Queen's Day is a national celebration in the Netherlands that takes place annually on April 30th to celebrate the birthday of former Queen Juliana. It is one of the largest celebrations in the Dutch calendar, attracting over 3 million people to events and streets especially in Amsterdam. In 2013, the celebration was particularly important as Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne after 33 years, passing it to her son King Willem-Alexander. Queen's Day has a huge impact on tourism, contributing greatly to the industry.

1. Queen’s Day
By Maddie Mertens

2. Driving Question
What is the impact of Queen’s Day?

3. Driving Answer
Queen’s Day celebrates the birthday of the former
Queen Juliana and is one of the largest, most bright
celebrations on the Dutch calendar.
People come together and celebrate, along with
the thousands of visitors this event attracts.
Queen’s Day has a huge impact on the tourism
industry due to the fact that over 3 million
people head to the streets in Amsterdam for
the national celebration.

4. Why was this year’s Queen’s Day so
important?
Queen Beatrix is stepping down from the throne
after 33 years, passing it to her elder son,
Willem-Alexander.
Queen Beatrix
with Willem-
Alexander, and
Queen Maxima

5. When was/is Queen’s Day?
Even though Queen Beatrix’s birthday is January
31st, people prefer to celebrate in April due to
the weather in Netherlands. So they celebrate
Queen Juliana’s birthday, April 30th.

6. Why does everyone
wear orange on
Queen’s or King’s
Day?
The royal family’s
color is orange.
So everyone
wears orange to
honor the Queen
or King.

7. When is the next Queen’s Day?
There isn’t going to be a next Queen’s Day until
King Willem-Alexander backs down from the
throne. Then Catharina-Amalia Beatrix
Carmen Victoria will become Queen, and be
celebrated on April 30, like her grandmothers.
Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria

8. In 2014, King Willem-Alexander’s
celebration day is April 26th.
When is the next Royal Day?

9. Quick Facts about Netherlands
• Capital: Amsterdam
• Dutch is the officially language
• Population: 16.7 million
• National Day: April 30, Queen's Day or April
26, King’s Day
• Animal: Lion
• Flower: Tulip
• Motto: "Ik zal handhaven" which means
• "I will maintain"

10. Work Cited
"9 Facts About Queen's Day in The Netherlands - Travel Freak." Travel
Freak | Get Out Of Town. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.travelfreak.com/2013/04/30/9-facts-about-queens-
day-in-the-netherlands/>.
"Amsterdam.info - Queensday in Amsterdam, Queen's
day."Amsterdam.info - Amsterdam hotels & tourist information.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.amsterdam.info/queensday/>.
"CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com." CNN.com -
Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/world/2013/04/2
9/lkl-foster-previews-dutch-royal-abdication.cnn>.
"Queen Beatrix of Netherlands to step aside - World - CBC News." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports
Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/28/queen-beatrix-speech.html>.
"Queens Day Holland." Festivals around the world by Festivalpig.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.festivalpig.com/Queens-Day-Holland.html>.
"Travel and Tourism Industry in Holland Impacted by Queen’s Day | Azavista."Azavista | The complete group-
travel meeting and event planning platform. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.azavista.com/site/2011/05/travel-and-tourism-industry-in-holland-impacted-by-queens-day/>.
"dutch queen hands over the throne to son - Google Search." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013.
<http://www.google.com/search?q=dutch+queen+hands+over+the+throne+to+son&aq=f&oq=dutch+queen+h
ands+over+the+throne+to+son&aqs=chrome.0.57.17766j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-
8&surl=1&safe=active#q=dutch+queen+hand