It is a historic day in the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix announced she will abdicate in favour of her son after a 33 year reign. This is in line with Dutch tradition, the Netherlands does not have a tradition that the monarch rules until death. So on April 30th 2013, the Netherlands will have a new head of state: King Willem-Alexander.
It was also announced that Queen’s Day, so far celebrated on April 30th, the birthday of the mother of Queen Beatrix, will from 2014 on be celebrated on the new King’s actual birthday, April 27th, and from then on be called King’s day. This was very unexpected and that will take some getting used to! No more Queen’s Day Cycling!
But some things will not change! The members of the Dutch royal family have long been on bicycles and we can expect them to be cycling for a very long time to come. Because the Netherlands is a kingdom for a bicycle!
BICYCLE DUTCH 
Looking forward to see likewise pictures of Belgian royals. As far as I know they’re real petrol heads…
Translated into Ukrainian: http://zvelosypedom.org/post/42565946315/korolivstvo-velosypediv
Isn’t that great. What a lovely tradition, biking monarchs, biking subjects. One little correction to be made: last photo, of Crown Prince shown biking on April 30, year________?, but not yet 2013.
The date 30 April 2013 is the date the reign of Willem-Alexander will start.
I see. Ok. It’s still a little confusing to me, but it matters little. What matters is BICYCLE, and you, the Dutch, do BICYCLE great!
I changed the caption. Has to be clear to everybody! 🙂
A historic day indeed. Every year the Royal family visits on Queen’s Day 2 towns or cities in the Netherlands, to keep in touch with the people. In 1999 the family went by train to Houten and Utrecht. Of course the family had to ride a bike in Houten, but for safety reasons (?) this was restricted for men only.
But hey, this is the Netherlands: http://nos.nl/koningshuis/video/259897-claus-fietst-met-vrouw-achterop-1999.html
Reblogged this on World Youth Adventures blog and commented:
No wonder cycling is so popular in the Netherlands – a Queen’s cycle day!? Great little post and worth a look just for the pictures!
Yes, but is it “Koningdag” or “Koningsdag”? Now it is a “s”-Problem
Koningsdag, natuurlijk! Het was toch ook niet ‘Koningindag’?
It’s not a matter of plural vs singular. Koningsdag is etymologically short for des Konings dag, day of the king. Koningin never had a separate genitive so the -ne- only serves to facilitate the transition between two consonants. Also compare ‘s-Hertogenbosch = the Duke’s woods, or ‘s-Gravenhage = the domain of the Count of Holland. Hertogen and Graven are both old genitives.
Not last ever, if we look at his children – all girls. Unless the Dutch abolish the monarchy, and there don’t seem to be many calls for that now. Indeed Koningsdag doesn’t have the same ring to it. Richard, I’m a republican too (in Québec, and I defnitely don’t mean a Republican in the US sense!) but the relevant question here is for your country to eliminate the compulsory helmet laws that discourage utilitarian, slow cycling, and instead build some decent infrastructure to ensure cyclists’ safety.
All too sadly true, Lagatta.
Reblogged this on Marius Cruceru and commented:
Regina Olandei se dă jos de pe tron, dar nu se dă jos de pe bicicletă.
Reblogged this on nürnberg2rad und kommentierte:
fietsen voor de monarchie!
Reblogged this on Richard Tulloch's LIFE ON THE ROAD and commented:
I’m an avowed republican in Australia. Nothing personal, your majesty Queen Liz, though you and your family don’t interest me all that much. I just think we should have an Australian as head of state and get rid of that anomalous Union Jack in the corner of our outmoded flag.
I have less problem with the Dutch having a royal family to reign over them. At least they’re Dutch and people rather like them. Okay, they may be one of the richest royal houses of Europe, but they’re not above going for rides on the bike, at least for photo ops. That prejudices them in my favour.
Well reigned, Queen Bea, and good luck and happy riding King Willem-Alexander.
I think Australia should just take a vote and clear the air on the issue of the Head of State!
Fabulous photos, especially Queen Wilhemina. I cannot imagine the Windsor family on bikes.
I heard it first from you Mark. Looking forward to the last ever koninginnedag on April 30.
Yeah… Koningsdag…. phew… No, Koninginnedag sounds so much better! 🙂
But it does solve the problem of the “tussen-n” 🙂
The Crown Prince only has daughters so in about thirty to forty years there will be a Queen’s day again.