30 April is celebrated as the Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) in the Netherlands.
It dates back to 1885, when it was celebrated as Princess’s Day on 31 August – the birthday of the then Princess Wilhelmina; it became Queen’s Day on her accession in 1890, and moved to 30 April when her daughter Juliana became Queen in 1948.
Although Queen Beatrix’s birthday is actually on 31 January, she continues to celebrate it on the same day as her mother – partly in honour of her mother, but also at least a little bit because the weather’s much better suited to outdoor fun then.
Thu 24 May 2012 
The Netherlands: Queen’s Day
30 April is celebrated as the Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) in the Netherlands.
It dates back to 1885, when it was celebrated as Princess’s Day on 31 August – the birthday of the then Princess Wilhelmina; it became Queen’s Day on her accession in 1890, and moved to 30 April when her daughter Juliana became Queen in 1948.
Although Queen Beatrix’s birthday is actually on 31 January, she continues to celebrate it on the same day as her mother – partly in honour of her mother, but also at least a little bit because the weather’s much better suited to outdoor fun then.
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