April 30 was Koninginnedag: Queen's Day. It officially marks the Queen mother's birthday, but it serves more as the Dutch National Day. Apparently this year's Koninginnedag was a bit quieter than last year's, with only 300,000 - 400,000 celebrating in the streets of Amsterdam! So lots of visitors and action for a city of 730,000 people.

People walk around different parts of the city drinking alcohol, go to concerts in the different parks, buy food from street vendors and strange things from the children selling their old knick-knacks in the Vondelpark, and perhaps most fun of all pack into their boats and fill the Amsterdam canals. I suppose we did a little bit of everything, except get in a boat! Of course, the colour of choice is orange. My choice of hat is due to my militant nationalist tendancies, and has nothing to do with the fact that none of the caps would fit. I had a great time with Anna, who was visiting from Denmark, Verena, who visited the fortune teller, and friends.