A Party Full of Crazy Orange Dutch People

Cape Town’s Dutch communty celebrates Queensday with even more fervour than New Years

Queensday on 30 April is a huge celebration in the Netherlands and another great excuse for a party in Cape Town. The Dutch take this party so seriously that it even takes on New Years, dressing up in sexy orange from head to toe and drinking Heinekin until sunrise.

It’s a public holiday in the Netherlands, in honour of Queen Juliana’s birthday. Queen Juliana is the mother of the current Queen Beatrix, whose birthday is on 31 January but she now also celebrates her own birthday on 30 April, which is her mother’s birthday. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense, just have another beer.

For the past three years the Dutch community in and around Cape Town have celebrated at Rafiki’s on Kloofnek Road in Tamboerskloof. Everyone gets dressed up in orange, from head to toe, from underwear to earrings, even hats. One can imagine that this could possibly be what the city might look like when the Dutch play the World Cup.

Dutch beers like Heineken, Amstel and Grolsch as well as jagermeister are on special. This can be enjoyed with traditional Dutch snacks such as bitterballen (little fried meat croquettes) – one of Holland’s best loved treats.

For more information, check out our event listing for Queensday.