Queens Day 2012

Queens Day 2012

Queen Beatrix

Our first National Dutch Holiday- Koninginnedag! Translation- Queens Day. Queens Day is a way for the Dutch to honor the House of Orange Royal Family. They have a rather unusual way of honoring the Queen- turning the city into one enormous flee market and party. Throughout the city, areas are designated for selling your goods. We chose to celebrate in Vondelpark at the end of our street. The park is designated for Children only. Kids sell their toys, arts and crafts, and baked goods. They also make carnival games, face paint and perform their special talents. We arrived one hour into the celebration and it was PACKED! The entire 120 acres of the park was a sea of orange. After several hours of wondering, we had friends back to our place for lunch before heading out to explore other areas of the city. The afternoon crowds were a bit too much for the little ones and the grown up flee markets were filled with JUNK! 

Getting ready to head out for our first Queens Day- we told
Luke it was one giant birthday party- hence the shear excitement
in this picture

Favorite Dutch Talents: 

Break dancing to Michael Jackson

Gymnastics

Singing Adele 

Fitting right in- giving a live performance
 with his "monica"

Taking a break from the sea of Orange flee marketers for a little play time

We really enjoyed our First Queens Day in Amsterdam. I was impressed with how well the kids and Derek handled the crowds. Next year we'll have to get a sitter for the afternoon so we can experience the city center which is filled with music, canals bumper to bumper with boats and Dutch singing traditional songs. 

I was a little disappointed that we did not see a parade- oh wait, what is that noise outside of our kitchen window- A PARADE!

Thank you Harikrishna's for making my Queens Day complete!