Queen's Day

This is the biggest holiday of the year in the Netherlands.  It is usually party central in Amsterdam.  This year it is especially festive, since it is the day that Queen Beatrix abdicates and King Willem and Queen Maxima are the new Royals.  They have 3 darling little girls.  Even thou the ceremonies were in Dam Square very close to us, we chose to watch on TV until after the ceremonies and strolled down later.  We continued to walk all around the centrum of Amsterdam.  Orange everywhere.  The abdication was in the morning and the inauguration later in the day.  We were out after the abdication.  We will go out again later (after a nap).  There are official celebrations all around town.  This evening the big event is near the Rijksmuseum in Museumplein which is being called Orange Square for the day.
There was a lot of celebrating late into the night last night and early this morning.  Ray did a video of the Dutch version of the Chicago Bucket Boys.  These guys had real drums however.  They went up and down our street about 3 times.  The last time around 1AM.  That is why there is a nap today.

Apr 29, 2013 Pre-Koninginnedag 

Apr 29-30, 2013 Koninginnedag & Inauguration Day