Queen’s Day festivities curtailed after attack on Dutch royal family

DutchAmsterdam.nl — A 38-year-old driver careened through police barriers and ploughed through a crowd of people waving at the Netherland’s popular queen and royal family in a premeditated attack that killed five people and left 13 people wounded.

The speeding car, heavily dented and with its windshield smashef after hitting barricades and bystanders, passed within meters of an open-topped bus carrying Queen Beatrix and the royal family down a parade route, before crashing into a stone monument. The incident happened at 11:50 a.m. in the town of Apeldoorn, Netherlands, during nationwide celebrations of Queen’s Day.

While seriously injured, the driver of the car initially survived the crash and allegedly told police officers he intended to hit to bus carrying to royal family. The man died of his injuries at 2:58 this morning.

Police and authorities would not give a motive, but neighbors of the man told the media he had recently lost his job and was to be evicted from his home.

Celebrations cancelled or toned-down

After the tragedy, all official Queen’s Day celebrations in Apeldoorn and elsewhere in the country were canceled. Flags at official buildings were flown at half-mast.

Prinsengracht Queen’s Day 2009.
© Copyright DutchAmsterdam.nl. Want to use this photo?

In many larger towns, including Amsterdam, crowds continued to celebrate — with many people unware of the deadly attack in Apeldoorn.

However, organizers of many events toned down their parties.

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen told the media he allowed organizers to decide for themselves how they wanted to handle the situation. Cohen said he elected not to cancel all celebrations. Doing so would have meant that hundreds of thousands of celebrants from inside and outside Amsterdam would have to return home all at once, which would have endangered public safety.

The city did use some twenty electronic billboards throughout the city to ask people to return to their homes in sympathy of the victims in Apeldoorn. It is unclear whether this had much of an effect.

Radio 538 curtailed its live shows at Museumplein, ending the event at 8 pm instead of 10 pm. Top acts De Toppers and Kane had already decided not to perform.

Feasts at Rembrandtplein, Weteringscircuit and the Max Euweplein also stopped one or two hours earlier than planned.

At many of the events a moment of silence was observed.

Queen’s Day

Queen’s Day is an annual event that turns the Netherlands into the world’s biggest street party. The celebration is in honor of the birthday of Queen Juliana, who on April 30th, 1980 abdicated in favor of her daughter, Beatrix. It was decided that Queen’s Day would remain an annual event.

Polls indicate that most Dutch citizens also want the event to continue when Queen Beatrix eventually passes the crown to her son, Prince Willem Alexander.

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy — a form of government in which the monarch is the head of state, but a elected prime minister is the head of government.

Holland’s royal family is hugely popular. It’s members typically attend Queen’s Day festivities in a fairly open and seemingly casual manner, frequently interacting with the crowd.

Original content © Copyright 2009 DutchAmsterdam.nl [Read what that actually means]

More articles on this topic: Amsterdam News
More about these tags / keywords: Queen's Day

---

Like this article? Subscribe (free) for more Amsterdam news and info

---

DutchAmsterdam.nl's Twitter Stream
Get the goods on Amsterdam via email
Get Amsterdam News & Information via 'RSS' News Readers
Subscribe to this topic only: Amsterdam News

• Home Page Previous entry: Amsterdam withdraws Obama/Putin “Kiss Me, I’m Drunk” posters Next entry: Tight security during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Amsterdam

What else would you like to know about Amsterdam?