The Low Down: The Dutch may make a monarchist of me yet . . .

The international image of the lowlands may well revolve around clogs, tulips, pancakes, bicycles and windmills, and they are most certainly all to be found here in abundance, but the most astonishing element of Dutch culture that I have come across in my four months here (with the possible exception of their tolerance for dog poo on footpaths) is Koningennedag.

Koningennedag, or Queen's Day, is celebrated each year on 30th April, so yesterday was our first experience of this uniquely Dutch celebration. Until yesterday, we had been cautiously intrigued by the Koningennedag hype; it had been talked up with great gusto by ex-pats and locals alike ever since we arrived in the lowlands. At this point, I am moved to digress and point out that "talking up" Koningennedag is not the same as being able to pronounce it (note the two evil g's, requiring a level of gutteral gymnastics that I am yet to master, leading to the constant fear that I will unintentionally mis-pronounce it as "Rabbit Day", although I'm proud to say I think I have it covered now).

Anyway, talk it up everyone did, although we naive newcomers remained quietly sceptical about the likelihood of something that was repeatedly billed as "the biggest flea market in the world, where everyone wears orange" to be actually worth getting out of bed early for.

Our scepticism was unfounded. The day provided an unforgettable carry-it-with-you-for-life memory of the lowlands- the best weather of the year so far provided an unbeatable backdrop for the combination of convivial (if noisy) bonhomie that characterises Koningennedag, which we now know, is SO much more than a flea market.

Hopefully the following photos might help to reflect some of the day's festivities and frivolities.

Sadly, as with most parties, the aftermath was predictably ugly. A trip to the centre this morning revealed a city with a bad hangover - a kind of a cross between Bangkok, La Paz and a large waste transfer station, aromatically speaking. Hopefully someone from the palace will be along soon to clean it all up.

Long live the Queen.

Early in the day. . . not yet convinced

Boa- dicea?

Orange for all

A novel way to raise beer money - invite passers by to throw eggs at you for 50 cents! Kleine Jongen was up for that (see fresh yolk to the right of the fearless (drunk) fund-raiser!