Dutch Club Wellington
A touch of the Dutch at Avalon Park - Dutch King's Day
The Dutch Club Wellington is issuing an open invitation to ‘go orange’ (and get on a bike) to join a celebration of the Dutch national day – King’s Day – on Sunday 28 April at Avalon Park. The Orange Bike promo event, and associated Orange Mystery Trail, will once again be a feature of this family-friendly day, kicking off at 10am near the children’s bike paths at Avalon Park.
The Avalon King’s Day and Orange Bike event on 28 April is part of Dutch Week 2024 (27 April – 5 May). This coincides with the Dutch ‘Koningsdag’ (King’s Day) national celebrations, when people across the Netherlands dress themselves and their towns up in orange to have giant a national party. The Dutch community just want to share a little of that spirit with the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Dutch Clubrooms at Avalon House, 61 Taita Drive, will once again be the focus for games, music, food, drinks, a children’s ‘kleedjesmarkt’ and other activities.
The Dutch Club will be selling hot and cold beverages and fine Dutch food, such as kroketten (croquettes) and rookworst (smoked sausage), from 10.30am – 3pm on a cash only basis.
This year we would like to promote a typical Dutch custom namely the “Kleedjesmarkt” which is an informal market for children to sell or swap pre-loved toys, books, clothes, etc.
Bring your “kleedje” (e.g. a blanket or a table cloth), spread it on the lawn, display your goods and demonstrate your entrepreneurial skills. Space on the grounds of Avalon House is limited so be early to claim the best spot.
King’s day celebration and the Orange Bike Ride activities will merge around noon with the Orange Bike Parade ending at Avalon House for the formal part of the event.
This year we are pleased to have the Deputy Head of the Dutch Embassy, Mr. Martin van Buuren and Hutt City Councillor Simon Edwards, join us to speak at the event, and hand out prizes for the best dressed bikes and people.
Formal proceedings will end with a community rendition of the world’s oldest national anthem ‘Het Wilhelmus’, which honours the first ‘William of Orange’ to lead a united Netherlands from 1648. After this, people can kick off their clogs and cycling shoes for the rest of the afternoon, to just have a good time – or ‘gezelligheid’, as they say it in Dutch.
Cyclists from throughout the Hutt Valley are encouraged to ride to the Avalon Orange Bike event, dressing themselves and their bikes in orange.
From 10.00 onwards Naenae’s Free Ride will provide free bike checks and advise on safe and affordable cycling, such as their e-bike library. Information on bikeways, cycle safety and bike promotion will be on hand from Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington, and bike organisations.
‘Orange Bike Rides’ are being organised nationwide for Dutch Week, promoted by the Netherlands Embassy in conjunction with Dutch communities around the country. They aim to promote safe cycling as a sustainable and sociable activity, limiting climate change, and building healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy cities.
The Avalon Orange Bike event will conclude with an Orange Bike Parade around the park from 11.30, ending at the Dutch Clubrooms for a 12.15 prizegiving, with invited guests.
Keep up to date with the latest news on our Facebook page.
Register for the Avalon Orange Bike event (free) here by 27 April.
For more information: contact Martin de Jong 021 909 688 or Pierre Schmits 021 0827 2084.