Queen's Day - King's Day: A Photolog.

The Queen retired. Long live the King!

Is there any nation in the whole universe whose affairs come to a complete screeching halt for a whole day just so the citizens can go to the de facto capital city and drink beer all day long? Yup, there is such a country. The country is officially known as Nederland, more formally as Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. The English version is The Netherlands, but most of us just call it Holland. The de facto capital city is Amsterdam.

The big day has been known as Koninginnedag for decades. It is known outside Holland as Queen's Day because most people outside Holland can't pronounce Koninginnedag, or they would rather not pronounce it to avoid getting a sore throat.

I have been a loyal participant in a number of Queen's Day celebrations over the years. These have been great times. Unfortunately I will never go to another Queen's Day. Nor will anybody else. The Queen retired on Queen's Day 2013. So also the annual April 30 celebration is retired.

However, those clever Dutchies have come up with a work-around. Starting in 2014 they started celebrating King's Day. I bet you saw that coming. The new King is a young buck named Willem-Alexander. He was born on 27 April 1967. Therefore, by royal proclamation the new spring holiday in Holland will henceforth be called Koningsdag, "King's Day," and will be joyfully celebrated every April 27, rain or shine, except never on Sunday. For example, April 27, 2014 was a Sunday. The celebration was moved up a day to April 26.

This web page is a photolog of my 2008 Queen's Day expedition with my friend Paula. She appears in one of the photos below.

Actually there never was an event called Queen's Day. In Queen's Dutch the celebration was known as Koninginnedag. We began our sortie from B&B Paula on the west side of Haarlem, on bicycles. Here we pass the first of many Vrijmarkt garage and trinket sales.

Bicycle Parking At Haarlem Train Station

Pedaling all the way to Amsterdam is a little too much, especially the return trip, so we took the train. At the Haarlem Station Paula considers it best to park in the inside garage. We paid €1 for the day. Free parking is any open space outside the station, and there are thousands of bikes everywhere. No matter where you park it, lock it or kiss it good bye.

The ticket machines at Haarlem station are the convenient way to buy a train ticket, if you have a chip card. European bank cards have a chip and PIN to avoid the credit card companies. With an American credit card you are penniless at these machines. A few of the ticket machines accept coins. Or you can go to the window and pay in cash. Lines at the ticket windows are longer and the ticket costs you half a euro more. Luggage lockers at the Haarlem station also accept only chip and PIN cards. I was able to use a locker by paying a passerby who used his Dutch bank card to access the locker. Dutchies love Americans, but not our politics.

Everybody wanted to go to Amsterdam on Koninginnedag. The station was busier than I've ever seen it. So were the trains. We didn't have to wait long before being admitted onto the platform and pushing our way onto a train. It was standing room only but the trip is only 15 minutes.

Getting off in Amsterdam the mob got moving toward the exits. That green sign with a white box and arrow indicates a stairway to the ground floor.

After exiting the station we followed the mob, most of which seemed to know where to go.

Front Steps Of Albert Hein Grocery Store

The front steps of the Albert Heijn grocery store behind the Royal Palace at the Dam was a resting place and beverage stop for some. The AH store was open for business.

Paula Having Beer In Front Of Albert Heijn

Paula pulled a beer out of her bag to get started in front of the grocery store.

Front Steps Of Albert Heijn Grocery Store

Another view of the front steps of the grocery store shows many Amsterdamers in orange, the national color.

We were already getting hungry. A good sandwich and a beer hit the spot in this little bakery.

Our first objective was to reach the Spui and several of my favorite cafes in Amsterdam. Beer stands were set up out front for the convenience of thirsty celebrants. That is the Cafe Luxembourg on the left and the Hoppe on the corner.

Here is the side door of the Hoppe with a traditional Dutch bike parked against the window. Normally this neighborhood is swarming with bicyclers but there wasn't room to move on this day. Through the window you can see a fellow entering the men's room. This bar does not have a women's room. Ladies need to walk behind the tap and through a door to the Amstel bar next door. See the previous photo.

This young woman was grilling burgers and having fun. Any wig, hat, or scarf is OK as long as it is orange, the official color of Dutch royalty.

"Coffeeshops" are famous in Amsterdam, except that they don't sell coffee. It's weed.

Here's a garage sale Amsterdam style. I didn't see anything that I couldn't live without.

Here I found something I couldn't live without, that painting of an undefined bug. It cost me €1. Who knows, this girl might grow up to be a famous artist. She is certainly a very good merchandiser. Look at that smile.

I bought a gift for daughter Stephanie here, a seashell necklace.

This is a typical mobbed street on Koninginnedag. The round sign means "do not enter" and the small white one says "except for bicycles and motorized bicycles." Bicycles with engines up to 50 cc were called bromfiets in Holland but Dutchies normally call them brommers these days. Nobody is riding a bike or a brommer here today.

