I searched long time on the Internet this postcard, but I couldn't find it, so I don't know why gathered all these people on this canal in Amsterdam. Anyway, it must be something with national spirit, because so many wears orange shirts. For those who don't know, orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, but today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch. The lineage of the current dynasty - the House of Oranje-Nassau - dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). It is possible that the photograph to have been done with the ocasion of Koningsdag (King's Day), celebrated on 27 April (26 April if the 27th falls on a Sunday) to mark the birth of King Willem-Alexander. This day is an opportunity for "orange madness" or oranjegekte, for the national colour, when the normally strait-laced Dutch let down their hair, often dyed orange for the occasion.
From 1890 to 2013, the day was known as Koninginnedag (Queen's Day). The holiday was first observed on 31 August 1885 as Prinsessedag or Princess's Day, the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, heiress to the Dutch throne. On her accession, the holiday acquired the name Koninginnedag. Following the accession of Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana in 1948, the holiday was moved to Queen Juliana's birthday on 30 April. Her daughter, Beatrix retained the celebration on 30 April after she ascended the throne in 1980, despite her actual birthday occurring on 31 January. Even the abdication of Queen Beatrix and investiture of King Willem-Alexander took place on 30 April (2013). As a result, the holiday became known as Koningsdag from 2014 and the celebration was shifted three days ahead to 27 April, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander.
As a final parenthesis, I hope that Sunday, July 13, the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro will be full of fans dressed in orange, who will celebrate at the end of the final the winning of FIFA World Cup 2014.
About the stamps
The first is a greeting stamp issued on June 1st, 2004. The second, dedicated to the Olympic Torch relay on Athens, 2004, was issued on June 23, 2004. The last one is part of the series December Stamps, issued on November 26, 2002.
References
Koningsdag - Wikipedia
Sender: Amsterdam Postcrossing Meeting
sent from Amsterdam (North Holland / Netherlands), on 31.05.2014
Maybe this card has something to do with the triumphal entry festive when the Dutch won the European Football Championship in 1988. The players made a cruise on the canals in Amsterdam.
ReplyDeleteI am not 100% sure but I would say that this postcard is showing people awaiting boat parade along Prinsengracht in Jordaan district, which is one of the places where King's Day is celebrated most intensely.
ReplyDeleteBoat after boat with people dressed in orange passes by, some of them with DJ's playing loud dance music, and the orange crowd on the boat dancing to the beat.
The Amsterdam Jordaan is undoubtedly the most sung about, described and romanced town district of the Netherlands. Started as a district for the poor, today it is a favorite place for students, artists and young professionals. Now it is a true people’s district.
http://www.jordaaninfo.com/