Queen Beatrix - then and now

Every inch of the pavement in every city, town and village in the country is taken up with people squatting on rugs and plastic selling off mostly useless but strangely intriguing bric-a-brac.

Well-used (broken) children's toys, chipped china crockery, vacuum cleaners and Hi-Fi systems that were state-of-art when Elvis was still playing Vegas — all this and much more is on offer at very low prices. And all the while semi-professional and terrible amateur bands blast out what passes for music from just about every street corner.

This year is no different, with the Queen's birthday being celebrated on Thursday 30 April.

Market

Koninginnedag – or Queen's Day – is the one day a year that ordinary folk are allowed to set up shop on the sidewalk without a trading licence. A good thing too, as most of the bargains bought on Queen's Day will either end up in the garbage by 1 May, or be stashed away in an attic or garage until next year's festivities.

Marking territory

Traditionally in the days running up to Queen's Day, strange boxes are sectioned off on pavements around the country and marked with the word 'Bezet', or occupied.

To the uninitiated, these markings in chalk or tape may appear to be some kind of bizarre crop circles. They are not, they are just an example of the assertiveness of the Dutch – if you want to sell items on Queen's Day you have to mark out your territory well in advance.

The Dutch are very assertive when it comes to free trade, but not so interested in tidying up afterwards, so that the 'Bezet' markings tend to linger on long after Queen's Day and for months after that.

For the first time ever, Amsterdam City Council took the previously unthinkable step in 2004 of banning locals from reserving their patch. Anyone caught marking the pavement faced a EUR 110 fine. Now, in cities with a free market, it's first come gets a place, and selliing is permitted from 6am until 8pm.

One could argue that selling junk is a rather curious way to celebrate Queen Beatrix's birthday, especially given that her birthday is in January. But being the old sport she is, the Queen decided in 1980 when she ascended to the throne that Queen's Day would remain on 30 April in honour the birthday of her mother, Queen Juliana.

Royals

Royal-spotting is an important element of Queen's Day and each year the Queen and other royals bestow an official visit on one or more parts of her realm to meet and greet her subjects.  For more information on the Queen's schedule on 29 and 30 April visit www.koninklijkhuis.nl/ 

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