The third Tuesday of September, a day of tradition is the Dutch State of the Union: the Netherlands’ speech from the throne and whatever they have for the annual-bored-to-death-by-boring-president speech in Germany and France.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, it’s Prinsjesdag and every year it is the same.
So unless a nasty political discussion disturbs the day or King Willem-Alexander decided to pre-game for this year’s edition, here’s what will go down today at Prinsjesdag, September 17, 2019.
#1 The snitch tradition – No news today
“Ah Abuzer, don’t be such a negative nelly, surely there’s something interesting being presented today.”
Every year, a few weeks in advance, all the fractions in the Dutch parliament get a USB-stick with all the government plans which ought to be presented at Prinsjesdag. And every year (and you can set your clock to it), the plans are instantly leaked to the media. It’s not even a secret or outrage anymore! Usually RTL television wins the ‘race for the plans’ every year and nobody is shocked in any way that this happens.
So all the plans are predictable as hell and already leaked to the press, what else is going on?
#2 There’s gonna be a carriage and a ride
This is how it will be:
Willy and Max step aboard the golden carriage and…
WAIT SOMETHING CHANGED!
Instead of the regular golden carriage with the slavery pictures on it, this year the traditional ride from the North End palace to the Binnenhof will go with the glass carriage. Well, finally something is done about the golden carriage with all that slavery praising going on it. Looking forward to what they did to them when it finally comes back in (maybe) 2021.
This ride to the Binnenhof will be the highlight of the day for us regular folks.
#3 The speech at ‘Prinsjedag’
So it’s finally happening. Our King, praised he be, will finally shower his people with all his wisdom. Surely what our King has to say has to be of some interest, right? Well, this whole little sour piece would be less sour if the King would actually sit down and write down his own speech.
But sadly, not only speechwriters do that for him, but the message is also dictated by the government so it will never ever be something original or insightful (it’s called ministeriele verantwoordelijkheid – lookup that Scrabble winner). Actually, I can already largely predict what will be said:
- The country is doing well on the economic front (which we are, purely money-making-wise)
- We should be an open and tolerant nation and come together as one people (let in some refugees, but not that much. Vote for mildly conservative folks like the VVD and not the creeps of the PVV)
- Trump is a lying idiot(it won’t be said, but writing it down made me happy for a second)
And you know it’s a shame because, in this day and age, the country could actually benefit from hearing the thoughts of someone who has it all and won’t lose his job when speaking out his mind.
Ah well, maybe next year.Â
#4 There will be hats
Brace yourself, the ladies are wearing a hat to the ceremony and there will be gossiping and oooh’s and aaah’s about it:
Houd de hoedjes maar vast: droog maar wel wind op Prinsjesdag https://t.co/guXJ6EFzur
— Hart van Nederland (@HartvNL) September 16, 2019
Are you going to be joining the Dutchies on the streets to celebrate Prinsjesdag? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature image: Minister-president Rutte/Flickr