Reflections on Queens Day

Queen's Day was begun as a celebration of the Dutch queen's birthday, first Wilhemina, and then Juliana. Even after she past the title to her successor (and indeed later passed away), the date has remained the same, as the the current Queen, Beatrix has her birthday in January, when the weather isn't the best for the dozens of outdoor music venues and the extra 700,000 visitors.

Here i am in the sea of Orange...
Queens Day is today essentially a national holiday celebrating freedom. People are free to roam the streets drinking biertjes, little beers that can still overwhelm when you start drinking at 11am, the official start to the madness. More than one ambulance had to fight the crowds to remove an unconscious reveler.
Queens Day also represents a day for Dutch entrepreneurial freedom. I saw people selling beer and snacks out their front doors. And days in advance, portions of sidewalk were marked off bezet (reserved/occupied) in anticipation of the world's largest garage sale.Did i mention the boats?and the crowds?And nothing says Holland like playing football with a keg of Heineken.
Just about to board a night train for Germany...