Happy birthday dear Queenie...

It's been a quiet week around here, not a lot going on and a shameful lack of mini-marathon training to report. All my energy is being directed towards planning for this Saturday, when the population of Amsterdam is set to triple for 24 hours and everyone will dress in orange and sell all their junk on the streets while downing massive volumes of Heineken.

The occasion? Like the UK, the Netherlands marks its queen's birthday twice. Her actual birthday is sometime in December, but it's officially marked on 30th April - otherwise known as Koninginnedag or Queen's Day - every year (although the 30th falls on a Sunday this year so the party has been moved to the day before). This is the only day of the year when goods can be sold on the streets without a licence, so everyone takes advantage - from the kids in the Vondelpark getting rid of their old toys to the enterprising Brazilians on the Prinsengracht serving home-made (and extremely potent) caipirinhas. Add to this street performers on every corner and boats of every shape and size from canal wall to canal wall, and you end up with one massive, clamouring, clangorous, crazy day.

This year marks my third Q-day in Amsterdam and I've been like a kid before Christmas all week, I'm so excited. I'm skiving off work early this evening (sh!) to get the final few bits and pieces of orange clothing I need (yes, this is the only day of the year when my clothes and hair will match). The party starts in earnest tomorrow evening (Queen's night) on Nieuwmarkt, where we will attempt to curb our drinking somewhat in advance of an early start on Saturday. Our route for the day may or may not end up looking like this:



The general plan is to see more local stuff this year, around the Albert Cuypstraat and Utrechtsestraat. I'm guessing there'll be the obligatory ramble along Prinsengracht to gawk at the party boats, and we'll have to check out the Drag Queen Olympics on Westermarkt. After that it's anyone's guess, but we may end up on a certain tulip-filled patio off the Prinsengracht...? Only time (and Heineken) will tell. Photos of orange, orange and more orange to follow!