1 Queen’s day, Amsterdam
Queen’s Day, or Koninginnedag, is when the Netherlands goes orange crazy. The streets, the shops, the restaurants, and people everywhere are draped in the national colour
in celebration of the royal family.
Festivities actually kick off the evening before, when you can celebrate Koninginnenacht, Queen’s Day Eve. There are street markets and a grand fair in The Hague, capital of the South Holland province. There are also countless concerts and street parties which attract hundreds of thousands
of people every year.
After the sun goes down, the Hague Festivals, which start on April 30 and run right through to July, begin. Stages appear on every street corner and square, hosting everything from local bands and art exhibitions to comedy.
As The Hague is known as Holland’s ‘city of rock’ there’s a definite heavier flavour throughout.
No Queen’s Day celebration is complete without a taste of ‘the night before’. The day itself, though, is when things step up a gear. Street markets, music and bars predominate, with a celebratory atmosphere and carnival party vibe taking over the country.
The royal family traditionally visit one or two towns, places which embody the national festivities and celebrations, and this meet-and-greet is broadcast live on national TV.
The unregulated street markets in Amsterdam’s city park Vondelpark are a must-see for anyone keen to cast their eyes over tacky royal trinkets, as are concerts at the city’s Museumplein square for those after some aural indulgence, with all genres of music represented at this outdoor event.
Whether it’s genuine patriotism or the love of a good party that fuels the festivities is anyone’s guess. But you can hardly blame the Dutch – Queen Beatrix’s actual birthday is January 31, but it was decided to stick with the Queen mum’s birthday (April 30), as it happens to fall on a day in late spring that is far more suited to all-day outdoor partying.
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2 National Day, Spain
Celebrated on October 12, National Day is a country-wide holiday in Spain, celebrating the nation’s cultural and poltical history.
Held on the day that Columbus discovered the Americas, it’s marked by a military parade in Madrid, attended by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. There’s free entry to many of the city’s palaces for one day only, with many traditional-music concerts held across the capital in the evening.
2 National Day, Spain
Celebrated on October 12, National Day is a country-wide holiday in Spain, celebrating the nation’s cultural and poltical history.
Held on the day that Columbus discovered the Americas, it’s marked by a military parade in Madrid, attended by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. There’s free entry to many of the city’s palaces for one day only, with many traditional-music concerts held across the capital in the evening.
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3. Emperor’s Birthday, Japan
Unlike some royal celebrations, this takes place on the actual birthday of the reigning emperor, currently Emperor Akihito, born December 23, 1933.
For a couantry steeped in historical and cultural traditions, this day of national jubilation is marked by an emperor and empress greeting at the grand Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The palace gates are opened to the public for this day, one of only two dates during the year, for a glimpse inside.
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4 Coronation Day, Thailand
Not only is the current Thai King, His Majesty King Bhumibol, the longest- serving Thai monarch, he is the longest-ruling living monarch, too.
US-born Bhumibol has put almost 66 years on the throne to good use and is adored by the Thai people. May 5’s Coronation Day – preceded by two days of Buddhist and Brahmanic religious rites – include a feast, miltary salute and ceremony bestowing decorations on both public and state figures. A jubilant day of celebration.
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5 National Day, Sweden
Sweden didn’t get involved in either World War I or II, so until the early Eighties, a national day was a somewhat hushed affair.
Over the past 20 years, though, this day of patriotic pride – held on June 6, the date on which Gustav Vasa was crowned king in 1523 – has grown in stature and voice. The king and queen take part in a royal ceremony in Stockholm, with children dressed as peasants – obviously – and the country’s history is honoured.
