Dutch King's Day Silver Lake Country Club May 1, 2015
King's Day is the biggest national event in Holland. Everything and everyone turns orange and celebrates on King's Day.
Orange and white tulips for King's Day at Silver Lake Country Club
You will find music shows, fairs, flea markets and parties throughout the country. Even the Dutch royal family goes on tour to be received by one or more Dutch towns for en entertainment-filled day. Amsterdam is transformed into the nation's biggest orange party town. The Hague has Koningsnach or King's Night with dozens of music performances in the city centre, and Utrecht boasts the biggest flea market in Holland.
Dutch Monarchs (cutouts)
In this video clip, Peter De La Porte, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands for the state of Ohio, explained what King's Day (Koningsdag) is.
In Cleveland, the Dutch community just celebrated The 16th Annual State of Ohio Birthday Celebration of the Netherlands' Monarch sponsored by His Majesty
King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, The Netherlands American Chamber of Commerce - Great Lakes (NACC), and VMI Group.
The 2015 Committee Co-Chairs were Arie Kroeze and Bernardine van Kessel and the Organizing Committee consisted of Ashok Bisoen, Marian Brumbaugh, William Rosner and Martin van den Berg.
Joseph Matava and Bernardine Van Kessel
Marian Brumbaugh, originally from The Hague in South Holland, sang the Dutch national anthem at the annual King's Day (Koningsdag) celebration in Cleveland. Wilhelmus van Nassouwe, usually known just as the Wilhelmus, is the national anthem of the Netherlands and is said to be the oldest national anthem in the world.
One of the traditions of King's Day is the eating of fresh Herring served with onions.
Herring for King's Day
Marian Brumbaugh, originally from The Hague in South Holland, told about the Dutch National Dish, herring. She said the herring is pickled not cooked and available on street corners and all over when in season in May.
People eat the herring whole from head to tail as Jack Devreieze demonstrates.
The Dutch like to drink a glass of Oranjebitter on King's Day, but also during other festivities relating to the royal family. Oranjebitter is a special beverage that stems from an Orange liqueur that was created in 1620 to celebrate several battles in which Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, was victorious.
Peter De La Porte, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands for the state of Ohio, led the toast.
The celebration in Northeast Ohio is grand but not at the level it is in the Netherlands. Marian Brumbaugh told how the Dutch celebrate King's Day in Holland and that the party is like Mardi Gras or Carnival.
Enjoy these other images from the 2015 King's Day celebration.
Harm J. Voortman MSc and Peter de la Porte
Annette Himes and Bernardine Van Kessel
Jeroen Hofsrta and Anhy bon de Voehen
Liz Reikon and Drew Norberd
Hans Drescher, Virginia Kirkheide, Peter and Chelsea de La Porte
