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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Queen's Day – Dutch readers share the view from the Netherlands | Queen's Day – Dutch readers share the view from the Netherlands |
| (8 days later) | |
| On Tuesday 30 April Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the oldest reigning Dutch monarch, will abdicate the throne to her son Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander. | On Tuesday 30 April Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the oldest reigning Dutch monarch, will abdicate the throne to her son Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander. |
| Tying in with her 75th birthday, the abdication and coronation in Amsterdam’s central square will be cause for celebration and ceremony across the Netherlands with the Dutch throwing street parties and parades. | Tying in with her 75th birthday, the abdication and coronation in Amsterdam’s central square will be cause for celebration and ceremony across the Netherlands with the Dutch throwing street parties and parades. |
| We’re keen to see your images and videos of the celebrations - whether in Holland or beyond - from national costumes to impromptu spates of orange-clad dancing to document what is likely to be one of the biggest celebrations of all things Dutch this century. | We’re keen to see your images and videos of the celebrations - whether in Holland or beyond - from national costumes to impromptu spates of orange-clad dancing to document what is likely to be one of the biggest celebrations of all things Dutch this century. |
| To take part simply download the GuardianWitness app or use the desktop site to share your image or video. Approved photos will appear on the GuardianWitness assignment and we’ll select the best and post them here. | To take part simply download the GuardianWitness app or use the desktop site to share your image or video. Approved photos will appear on the GuardianWitness assignment and we’ll select the best and post them here. |
| We also asked Dutch readers for their thoughts of the abdication and please leave your in the comment thread. | We also asked Dutch readers for their thoughts of the abdication and please leave your in the comment thread. |
| Marije Haasnoot, 20, Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands | Marije Haasnoot, 20, Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands |
| On the 28 January our Queen Beatrix announced her abdication. I watched her speech together with my grandparents and felt slightly shocked. She had been our queen for 33 years and – though I hadn’t expected it – knowing that we had to say goodbye to her now, made me feel quite emotional. | On the 28 January our Queen Beatrix announced her abdication. I watched her speech together with my grandparents and felt slightly shocked. She had been our queen for 33 years and – though I hadn’t expected it – knowing that we had to say goodbye to her now, made me feel quite emotional. |
| Yet after my emotions settled down, I realised 2013 was going to be a very special year for the Netherlands and I have barely been able to contain my excitement over the past few months. A coronation – though technically in Holland it’s an inauguration – of a new king is something that happens only once, twice or, if you’re lucky, three times in your lifetime. It’s an event of great historical importance and everyone in the Netherlands seems to realise that. | Yet after my emotions settled down, I realised 2013 was going to be a very special year for the Netherlands and I have barely been able to contain my excitement over the past few months. A coronation – though technically in Holland it’s an inauguration – of a new king is something that happens only once, twice or, if you’re lucky, three times in your lifetime. It’s an event of great historical importance and everyone in the Netherlands seems to realise that. |
| Most of the Dutch people – as various polls have shown – support our king-to-be Willem-Alexander and are genuinely excited for 30 April. This is illustrated by the “orange madness” that has taken over our newspapers, television shows, shops and minds. Most of us can’t wait for the 30 April to arrive, because if there is one thing the Dutch know, it’s how to throw a good party! Especially if we’re allowed to dress up in orange! | Most of the Dutch people – as various polls have shown – support our king-to-be Willem-Alexander and are genuinely excited for 30 April. This is illustrated by the “orange madness” that has taken over our newspapers, television shows, shops and minds. Most of us can’t wait for the 30 April to arrive, because if there is one thing the Dutch know, it’s how to throw a good party! Especially if we’re allowed to dress up in orange! |
