The Queen's official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a national holiday, which is celebrated by street parties and other events. The Queen and other members of the
royal family visit the festivities in one or perhaps two different places each year. The royal visits are always broadcast live on television. In Amsterdam the festivities start on the eve of Queen's Day, Queen's Night, when thousands of people go out into the streets to take an advance on the day that follows. For me it is traditional to go to the pub
de Blaffende Vis, normally a good place to read the paper with a cup of coffee and a “well priced sandwich. But on Queens night, it is full with food stands, bands and many locals dressed in orange.
Marieke
