Koniginnendag (Queen's Birthday)
National Holiday in the Netherlands
This is a national holiday which officially commemorates Queen Beatrix's investiture in 1980 but is celebrated on April 30, which was the former Queen Juliana's birthday.
The tradition of Queen's Day as a holiday began before the World War II. Initially it celebrated the birthday of Queen Wilhelmina on August 31.
Since 1949, the day has celebrated of the birthday of Wilhelmina's daughter, Queen Juliana, on April 30.
The tradition of changing the holiday to match the birthday of the reigning queen stopped when Queen Beatrix succeeded Juliana in 1980.
Beatrix decided to keep that the Queen's Day on April 30 as a tribute to her mother. Additionally her own birthday is at the end of January 31, so celebrating it outdoors would be difficult.
If April 30 falls on the weekend or clashes with another holidays, the Queen's Day is celebrated on the working day day before.
Traditionally, on this day the Queen visits one of the cities in the country, and meets celebrating people.
On Queen's day many people will celebrate by dressing in orange clothes (the royal family are the House of Orange), painting faces and hair orange and wearing mock orange crowns.
Around the world
Also celebrated in Aruba
| Upcoming National Holidays in The Netherlands |
| December 25, 2010: Christmas Day |
| December 28, 2010: St Stephens Day |
| January 1, 2011: New Years Day |
| April 22, 2011: Good Friday |
| April 25, 2011: Easter Monday |
| April 30, 2011: Queens Birthday |
| May 4, 2011: National Remembrance Day |
| June 2, 2011: Ascension Day |
| June 13, 2011: Whitmonday |
| December 25, 2011: Christmas Day |
| December 26, 2011: St Stephens Day |
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