Bring your junque and a blanket to set up shop. Here is another Amsterdam garage sale. Actually, I doubt if there are any private garages in the center of Amsterdam.

I wanted to buy an orange bobbie's hat but they wouldn't fit me. Drats.

Here is one of the many groups doing it's thing somewhere near the Leidseplein.

The whole crowd at the Leidseplein wouldn't fit on screen. The Leidseplein is one of the more famous outdoor cafe squares in Amsterdam. Not many were sitting on this day.

It was the right day for an outdoor party so this happy group hauled their furniture out on the street to be comfortable. "Emergency exit" -- bah.

There is no end of restaurants with outdoor grills.

Another canal and another parade of overloaded boats.

SRO on the bridge.

Garage Sale On The Bridge, Queen's Day, Amsterdam

Just another garage sale. It looks like the cowgirl is making a purchase.

Drinking a lot of beer requires a place to let it out. The city sets up these urinals for the gents all over town. It's best not to step on a wet spot. If you are bashful and don't want to piss in public use a cafe, BUT don't be surprised to have a parade of girls passing behind you as they make for the stalls. Almost anything goes in Amsterdam, especially after half of the citizens drank their fill. The trash scene looks bad but it is not nearly as bad as in prior years. As an ecological move, and certainly one to save clean-up costs, there is a deposit on plastic cups at every bar.

One Step Into The Canal, Queen's Day, Amsterdam

The raft looks like it has nearly exceeded its capacity limit. Those glass houses comprise the famous flower market on the Singel, one of the half dozen or so horseshoe shaped canals around the center of Amsterdam.

Let's see who can make the most noise, the band at canal side or the boat with its disk jockey. Notice the load of empty beer cans on the boat.

Hoppe Cafe From The Inside, Queen's Day, Amsterdam

We take a moment of repose back at the Hoppe. This is certainly one of the best meeting places in Amsterdam. I've been a patron for decades. It is very crowded after the offices and shops close.

Main Event Spui Orange, Amsterdam, Queen's Day

And then it is back outside for "The Main Event Spui Orange." Up on that bridge is a pop star, I guess, with a couple of his group dancing. If you are having a bad time you are on the wrong orb.

The boys saw my camera and gave it their best.

The Party Is Over, Queen's Day, Amsterdam

The party is over as we walk back to Amsterdam Centraal Station. It has been a great day.

But wait, it's not over yet! Back in Haarlem we stop at the Proeflokaal on Langeveerstraat where the Haarlemers are still in party mode at full throttle. Go Haarlem, my home town in Europe.

Additional Information:

Keukenhof Official Web Site.

Keukenhof overview Keukenhof, Lisse, Holland.
After a rambunctious Queen's Day enjoy the serene beauty of Keukenhof Garden. Keukenhof has 7 million tulips and other bulb flowers on 80 acres of perfectly manicured land. It is a great bike ride from either Haarlem or Leiden train stations, or a 40 minute walk from Hillegom station. Hillegom "station" is a platform overlooking the nearby tulip fields. Just getting to Keukenhof will be a beautiful experience.

Bed and Breakfast Paula B+B Paula, Haarlem, Holland.
Probably the best sleeping quarters you can find in Haarlem or Amsterdam, B+B Paula is ideally located on the west side of Haarlem. The Bed and Breakfast includes two rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a shower room, separate commode, hair blower, free WiFi, free street parking, bicycles, plus made-to-order breakfast delivered to your room. It's like an apartment with room service. And you'll never find a more pleasant area in which to ride a bike, known as a fiets in Holland.

Netherlands: Prime Travel Data

Haarlem Things to do and see.

Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem

The Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. Official Web Site.

Have a good trip!

NOTE TO READERS

I welcome questions, comments, and complaints. If you have any concerns about your trip to Europe that have not been covered well enough on my web site please do not hesitate to write. Ask, cuss, discuss, or whatever. I read every email and update my pages when I see a question repeating, Then I will not get that question again, hopefully. In some cases readers have been so generous with their time and talent that I have included their emails verbatim, e.g. chapters 22 and 25.

I do not open attachments. I do not click links to web pages of any kind. If you have an item you want me to comment on please send the name of the manufacturer and the model number, or the Amazon.com ASIN number. I will reply in a day or two, usually.

My email address is [email protected].

Do not forget to smell the hyacinths. At your liesure scroll through the Table of Contents of How To Europe: The Complete Travelers Handbook and read all 30 chapters, FREE on line. Good deal! You'll probably find the answers you seek, and some you didn't know you needed.

FREE

This web site is totally free for everyone, and a labor of love for me. To keep it afloat I receive a commission from Amazon.com for all goods purchased through the adverts I have selected, and any other products you might buy when you are on the Amazon site. Amazon has almost everything for sale, except the Brooklyn Bridge and Mount Rushmore.

Please visit my on-line store at . Your support is most gratefuly appreciated. TIA.