| Lars Pasveer, Utrecht near Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Lars Pasveer, Utrecht near Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| From the moment Queen Beatrix announced her abdication in January, the Netherlands slowly turned orange. It’s inescapable: advertising becomes openly royalist, papers produce countless coronation specials, television starts favoring the new king over reports on violence in Syria. | From the moment Queen Beatrix announced her abdication in January, the Netherlands slowly turned orange. It’s inescapable: advertising becomes openly royalist, papers produce countless coronation specials, television starts favoring the new king over reports on violence in Syria. |
| The constitutional monarchy in the 21st century is an odd beast. Succession is fundamentally undemocratic. Exit the right womb and - in the case of the new Dutch king - you receive 850.000 euros per annum. That’s over two Obama’s. We also constitutionally prevent you paying taxes on them. | The constitutional monarchy in the 21st century is an odd beast. Succession is fundamentally undemocratic. Exit the right womb and - in the case of the new Dutch king - you receive 850.000 euros per annum. That’s over two Obama’s. We also constitutionally prevent you paying taxes on them. |
| With the final Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day upon us this Tuesday, I should confess I do go out with friends on that day. The party often starts the night before, because it’s no secret Koninginnenacht is even better. | With the final Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day upon us this Tuesday, I should confess I do go out with friends on that day. The party often starts the night before, because it’s no secret Koninginnenacht is even better. |
| The Netherlands lacks a strong nationalist tradition. During the year, it’s rare to see the Dutch flag in everyday life. Municipal buildings only carry a flag on some - not all - national holidays. Nobody flags daily out of national pride. Of course there are occasional flourishes of orange when our national soccer team progresses - and ultimately fails - in European and international tournaments. | The Netherlands lacks a strong nationalist tradition. During the year, it’s rare to see the Dutch flag in everyday life. Municipal buildings only carry a flag on some - not all - national holidays. Nobody flags daily out of national pride. Of course there are occasional flourishes of orange when our national soccer team progresses - and ultimately fails - in European and international tournaments. |
| Even as a softcore republican I recognise some benefits of our monarchy. Koninginnedag especially is an inclusive, uniquely carefree orange-hued celebration of ‘Dutchness’, without dark undercurrents of nationalism. It naturally centers around the pampered head that wears a crown, but for most people it’s just a day to enjoy with friends, sell attic trash on the vrijmarkt and get drunk. As nationalism goes, you could do worse. | Even as a softcore republican I recognise some benefits of our monarchy. Koninginnedag especially is an inclusive, uniquely carefree orange-hued celebration of ‘Dutchness’, without dark undercurrents of nationalism. It naturally centers around the pampered head that wears a crown, but for most people it’s just a day to enjoy with friends, sell attic trash on the vrijmarkt and get drunk. As nationalism goes, you could do worse. |
| Looking back, Beatrix as a symbol probably helped maintain this healthy form of nationalism, in a way a president possibly couldn’t. But I wouldn’t be a real Dutchman if I didn’t grumble about the cost. | Looking back, Beatrix as a symbol probably helped maintain this healthy form of nationalism, in a way a president possibly couldn’t. But I wouldn’t be a real Dutchman if I didn’t grumble about the cost. |
| Share your view in a comment. | Share your view in a comment. |
| Some of your images from the day | Some of your images from the day |
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| By leonmussche | By leonmussche |
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| Not even Duke! | Not even Duke! |
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| By Knikkeropdestrond | By Knikkeropdestrond |
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| Everyone's going crazy for anything Orange. The big supermarket chain, Albert Heijn, is selling orange hats, drinks and many other things but what caught my eye was this soup. I'd never even considered that soup making, even if it did create an orange coloured concoction, could be considered patriotic. Anyway we'll now be joining in the festivities by making King's Soup. | Everyone's going crazy for anything Orange. The big supermarket chain, Albert Heijn, is selling orange hats, drinks and many other things but what caught my eye was this soup. I'd never even considered that soup making, even if it did create an orange coloured concoction, could be considered patriotic. Anyway we'll now be joining in the festivities by making King's Soup. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By ID317402 | By ID317402 |
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