New York City. Amsterdam welcomes up to two million party-going visitors.

What began as a commemoration of the Dutch Royal Family has evolved into a nationwide day of creative, carefree springtime revelry.

Many of the Dutch national symbols can be traced back to William of Orange: (Dutch: Willem van Oranje) who was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years’ War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648.
All these photographs are from Wikipedia on the Internet

The flag of the Netherlands, red, white and blue, is derived from the flag of the prince, which was orange, white and blue.

The coat of arms of the Netherlands is based on that of William of Orange. Its motto is “I will maintain”.

The national anthem of the Netherlands, Het Wilhelmus, was originally a propaganda song for William. It was probably written by Philips van Marnix, lord of Sint-Aldegonde, a supporter of William of Orange. It is the oldest national anthem in the world, though the words of the Japanese national anthem (not the music) date back to the ninth century.

The national colour of the Netherlands is orange, and it is used, among other things, in clothing of Dutch athletes.

The national anthem, flag, colour and motto are all from William of Orange the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years’ War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648.

So why not also have an obsession with Orange.

I was so wrong – about Koninginnedag

CJ — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:29:43 +0000

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.

All these photos were taken on Sunday afternoon in Haarlem

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.