Our Street

This week will be a short working/school week. Wednesday is Koninginnedag or Queen’s day. This is followed by Ascension Day on Thursday which is for Christian the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, forty days after Easter. And Friday is a bridge day or a day force to take leave.

Koninginnedag used to be celebrated on the birthday of the queen. But nowadays, April 30 is selected because at this time of the year good weather is expected. The Dutch holds a big celebration on the city streets on this day. Everyone wears orange - the colour of the royal house. Streets are brightened up by orange balloons and orange banners. The highlights are the flea market on the street where anyone can sell whatever they want. The streets are filled with music and stages are set up through the city playing all sorts of music and concerts.

Our street as I was told was named after one of the Queens or Princesses in the Dutch royal household. Our street Paulaland I presumed must be named after Princess Pauline, the daughter of William I who was the first King of the Netherlands. My daughter said this is not the case. She said the street name was named after a cow!