King Willem-Alexander Hosts Birthday Dinner For “Honorable Fellow-Year-Olds”

At the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on Friday evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima hosted a gala dinner for 150 Dutchmen and women who, like the King, celebrated a ’round’ birthday on April 27.

The King and Queen – wearing a new purple and gold evening gown with floral embellishments from her go-to designer for important events, Jan Taminiau – first met with each of those attending before sitting down for a three-course meal of salmon and smoked trout, beef steak and hazelnut cream cake. Over 11,000 people entered the ballot earlier in the year to be able to attend the birthday dinner.

The oldest person in attendance turned 100 on Thursday; while a Dutch ex-pat currently living in Canada made the trip to Amsterdam after being successful.

Afterwards, all the guests were taken onto Dam Square outside the Palace for a group ‘gigapixel’ photograph to mark the celebrations.

Earlier in the evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima had toured the Palace exhibition put together for the King’s birthday – it features objects from his fifty years of significant importance. The exhibition was opened at 10pm on Friday night and will be continuously open for 50 hours for the public.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Birthday, Exhibition, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Royal Palace (Amsterdam).