Konningendag: Queen's Day !

Konningendag is that rare day of the year that is also a tax holiday, when all Dutch go crazy and start selling their attic junk on the footpath, and that day the taxman takes break (for shopping for her/himself, presumably). Formally, it is Princess Beatrix's birthday, and celebrated as such. Note: most Dutch don't care two hoots who the queen is, even if that's a man. They are happy with the tax-break on that day and all the fun. That compares well with Ganapati festival in Maharashtra, for example.

For us, it was a good opportunity to walk, show aai-baba some Dutch people in their own setting, get Maithilee out in the open, and finally buy some silly stuff for our apartment. Here are some pics from that day:


1) Newspaper announcement:






2) Reason for this drama on lower left, other two are urging people to show up and enjoy.






3) Program of festivities, includes concerts, open-air music, dramas, sex-shows... well, i made up the last one there.





4) Program stages and artists put on a daily calendar and a map. Each star indicates activity area. This is ONLY for Groningen, each town, village has its own set of events.




5) Here are crowds:


listening to band music (patriotic and otherwise)



selling silly things, dolls, magazines, music, children's stuff,














young boys trying their hand at selling their musical talent








even meeting friends and having coffee in the middle of the din:




selling wood, furniture, tools...




and even used underwear !!!