Kingsday

Every April, the whole country celebrates the King’s Birthday: King Willem Alexander. The Netherlands turns into one big party, with boats filling the canals, flea market-stands lining the streets, festivals, singing and dancing.

All of the Netherlands is painted orange; with food coloring, flags, face-paint and colored hairspray, the people, the food and all of the cities display the so-called ‘oranjegekte’. Originating from the royal family’s house’s (The House of Orange-Nassau) color this orange craze takes over the country and contributed to the Dutch’s feeling of national identity, not necessarily portraying patriotism, but more a sense of belonging and belonging together. This is also one of Kingsday’s qualities; when 17 million people dress up and celebrate together one cannot avoid feeling a part of the madness, regardless of nationality.