Queen's Day begins the night before with Queen's Night and is mostly devoted to street parties both official and ad hoc. Amsterdam must have at least 15 music podia each year with DJs and/or live music.
One of Queen's Day's big features is the 'vrijmarkt' which is a national sidewalk sale where people are allowed and encouraged to sell whatever unwanted possessions they want. You really learn the truth in the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure." This is the view out of our 2nd floor living room window at 9.30 AM.
The Vondelpark (Amsterdam's 'Central Park') is one of the popular locations on Queen's Day. The park is reserved for youth and family activities giving it a very nice and special atmosphere.
In the Vondelpark you see kids doing their thing. Here's one music band.
These girls are offering hair braiding, sparkle nails and kisses for a reasonable price of €3.
This girl is selling orange pancakes. Orange is the color of the day since that is the color of the Royal Family and pancakes (the thin ones) are a very traditional Dutch dish.
Another young music duo.
This was brilliant and totally unique. Two families put together a game called 'The Great Baby Races.' Other parents would put their kids on the start line then sit at the finish line (just left out of frame) coaxing their baby to be the first over the finish. Entry fee was €1 and then there was a betting pool.
This young entrepreneur was selling playing cards he had made with images of the Royal Family.
Left a young percussionist and right a kid who made a spinning wheel with balloons that you try and hit with darts. Burst a ballon, win a prize. Entry fee €2.
This is one of the city's more popular street parties each year - in the main gay clubs and bars street of course haha. Gives some added meaning to Queen's Day.
The streets are so packed that you can't walk through. To pass from end to the other you kind of let yourself be moved along with the crowd at a snail's pace. Not a place for claustrophobics.
As you can see, I am much more of a monarchist than Amie.
The Hari Krishna even get into the spirit of the day. Of course, they wear orange robes every day.
Some of the colorful people you see.
In the central part of the city, every main and side street is just chokablock full of people.
Some of the colorful people you see although I must add this guy dresses like this most of the time. He calls it street theater.
One of the city's main arteries.
Festivities do not confine themselves to dry land. The city's canals are also full of colorful boats full with partying people.
One of my friends (in white) plays in a Samba band and every Queen's Day they give street performances. This year in front of a popular Brazilian restaurant.
The delicious grill food of a Brazilian restaurant. The burgers and the chorizo sausage were delicious.
With hundreds of these porta-urinals we guys have it a lot easier than the gals.
Crowd at location of a popular music podium.
Bring your own bottle, or keg!
