King's Day, King Willem-Alexander's birthday, was celebrated in Maastricht this year. The Dutch royals were treated to bright weather on the monarch's 55th birthday, and the family was in a good mood. The king, his wife Queen Máxima and their three daughters started the day on the Sint-Servaasbrug. There they were warmly welcomed by Mayor Annemarie Penn-te Strake. Numerous fans cheered for the royal family behind barriers. From the bridge, the royals waved to local water sports clubs in boats.
The family then paraded through the decorated streets of the city, stopping at various stations. Pictures on the official Royal Instagram account show Máxima and Willem-Alexander drinking schnapps at a bar. The monarch and his eldest daughter Amalia also minted commemorative coins. There was a performance with music and dance at Graanmarkt, as well as a flash mob to commemorate the war in Ukraine.
Royal family compete in quiz
We continued with a quiz about the local language: the royal family competed against each other. Along the way, the royals shook hands, accepted flowers from fans and posed for selfies. Next, the family prepared local dishes: they kneaded dough, among other things. On the Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein square, they listened to a serenade by violinist André Rieu.
On a street with colorful garlands, the royals met carnival clubs, the members dressed in all sorts of costumes. There was music and dancing again. The public celebrations ended on the Vrijthof square with a performance by the band Rowwen Hèze and a celebratory speech by King Willem-Alexander. He thanked the city of Maastricht for hosting King's Day. Maastricht has "built bridges between the past and the future, between locals and newcomers," he said.
Colorful Outfits for King's Day
The royals dressed up for the day: King Willem-Alexander wore a dark gray suit with a polka dot tie. Queen Máxima chose a pink dress, which she paired with a beige coat earlier in the day. A large hat completed her outfit. Princess Ariane threw herself into a short blue dress, her older sisters wore colorful pantsuits: Princess Alexia chose a green two-piece suit, Amalia a light striped pantsuit.
