It’s been a while since my last photo blog but sure look, you wouldn’t believe it, I’m working on something special behind the scenes. Brew Creative. Something that encompasses everything I’m interested in and a definite line I want to take my career down. It’s absolutely nerve-wracking, but if I pull it off I think it could make a meaningful impact to myself and more importantly, to those around me.
Back to King’s Day. I never knew this one-day, nation-wide, party existed until four days before the actual event. In Ireland we have St. Patrick’s Day, which is a glorified piss up, and that’s okay for a few years but it gets kinda boring after a while. In the Netherlands they have King’s Day! Also a glorified piss up, but with a twist.
Four days before the big event, I noticed kids using tape to create big rectangles on the pavement outside their homes. I thought, nice work! Just how I did it when I was a kid. But I didn’t realise that what they were actually doing was sectioning off areas of the pavement for their family. When King’s Day rolled around, low and behold, the whole family were in the rectangles setting up tables and chairs to sell old clothes, toys and any unwanted bits from home. These sections of pavement are in such high demand that kids head out days early to reserve a section for their family?!
All over the city and I mean ALL over the city, families had tables set up selling their old gear to other families. Basically, just one giant recycling party! It was great! If you’re lucky you could get some serious bargains. All the local parks filled with kids selling baked goods from home, or parents setting up little games for all the kids to play. It was pretty cool to see. It was something very unique and it was great for the old community spirit. You could see it really brought the city together.
By the afternoon people started to trickle out of the parks to head back home after a long day of selling and bartering. This was when the real party started! The piss up can commence! The entire city turned into a federation of street parties! What’s unique about Amsterdam is that it’s not just street parties that commence but boat parties too. The canals filled with boats overcrowded with drunken, music blaring party animals. I’ve seen Dublin’s temple bar during St. Patrick’s Day and it’s crowded, but you need to see Amsterdam on King’s Day…
It was a pretty cool day and one I’d put onto the bucket list for ya. Along with St. Patrick’s Day too of course 😉. Go to St. Patricks day first then fly over to Amsterdam and experience this.
I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as I enjoyed the day!
Endatheroad 