You all know the story of little Hans Brinker – a story about a small act with a big effect. Hans saved his city from certain disaster by plugging a hole in the dike with his finger.
But do you know the story of Maarten Rijkers?
[Picture by WikiFrits]
But do you know the story of Maarten Rijkers?
[Picture by WikiFrits]
Truth be told, Hans Brinker only made the story famous: the finger really belonged to an unknown lock keeper in Haarlem, whose story is in Mary Mapes Dodge’s book.
But since Hans’ story has become eponymous with that of the lock keeper, we’ll just leave the opening as it is.
But since Hans’ story has become eponymous with that of the lock keeper, we’ll just leave the opening as it is.
Back to this Maarten Rijkers.
Unlike Hans, he is a real person, who was somewhere in his twenties when on a sunny afternoon in 1988 he kissed a queen in Amsterdam.
Unlike Hans, he is a real person, who was somewhere in his twenties when on a sunny afternoon in 1988 he kissed a queen in Amsterdam.
Now you may wonder, what’s big the deal here? There are many queens in Amsterdam, and – with consent – they may be kissed, come rain or shine.
But this queen was a very special one. The queen who got a kiss from Maarten Rijkers, was the queen of The Netherlands, Queen Beatrix.
Yes, her 👇
Yes, her 👇
On April 30th 1988 she unexpectedly visited the ‘vrijmarkt’ in de Jordaan, mingling with the other visitors, browsing through second-hand clothes on offer, and accepting ‘Trix Mix’ drinks and, erm… lamp shades?
Plus of course Maarten Rijkers’ kiss, here at 0:35.
Plus of course Maarten Rijkers’ kiss, here at 0:35.
The Amsterdam vrijmarkt – let’s just call it free market – was a special one. And Queen Beatrix’ visit even more.
Ever since her wedding she’d had a love-hate relationship with the capital.
Ever since her wedding she’d had a love-hate relationship with the capital.
When Beatrix married Claus von Amsberg in 1966, the Dutch capital saw large-scale riots. Smoke bombs were thrown to the couple in the golden carriage.
Unrest continued during subsequent Queensdays and on April 30th 1980 led to the largest public rioting since WW2.
Unrest continued during subsequent Queensdays and on April 30th 1980 led to the largest public rioting since WW2.
That year, Beatrix’ inauguration formed the backdrop of severe clashes between police and protestors angry at the lack of housing in Amsterdam.
‘Geen woning, geen kroning’
(No house, no inauguration)
‘Geen woning, geen kroning’
(No house, no inauguration)
Wait a minute, April 30th 1980, and 1988? Isn’t today April 27th? What’s going on with these dates?
Well, Beatrix’ birthday is in January, so she decided to stick to her her mother’s birthday (April 30th) for the annual celebrations. Since King Willem-Alexander’s birthday is on April 27th we're now back to celebrating the monarch’s birthday on his actual birthday.
And not to worry: you’re not the only one confused. Orange-clad tourists still turn up in Amsterdam on April 30th ready to party – only to discover the party happened four days ago.
(This photo from @3opreis dates from 2014 by the way)
(This photo from @3opreis dates from 2014 by the way)
Even this year there probably would have been a few, were it not for the fact that nearly all flights are grounded, cross-border traffic has gone down a great deal and Amsterdam streets are generally empty.
Back to this story of the 1988 free market in the Jordaan.
In the early seventies the city of Amsterdam had picked up on a trend happening elsewhere in the city: children in the suburbs selling old toys on the streets.
In the early seventies the city of Amsterdam had picked up on a trend happening elsewhere in the city: children in the suburbs selling old toys on the streets.
So in 1971 the city decided to move these spontaneous free markets to the city center and throw in a pop concert as well.
And it worked!
Tensions gradually disappeared and Queensday became a day to make a few extra guilders, find an unexpected treasure on the free market or simply lounge in the sun with friends.
Tensions gradually disappeared and Queensday became a day to make a few extra guilders, find an unexpected treasure on the free market or simply lounge in the sun with friends.
Now, we’ve learnt from the Twitter gurus over at @MyDoncaster that a thread like this should also include a #coronavirus lesson.
So please do keep scrolling 👇
So please do keep scrolling 👇
Maarten Rijkers’ small act was in fact a testament of something much bigger. With his kiss at the Jordaan free market, Amsterdam reunited itself with the royal family and embraced Queensday as a day of celebration among family and friends.
And by putting the free market front and center on Queensday, Amsterdam kicked off the national holiday’s transformation into the orange bonanza people across the world have come to love.
Free space for the market to blossom brought people together.
In the EU, the #SingleMarket has underpinned over 70 years of peace and prosperity in Europe and allowed it to grow into a union.
The market’s restoration will play a key role in the EU’s exit from #COVID19.
In the EU, the #SingleMarket has underpinned over 70 years of peace and prosperity in Europe and allowed it to grow into a union.
The market’s restoration will play a key role in the EU’s exit from #COVID19.
That’s all for this thread.
If you have a king or queen of your own at home: do give them a good kiss today. It too may set off something bigger. And in any case it'll make them feel happy and loved.
Stay safe and take care!
If you have a king or queen of your own at home: do give them a good kiss today. It too may set off something bigger. And in any case it'll make them feel happy and loved.
Stay safe and take care!
