From dance spectacle to shuffleboard champion: that bodes well!
Last summer it was announced that King’s Day will be celebrated this year in the atmospheric Emmen, and earlier this year the organization already shared the route that will be walked. Today the program for the big day was finally revealed – what exactly can Willem-Alexander, Máxima, and their supporters expect this year?
Oranges in Drenthe
After the Queen’s Day celebration in 2002 in Hoogeveen in Meppel, it is the first time in more than twenty years that the Oranjes will return to Drenthe for the festive day. When it was announced that Emmen had the honor of organizing the orange-colored party this year, it was already shared: “The municipality, together with the province, wants to organize a party that fits the Drenthe scale. Both in size and in terms of costs.”
We should therefore not expect an ultra-large mega festival – with an associated price tag of four million euros – à la Rotterdam last year. But what then?
Program
There is now more clarity about this! During the press presentation, which could be followed live via the regional RTV Drenthe, we were fully informed about the plans for April 27. And that promises to be a wonderful party, full of music, dance and culture. “I am convinced that we will give him and the members of the Royal family an unforgettable birthday with this great program,” said Eric van Oosterhout, mayor of Emmen.
Sporty start
Because Drenthe offers beautiful cycling through the heathlands and cycling events take place regularly, the Oranjes are accompanied by a platoon of cyclists to the Noorderplein. This is the starting point of the royal route, and here the official reception takes place by all kinds of prominent figures. Singer Bouke Scholten, according to the organization ‘the Emmense Elvis’, provides music for the kick-off of the program.
Nine squares
The route leads past a total of nine ‘squares’ in the city. After the starting square, follow the Dance Square, Birthday Square, Culture Square, Games Square, Innovation Square, Sports Square, Wildlands and the Atlas Theater, and the Raadhuisplein Meezingplein, where the day ends in a festive manner.
Along the way, the royal party will be serenaded by ‘king of the pirates’, Jannes, they will receive a crash course in shuffleboard from the Emmen world champion Elly Mensen, and, among others, Daniël Lohues will take to the stage with his band and conductor Reinout Douma of the Noordpool Orchestra. Sing-along square.
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Attendees
Who exactly will make an appearance on behalf of the Oranges? That remains to be seen. Princess Amalia is of course busy with her studies, Alexia is currently discovering what she has to offer during a gap year, and Ariane is working on her International Baccalaureate in Italy.
We are hopeful that the three princesses will each be able to make an opening in their agendas for the big day. For example, Princess Alexia was absent last year, but she was present during her first year at the UWC in Wales – the British counterpart of Ariane’s boarding school.
Who knows!
Source: Koningsdaginemmen.nl, RTV Drenthe | Image: NL Image
