All the King’s Day Coverage You Never Wanted.
Let’s talk about the weirdest part of my first week as a semi-legal immigrant: a national hazing event called King’s Day.
I knew it was coming, and had received both warnings about the insanity of it and promises that it was super fun to be in the streets. Weather being ever the consideration here, I was reserving my commitment to participation until I had a clearer picture of what the day’s skies would bring.
i *think* i made a bet on whether or not this baby was a boy or girl. i totally lost (it was a boy) and i don’t remember paying anyone. so either way, *if* i made that bet, they lost too.
Thursday night, however, was clear and lovely. I had no idea that the party actually begins on the evening prior until I received a last-minute surprise invite from the host of my first Amsterdam AirB&B from last year. (Remember the helpful host who took an interest in my career goals?) I agreed to meet him in the Jordaan and we spent a couple of hours roaming the packed canals and streets, watching the festive crowd and listening to the traditional Dutch tunes at the various stages throughout the neighborhood. There were a couple of insane pushes through the suffocating streets where I practically choked the life out of poor Tim as I held onto the hood of his jacket so that I didn’t drown in the throngs. Not an experience I recommend for the severely claustrophobic, but from a first-timer’s perspective it felt appropriately King’s Night-ish.
The following morning required some coffee and a leisurely pace while I gathered my courage for the day ahead. The dress code for this special day calls for H-to-T orange, but being conscious of my new immigrant status (and the fact that I’m a ‘winter’, thus orange isn’t on my list of best colors...) I opted for the color wheel compliment of blue – specifically, a full denim tux.
Coffee-charged (and with maybe a tiny bit of ‘breakfast wine’ under my belt), I set out around lunchtime: destination Maarten and Jay’s house. It’s about a 40 minute lovely, canal-side walk from my apartment to theirs. I hadn’t procured a bike yet, so hoofing it was the option, as public transport was a bit of a clusterfuck on this day. The walk was full of King’s Day ambiance. I was pretty happy to be on foot so I could fully appreciate it. The biggest takeaway: King’s Day is a massive city-wide flea market, with drinks and snacks... and orange votives.
i’ve been told by several portland friends that i’m not allowed to buy any more shoes until i officially move
i wish i’d bought this... if only to know if it sounds as amazing as it looks
kingly canals
flea find / jay scored some sweet ‘official’ canadian ice skates for maxwell
stranger eating wurst
