King's Day
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Jefferson’s guide for the American traveler begins in Amsterdam, the great port city that he had visited to obtain badly-needed loans for the fledgling U.S. government. He celebrated his success in securing the credit by going on a shopping spree (not for the last time). Liana and I visit Amsterdam on King’s Day, watching the Dutch honor their monarch by wearing the national color of orange, holding a city-wide yard sale, and partying in canals. We learn about the Dutch constitutional monarchy, history of trade, and ethos of tolerance. Also, we drink a lot. We also visit Germany, next in Jefferson's guide.
Each April, Amsterdammers party in the canals in honor of their king. Or queen. Really they'll party in honor of anyone.
Orange is the color of the Netherlands. Jefferson wore it when he attended the king's birthday celebration in the Netherlands. Everyone at King's Day gets their orange on, like this cool guy.
The Great Tun of wine at Heidelberg. Naturally, Jefferson tried to calculate how much wine it could hold. The Tun is still there, but, to my disappointment, at some point in history somebody drank up all the wine.
Each April, Amsterdammers party in the canals in honor of their king. Or queen. Really they'll party in honor of anyone.
