Festivities to grace Dutch King's Day
Apr 26, 2014
Festivities to grace Dutch King’s Day King’s Day, the national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is here. Celebrated on April 27(the 26th if the 27th falls on a Sunday), the date marks the birth of King Willem- Alexander. This is, however, the first King’s Day in 123 years.
Festivities to grace Dutch King’s Day King’s Day, the national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is here. Celebrated on April 27(the 26th if the 27th falls on a Sunday), the date marks the birth of King Willem- Alexander. This is, however, the first King’s Day in 123 years. From 1890 to 2013, the day was known as Queen’s Day. The holiday was first observed on August 31, 1885 as Princess’s Day, the fifth birthday anniversary of Princess Wilhelmina, heiress to the Dutch throne.
On her accession, the holiday acquired the name, Queen’s Day. When held on August 31, the holiday was the final day of school summer vacation, leading to its popularity among children. Following the accession of Wilhelmina’s daughter Juliana in 1948, the holiday was moved to Queen Juliana’s birthday on April 30. Her daughter, Beatrix retained the celebration on April 30 after she ascended the throne in 1980, despite her actual birthday occurring on January 31. On April 30, last year, on Queen’s Day, Prince Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother Beatrix and became King of the Netherlands. Consequently, from this year onwards the name is to be changed from Queen’s Day to King’s Day.
The date has also changed from April 30 to 27, which is the birthday of Willem-Alexander. On the first King’s Day, which is scheduled for tomorrow because April 27 is a Sunday, the King is scheduled to visit Amstelveen and De Rijp.
King’s Day activities
The festivities on King’s Day are often organised by Orange Committees, local associations that seek sponsorship and donations for their activities. One of the activities is a Flea market, a nationwide market, at which many people sell their used goods.
This is the one day of the year that the Dutch government permits sales on the street without a permit and without the payment of value added tax. It also takes in festivities which see largescale celebrations, with many concerts and special events in public spaces, particularly in Amsterdam.
About King Alexander
King Alexander is married to Queen Máxima. The royal couple have three daughters, Princess Catharina-Amalia (the Princess of Orange), Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane. Born on April 27, 1967 Alexander is the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of the countries of the Netherlands (including the Caribbean Netherlands), Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten.
He is head of the Dutch Royal House and the House of Amsberg.
About the Netherlands
The Netherlands was one of the first countries in the world to have an elected parliament, and is governed as a parliamentary democracy organised as a unitary state. The capital city of the Netherlands, mandated by the constitution, is Amsterdam. The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as “Holland”, which in strict usage, refers only to North and South Holland, two of its provinces. The former usage is considered incorrect or informal, depending on the context, but is generally accepted when referring to the national football team.
Netherlands,Uganda build trade relations
By Gilbert Kidimu
The Netherlands Uganda Trade and Investment Platform (NUTIP)recently, took some member companies in the agricultural sector for a business mission to the Netherlands.
The trip lasted from April 5 to 12, 2014. Participants together with the Uganda Investment Authority went with the objective to promote Uganda as an investment and trading destination. They met several companies in the same sector which facilitated the start of building business relations. That is one of more than a few projects undertaken by the Dutch government to further the advancement of Uganda.
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President Museveni (fourth left) attending a working dinner hosted by Berry Martin, member of the
board of directors of the rabo Bank in the Netherlands in September 2013
Furthering agriculture
Last year the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) signed a $5m contract for support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands to start a project entitled: “Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping Systems (PASIC)” PASIC is aimed at strengthening the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in setting policies and actions for agricultural intensification in two zones.
These zones are the south western highlands for Irish potatoes and the Lake Kyoga plains in eastern Uganda for rice. In these zones, population pressure is high, farm sizes are small, and the options to put new land into production are limited, which makes traditional farming unsustainable. Alphons Hennekens, the Dutch Ambassador comments: “The inevitable solution lies in the intensification of cropping systems by using fertilisers, improved seeds, good agronomic practices and attracting investors for buying farmers’ produce”.
Bee keeping
Uganda produces approximately 2,600 metric tons of honey per year. However, estimates indicate that the country’s production potential is 500,000 metric tons. One of the constraints to honey production is the lack of improved hive technology.
The sector has failed to use improved transitional hives that are more productive and produce organic honey, which is in greater demand. Subsequently, productivity per local hive has stagnated at approximately 3.9 kg per year, compared to optimal productivity of 10 kg. Worldwide demand for honey and other bee products such as propolis is increasing rapidly. Currently local demand for bee products far outstrips supply (95% of the honey produced in Uganda is consumed locally). SNV-Netherlands is active in apiculture (bee-keeping) in Uganda, with funding from the Dutch government since 2007.
It began exploring transitional hive technology, borrowing from SNV’s experience in honey value chain development in Ethiopia. Together with the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation and Golden Bees, SNV-Netherlands has developed prototype transitional hives and has trained 238 artisans in the country, who in turn coach a minimum of three other farmers to adopt the technology within three months of the conclusion of the training. The strengthened capacity of SNV-trained beekeepers has led to an increase in the production and quality of honey. In 2012, SNV-linked buyers bought 250 metric tons of honey from these beekeepers.
As a result of the increased demand for honey, its price increased by over 25% with medium to-large-scale beekeepers (those with 10 hives and above), earning as much as 305 Euros(sh1.05m) per year from honey sales.
Promoting reproductive health
The Netherlands government donated sh9.6b to Save the Children, a non-government organisation to implement a project on sexual and reproductive health targeting adolescents and youth in the districts of Agago, Nwoya and Kawempe, Rubaga and Central Divisions in Kampala. Speaking at the project launch dubbed “Keep it Real,” Alphons Hennekens, the Netherlands ambassador said Save the Children was awarded a three-year grant targeting adolescents and youth to improve skills and knowledge with regard to sexual and reproductive health.
“Sexual and reproductive health is one of the most urgent issues Uganda has to deal with. With almost half the population below 14 years of age, an investment in issues such as family planning and reproductive health can only be considered essential for its citizens,” Hennekens said.
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