DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Dutch news & articles
What the King will be doing on his 50th birthday
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

What the King will be doing on his 50th birthday

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

6 memorable women in Dutch history6 memorable women in Dutch history
Eight ways to recognise a Dutch tourist on your holidayEight ways to recognise a Dutch tourist on your holiday
The Dutch Carnival dictionary The Dutch Carnival dictionary
Sinterklaas: A tradition that lived through World War IISinterklaas: A tradition that lived through World War II
10 important Dutch inventions10 important Dutch inventions
The Netherlands rises in top 10 of World Happiness ReportThe Netherlands rises in top 10 of World Happiness Report
4 things the Netherlands is doing to become greener4 things the Netherlands is doing to become greener
10 international music hits by Dutch artists10 international music hits by Dutch artists
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Apr 26, 2017
Alexandra van Kampen
English and Japanese theatre and culture are my forte. My mother was raised in England, and my grandmother in Japan. I studied Japanese Language and Culture, and Film and Photographic Studies in Leiden University.I have my own company (Billy Shakes, named after William Shakespeare) offering English acting workshops and texts.Read more

King Willem-Alexander will be turning 50 on April 27. Quite the milestone though it may be, he will not be celebrating with a traditional Dutch circle party. Find out what the royal family will be doing!

Take the train

For the first time in 18 years, the royal family will be taking the train for their celebratory activities.

This way, they plan to set the right example and promote using public transport. Don’t look out for regal birthday boys among the commuters though, they will be getting on their own royal train carriage at a secret location.

Celebrate in Tilburg

Every year, the monarch selects a municipality with a central role in the country and pays it a visit.

This year, the train will transport the King and his family to an honoured Tilburg. The city gets to put together their own programme to receive their festive visitors and display their local identity.

For two hours, Tilburg will guide the royal family through 13 themes, as their area code is 013. They will present their local culture, education, sports, nature, tech and history, and end with a grand performance by local celebrities.

Receive gifts

Various companies will use King’s Day to offer playful and serious gifts and tributes to the King, although he will probably not be accepting them in person.

Presents will include a 7,5 kilo chocolate sculpture of his head, a special orange brewed beer, harking back to the King’s university days when they called him Prins Pils (Prince Lager), as well as a specially produced royal limoncello liquor drink.

A special national commemoration coin will be pressed to mark the King’s 50th birthday. It will be a heavily gilded 10-euro coin, showing the King’s head and the words Encourage, Connect and Represent, which was the motto used at the his inauguration.

Button up

However the royal family will be celebrating, they will probably be buttoning up. This year’s King’s Day is expected to be even colder than last year’s Christmas, with the temperature staying below nine degrees Celsius.


Tilburg’s plan for the Royal Family in Dutch

Sources: Metronieuws, Tilburg.com

By Alexandra van Kampen