Nex Monday is Kingsday in the Netherlands. On this day we celebrate the birthday of the king Willem-Alexander. Normally his birthday is the biggest party of the year, but unfortunately this year will be a bit different. But there is a plan to celebrate and honor the king: sing the Dutch anthem all together at 10 am.
The Dutch anthem is written around 1570 and was used as a battle song in the war against the Spaniards. Willem van Oranje was the leader, so the national anthem was an honor to him. That’s why you hear his name in the national anthem ‘Het Wilhelmus’. Since 1932 ‘Het Wilhelmus’ is the national anthem of the Netherlands.
