Queen's Day In The Netherlands

Today is Queen's Day here in the Netherlands. It's a national holiday. Queen's Day celebrates the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands. The tradition started on 31 August 1885, on the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, later Queen Wilhelmina. Since 1949, after the accession of Queen Juliana, Queen's Day is Queen Juliana's birthday on 30 April. Although Queen Beatrix's birthday is on 31 January, she officially celebrates her birthday on 30 April. Yes, I know, that's a bit confusing.

Queen's Day is known for its 'freemarket' all over the country, where everybody is allowed to sell things in the streets. Other activities during the day are children's games, individual musical performances, and music concerts. During the celebrations as reference to the colors of the House of Orange-Nassau, people dress in the color orange.