Before the umbrellas took presence in the skies there was this bright vibrant orange landscape that was forbidding gloominess to appear. On this last day of April, the morning skies were darkened with a solid layer of cumulous grey clouds and there was a fragrant smell of rain in the air... The warm moisture and low pressure heightened my sensitivity to smell… the tree-lined canals were fragrant with spring blossoms.
Today the Dutch celebrated Koninginnedag ("Queen's Day"), most widely celebrated holiday in the Netherlands.
Festivities spread like a wave through the city. Dam Square became a fair ground. We browsed the kennels’ flea markets and listened to live bands play outside bars. The barges were jam-packed with celebrators fully clad in orange. Music blasted from huge sound systems and a solid pack of beer-drinking merry-makers were the spectators on the bridges.
The city transformed itself into one vast orange sea of people: Fashioned in orange caps, hats, feather boas, jackets, clogs, socks and face paint. Orange balloons floated in the air and tied around the lantern-style street lamps. Orange-themed window provided creative play for their displays. Pastries smothered in orange cream icing were begging to be eaten.
The color orange has royal roots in the Netherlands dating back to Willem van Oranje, today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch.
Umbrellas were folded away, the sun warmed up the festivities and the orange took on a golden hue through out the Centrum… Night fell upon the city, the techno music grew louder, dancing continued in the streets and there was a glow of the “safety orange” in movement.
Long lives the Queen!
