E-Malt.com News article: Netherlands: Heineken celebrates Queen’s Day

Two things which are traditionally Dutch is Heineken Beer which started in Amsterdam by a 19th Century local Amsterdam Brewer and Konninginnedag, Stulcia Star reported May 14. Let’s not bite our tongue trying to pronounce this one. Translated, it means Queen’s Day which is a national holiday in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba on April 30 or April 29 if the 30 is a Sunday.

In Amsterdam in particular, it’s an excuse for a huge extended party as millions take to the streets to celebrate the birthday of Queen Beatrix as a day of national unity and togetherness. The colour orange marks the occasion, which represents the House of Orange, which is the name of the current Dutch dynasty. The tradition started on 31 August 1885 on the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, later Queen Wilhelmina. Since 1949, after the ascension of Queen Juliana, Queen’s Day is Queen Juliana’s birthday on 30 April. Although Queen Beatrix’ birthday is on 31 January.

Heineken breweries all over the world also observe Queen’s Day and St Lucia is no different. On Wednesday April 30, Windward and Leeward Brewery held their annual Queen’s Day party with an orange theme, at the recently opened Cotton Bay hotel at Cas En Bas. The event drew many local socialites and figures as well as our Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy. There was lots of grub and brew to go around and the fact that the following day May 1st was our own holiday allowed for many to party the night away with the band Spectacle, Diamond Steel and DJ Play. Who cared that very few knew the real reason for the party although WLBL could take heart since few knew too why we had a holiday on May 1.


15 May, 2008