“If you say, ‘hey, I’m not Dutch, can I come?’ Everybody will scream out ‘yes,’ and you are very welcome,” de Wijze explains. “Everybody’s willing to tell you about everything.”

While the Dutch recognize April 27 as King’s Day or Koningsdag (honoring the current King Willem-Alexander’s birthday), De Esdoorn will hold their celebrations – including traditional games for kids – on April 26.

Orange in action

Originally from the southwest Dutch region of Zeeland (sometimes spelled Zealand), de Wijze has fond childhood memories of the holiday, then known as Queen’s Day (when the reigning monarch was female). These memories include playing games, such as spijkerpoepen (‘nail pooping’) where participants tie a string around their waist and a nail on the other end, then attempt to lower the nail into a bottle. Another game is koekhappen (‘cookie biting’) where participants, who are sometimes blindfolded, try to bite suspended pieces of cake, gingerbread or cookie without using their hands.

“When I was a kid you go through the obstacles course, you would decorate your bicycle,” he adds of another tradition. “And there were two prizes, one for the person that went through the obstacles course the best or the fastest, and the other one was for how you decorated your bicycle.”

Not just for children, the holiday also appeals to adults. The chair says adults will join in the revelry with street performances, DJ sets and the Vrijmarkten (‘flea markets’). These markets – for all ages – allow people to sell secondhand goods without a permit. From old toys and outgrown clothes to designer clothing and unique household goods, the chances of special findings are high.

“It’s big in every city, in every town,” he adds. “King’s Day is the only day that you can buy and sell without paying taxes except for [on] food and drinks.”

The revellers also dress in orange – carrying out the Dutch tradition of oranjegekte (“orange madness”). Symbolizing both national unity and pride, the colour’s central role in Dutch culture is traced back to Willem (or William) of Orange who led the revolt against Spain, resulting in the creation of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, predecessor of today’s Netherlands.

“He was the biggest freedom fighter that was from royalty, and he was from the House of Orange, the Orange Nassau,” de Wijze explains. “During any birthday of a royalty, there is a small strip of orange that is hung at the top at the point of the flag.”

Finding new roots

De Esdoorn’s goal is to bring these celebrations to Vancouver – particularly for the kids who attend their language school. In the past, the school has collaborated with other Dutch organizations, including the Dutch Business Club and the Dutch Network as well as their consulate to hold King’s Day celebrations.

“I think what it really is that the Dutch community loves to do with King’s Day is celebrate with whoever wants to celebrate it,” adds de Wijze. “King’s Day is very open.”

Throughout the year, De Esdoorn provides language lessons for children and adults and holds a variety of cultural events. Founded in 2015, the school is registered as a non-profit organization under the name “De Esdoorn – Dutch Language and Culture School Society.”

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, de Wijze ponders how far the school has come from humble beginnings in a church basement with just a few students.

“It started with two mothers, and they wanted their kids to understand where they were coming from,” he says. “And so, by starting the school, they wanted to pass on the knowledge of the culture, and of course, the language.”

A source of pride for the community, De Esdoorn became the first Dutch language school in Canada to be licensed by Dutch Education Worldwide in 2019. de Wijze adds that the school is largely run by volunteers, donating their professional knowledge and skills. For him, De Esdoorn is not just a school for learning languages – it is also a place for preserving culture.

“The main thing is to share responsibility for caring for each other and passing on that part of our culture,” he adds, emphasizing the love and care for others.

In partnership with De Esdoorn and other local Dutch organizations, The Dutch Network will also host family-friendly King’s Day celebrations on May 3 at the Pipe Shop and Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver.

For more information on De Esdoorn, see www.esdoorn.ca

For more information on The Dutch Network’s celebrations, see www.kingsday.dutchnetwork.ca