The Royal Watcher - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
The Dutch Royal Family joined King Willem-Alexander for the annual Koningsdag (King’s Day) celebrations in Emmen on April 27th. Koningsdag, a Bank Holiday in the Netherlands, celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s Birthday, and members of the Royal Family attend celebrations in a different city each year.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were joined by members of the extended Dutch Royal Family, including the Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, for the annual Koningsdag (King’s Day) celebrations in Emmen. The Royal Family took a walk along nine different routes in Emmen, the old, new, known and unknown sides of Emmen and Drenthe pass.
The King said:
“Every time I return to the province or to Emmen I say: I’m getting away from here! And I also understand that if something is very fantastic you say: it could have been less. I tell you, this King’s Day, it could have been much less!”
From dolmen builders to Van Gogh: the Royal family was introduced to the history of Emmen at the start of the King’s Day route. They were welcomed by the mayor for this. The King was also sung to and there was dancing.
With Emmen residents who have something to celebrate today, the King gathered on the Birthday Square. They celebrate their special day on a terrace with a performance by Jannes, the king of the pirates.
The small drawings, called doodles, of 2,800 inhabitants can be seen everywhere along the route. The drawings were made in the run-up to King’s Day at, among other things, bagging workshops and submitted by residents. The Royal family also made doodles.
The Royal family played a regional game together with the children’s council and primary school students. The prize for the winning team? Eternal Emense glory! The Innovation Square focuses on Emmen’s role in the circular plastics sector.
Is playing shuffleboard boring? No! The Emmen world shuffleboard champion shows that this top sport is completely contemporary. Football and handball are also played on the Sports Square. The route then takes the family past the pride of Emmen: the zoo.