Koninginnedag - 30 April Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) is celebrated nationwide only in the Netherlands and individually or in groups by Dutch people worldwide. The day is 30 April each year, but when this is a Sunday, it's 29 April. Koninginnedag dates back to 1890, after the death of king Willem III. The year before, on 31 Augustus 1889, on the birthday of princess Wilhelmina, the so-called prinsessendag, was celebrated. This day was instituted by the liberals who wanted to express unity of the state. Wilhelmina became queen in 1898 (from 1890 to 1898, Emma, Wilhelmina's mother and widow of the late king, was acting queen). In 1902, koninginnedag grew to a real fest of the people, following the news of queen Wilhelmina's recovery after a serious illness. When Juliana became queen in 1948, the day was changed to 30 April, her birthday. During her reign, koninginnedag meant a day off from work and a true national holiday. In 1980, when Beatrix became queen, she decided in honour of her mother, that the day stayed as it was (also because her own birthday is 31 January - weatherwise a much less suitable day for (outdoor) celebrations...). Queen Beatrix did however change one thing: now she herself takes part in the celebrations, by visiting one or two places in the country, where special festivities take place in her honour. This is televised throughout the country. Each year foreign reporters visit koninginnedag and without exception they mention the incredibly relaxed, tolerant and festive atmosphere. Koninginnedag has truly become a celebration for all, considering the large quantities of ethnic minorities in this little country... Koninginnedag links (Netherlandic language):
Koninginnedag links (
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