World's biggest party, coming up ---

I'm borrowing this posting from another blog. This is happening the day we arrive --- can't wait!  

In Amsterdam

May 1, 2009 · Posted in Netherlands, sightseeing 

Amsterdam turns orange the last day of April.
In honor of their Queen’s birthday, or actually the Queen Mother’s birthday, Holland takes a spring break this day. Officially called Koninginnedag, it’s Holland national holiday for unity, and is celebrated also in the Dutch colonies of Antilles and Aruba. All in orange, in honor of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange.

The festivities begin the night before, Queen’s night, as most outdoor squares begin hosting musicians on stages, and countless Dutch and international visitors begin filling the streets. Many streets are blocked to traffic, and the normally reliable trams are hamstrung by the crowds in the city center, so walking is your best bet. There’s no one central meeting place, but rather the party extends throughout the city, and through all of April 30th.

One of the modern aspects of this holiday, which began on the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina in 1885, that may be overlooked is the flea markets that pop up around the country. Everyone is allowed to sell freely on the streets, and for many, this is reason to try hawking items amassed during spring cleaning. Amazingly, the city is clean, if not quite sober, the morning of May 1st.
If looking to soak up alcohol, or just for some of the freshest meat sandwiches I’ve had, one place a friend took me worth mentioning is an adorable diner-like sandwich shop in the city center. The small meat sandwiches invite you to try them like tapas. Go there: Van Dobben, Korte Reguliersdwarsstraat 5-9.
Benjamin Thomas