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Dutch Clubs Weet U een Nederlandse Club/Vereniging in uw omgeving... laat het mij weten! |
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Immigrating/Remigrating
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Dutch Goodies - Where to find those Goodies from Holland!? |
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The Netherlands - Some history and general information |
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Dutch-American History
The two countries have a much greater common history than many people know. |
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Dutch Culture and Folklore
Our Cheese, greetings, gestures, tulips, birthdays, christmas and much more... |
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Dutch Folklore Costumes - Costumes from the 12 Provinces. |
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Like to learn Dutch? Dutch Course in 10 easy to follow lessons... |
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Dutch Food - Habits and great food links. |
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Klompenmuseum Gebr.Wietzes - Largest wooden shoe museum in Europe. (dutch & english) |
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Queensday - The Queen's official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a national holiday, which is celebrated by street parties and other events. |
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Sinterklaas - All you want to know about Sinterklaas. |
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Elf Steden Tocht - The Great Dutch Ice-Skating Marathon |
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Netherlands and WWII - Links and info |
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Koninginnedag
The Queen's official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a national holiday, which is celebrated by
street parties and other events. The Queen and other members of the royal family visit the festivities in one or perhaps two different places each year. The royal visits are always broadcast live on television. 30 April During the reigns of Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana, it was the custom to celebrate Koninginnedag on the Queen's birthday - 31 August and 30 April respectively. On the day of her investiture, 30 April 1980, Queen Beatrix stated that she wished to continue celebrating it on 30 April, as a mark of respect for her mother, Queen Juliana. Prinsessedag The forerunner of today's public holiday was celebrated for the first time on 31 August 1889, Princess Wilhelmina's birthday. It was an initiative of the Liberal Party in the hope that a symbol designed to foster national unity would promote unity within its own ranks. As the day marked the end of the summer, it replaced the local harvest festivals normally held at that time of the year. The first real Koninginnedag took place on 31 August 1891, after the death of King William III. 
Queen WilhelminaAs the day also fell at the end of the school holidays, 31 August soon became a special day for all Dutch schoolchildren. It received an extra boost in 1902, when Queen Wilhelmina suffered a serious illness. The news of her recovery delighted the nation and turned Koninginnedag into a truly popular public holiday. At that time, it was not customary for the royal family to attend the festivities, unless it was to mark a special occasion such as Queen Wilhelmina's 50th birthday in 1930. 
Queen Juliana 30 april 1909 - 20 march 2004 During the years that Queen Emma, Queen Wilhelmina's mother, spent the summers at Soestdijk Palace, the local population would present her with a floral tribute on her birthday on 2 August. When Princess Juliana took up residence in her grandmother's country home following her marriage in 1937, the tradition was continued on her birthday, 30 April. After her accession to the throne in 1948, this was the date on which Koninginnedag was celebrated, and the modest parade grew into a national event, which was shown on television from the 1950s onwards. During Queen Juliana's reign, it gradually became the custom for everyone to have a day off on 30 April, which ultimately became an official public holiday. Queen Beatrix In 1980, as a mark of respect for her mother, Queen Beatrix announced that Koninginnedag would continue to be celebrated on 30 April. She did, however, change the way in which it is celebrated, by attending the festivities in one or two different places each year. It's an Orange thing! 
The prevalent color, symbolizing national and royal pride, stems from the royal family name - The Family Nassau,
House of Orange. This inheritance dates back to the 16th century and it is this title that allowed Stadhouder
Willam I - Prince of Orange to declare war on Spain, making the Dutch 80 year war of Independence an official
war rather than just a rebel uprising. During and after that war The Netherlands was lead by three generations
of Willam's descendants, not as Kings but rather as Stadhouders (State Keepers) in the world's first democracy.After a brief occupation by France with Louis Napoleon serving as King of The Netherlands, the Dutch decided a Monarchy was not such a bad idea after all. Serving more as a watch-dog over the Parliament rather than a divine sovereign, King Willam I became Holland's first King in 1815, and the House of Orange has ruled ever since. In the spirit of the day, you'll find most people wear something orange, while others are decked head to foot in orange.
Bron: RVD 
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