50 years, King’s Day 2017, Royal Palace Amsterdam

King’s Day 2017 ( 27 April 2017 ) was a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands on which King Willem-Alexander celebrated his fiftieth birthday.

The evening after King’s Day, an anniversary dinner took place at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam with 150 guests from all over the Netherlands who, like the king, had a birthday on 27 April and also celebrated a crown year (25, 50, 75 or 100 years). Afterwards a group portrait (not a ‘selfie’, but a usfie ) was made with hundreds of people on Dam Square in front of the Palace. The palace was then opened to visitors for 50 hours.

A special exhibit offered an overview of the last 50 years of Dutch history, with the help of a variety of objects, including those belonging to the King himself, and video from the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. The programme will centre on community life in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Special Exhibition: 50 years
King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 50th birthday on 27 April 2017. To mark the occasion, a varied selection of objects can be seen in the Royal Palace Amsterdam, which portray life in the Netherlands over the past 50 years.

These have been made available by various lenders and some by the King himself. Image fragments from the collection of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision complete the selection. The common life in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is central to everything.

Mr. Owl
From 1968 Meneer de Uil reads the daily news from the Fabeltjeskrant. It is the best viewed television program of the time. In addition to ‘dear peephole children’, many adults also tune into the program because of the allusions to current politics.

The Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision has lent Mr. Owl especially for this occasion

02-02-2002
On 2 February 2002, Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta gave each other the yes in Amsterdam. The civil wedding took place in the Beurs van Berlage, the religious wedding in the Nieuwe Kerk.

The Prince wore the Royal Navy Navy dress in the rank of Captain at Sea, the Princess a dress designed by the Valentino fashion house of mikado silk, with a five-meter long trail and the diamond star ribbon with lace veil.

The beautiful wedding clothes could be seen in the Palace.

Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
12 gold medals, 9 silver and 4 bronze. The 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney were the most successful ever for the Netherlands. Anky van Grunsven won gold and silver in dressage with Bonfire.

Anky van Grunsven provided her original equestrian costume of the Games and the Bonfire saddle as a loan.

Royal Palace Amsterdam
In the middle of the capital stands the Royal Palace Amsterdam, King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace. The Palace plays a major role during state visits, but also other royal occasions, such as New Year’s receptions, gala dinners and award ceremonies. In addition, the Palace is open to visitors as much as possible. A living building where you can follow in the footsteps of royal guests through its imposing rooms and halls.

The Palace is the largest and most prestigious building from the Golden Age, making it one of the Netherlands’ most important monuments. It was originally built, not as a palace, but as Amsterdam’s town hall. Architect Jan van Campen designed a building which would reflect the power and wealth of Amsterdam in the 17th century.

In the heart of the building, the grandeur of the Golden Age is still alive in the Citizen’s Hall and marble galleries. Sculptures and paintings by famous artists—such as Rembrandt’s students, Govert Flinck and Ferdinand Bol—tell the story of Amsterdam as the centre of the universe. They remain impressive to this day.

In 1808, King Louis Bonaparte first transformed the building into a palace. His stay is still tangible today and his magnificent Empire furniture—one of the most beautiful collections in the world—is still used during royal receptions.

For around 200 years, the building has been used as the official reception palace of the Royal House, where world leaders and heads of state are received. A building in which the throne is passed from one monarch to the next and royal weddings take place, where history is written. And where you are warmly welcomed.