King's Day - Dutch

Hello! I am a very special and fun day in a country called the Netherlands. My name is King's Day. In the Dutch language, people call me Koningsdag. I am a happy national holiday because I am a big birthday party for the country's king.

On my day, everything you see is the color orange! Orange is a very important color for the Dutch people. It is the special color of the royal family, the king's family. People love to show how happy they are by wearing orange. They wear orange shirts and orange pants. Some people wear funny orange hats or wigs that make their hair look bright orange! Even decorations are orange. It makes the whole country look bright and cheerful, like a big, sunny orange.

People celebrate me with big parties outside in the streets and parks. There is so much to do! Families bring out blankets and sell their old toys, games, and books. This is like a giant yard sale where everyone can join in. It is called a street market. You can hear happy music playing everywhere. Children play fun games with their friends. If you get hungry, you can eat special treats that are decorated with orange frosting. On the water in the canals, lots of boats have parties, too. They are decorated with orange flags and float by like a parade on the water.

I am a day for everyone to have fun together outdoors. From the busy street markets to the colorful boat parades, people share smiles and celebrate the king's birthday. When you see a sea of orange clothes and happy faces, you know it is my special day in the Netherlands.