Abdication of Queen Beatrix & Inauguration of Willem-Alexander: Suggestions & Musings

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The mayor talked a lot but had very little to say.

- No carriage ride
- No royal barge as the police feared that the boat would be too unstable (did they try???)
- No fireworks
- The day will cost the city of Amsterdam 7 million euros.
- What will happen is a boat ride over the IJ, in the enchanting (NOT!) harbor/ modern area of Amsterdam. They will go to the boat by bus.



I wish that the mayor would have specified what the difference in costs between this year and the previous year is. I don't think that a boat ride over the IJ will cost 7 million (albeit there will be some -undoubtably mediocre - 'cultural performances' along the route. And dispite the mayor's long speech it doesn't seem that there will be anything more than that.

Very disappointing, as was yesterday's announcement.

Very,indeed!!

Btw,what costs last year?There was no Inthronisation plus non-festivities last year afaik....The 800-thousand expected visitors this year x 100 euro each at least to spend..Well...Will be a great revenue...Will cover everything..but no..we're still frugal little grocers...ugh..7 million is peanuts..


No Barge as the police thinks...the waves on the IJ river might be a tad too much....Well,maybe to these sissies..But the Barge was designed to float.On water.Even on waves....So all in all this is exactly where a great country is small and frumpy...Yuck!

[Marengo]

Exactly, Holland op z'n smalst. Though the barge next to the eye film institute and the other futuristic buildings there would look odd.

Did the mayor say what time they will be on the IJ? If it has to be the boat ride will be before the morning ceremony in the palace it means that it will start quite early, always a sure way to attract as little people as possible.

IMHO they lost a very easy way to promote the city. And their wish to 'have it all' (the usual Queensday festivities in the center ánd the inauguration resulted in this very meagre programme. Perhaps they should have chosen a different date for the whole thing or -since it is such a special event- adapted the usual getting-drunk-as-quickly-as-possible festivities in the center.

Considering the way the city tries to discourage people from coming to the city, I fear that we will end up with a half emty Dam square again.

In short: I wish we could fire all the organisers and hire Queen Silvia instead.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Exactly, Holland op z'n smalst. Though the barge next to the eye film institute and the other futuristic buildings there would look odd.

Did the mayor say what time they will be on the IJ? If it has to be the boat ride will be before the morning ceremony in the palace it means that it will start quite early, always a sure way to attract as little people as possible. They should have hired Queen Silvia as party organiser instead.

IMHO they lost a very easy way to promote the city. And their wish to 'have it all' (the usual Queensday festivities in the center ánd the inauguration resulted in this very meagre programme. Perhaps they should have chosen a different date for the whole thing or -since it is such a special event- adapted the usual getting-drunk-as-quickly-as-possible festivities in the center.

Considering the way the city tries to discourage people from coming to the city, I fear that we will end up with a half emty Dam square again.

No,the boat thing is an evening affair...with all kind of well meant but still toe-curling artistic displays "all the way"...from the EYE to the Muziektheater aan het IJ...which is usually 5 minutes by ferry...really..Oh,lets whistle into the day and pretend we've never heard v/d Laan...But!..It is HIGH time Amsterdam gets to be Amsterdam again!!ASAP!As opposed to some frumpy outlet...They want to cut the costs in these times of hyped-up NON-CRISIS...Rediculous!...Anyway..i got a heart condition,so,i don't do this any more...Not worth it.

[Marengo]

Ah great, so if that is the evening event we can forget about a ball, tiaras and all that.

Obviously the mayor and security staff want to direct the masses out of the center. As they now do with an Ajax championship. So we will get some nice 'cultural performances' (Do & Guus Meeuwis?) on some abandoned industrial area on the Java eiland, as is the case for the Uitmarkt.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Ah great, so if that is the evening event we can forget about a ball, tiaras and all that.

I recall there was a no tiara event in 1980...But there was a Ball on the " Koningin Beatrix" ferry....It was televised partially,from the guests and the then new Queen leaving the Royal Palace to them floating on canal boats to the Koningin Beatrix...And on-board too,they aired all the guests arriving onboard and I recall Princess Irene captured adding some make-up in the lounge by lack of a powder-room......grin...True!

[Marengo]

Since the boat-thing starts at 18:30 and it will take till 20:30/21:00 to see all the primairy school children scream the usual songs and perhaps to see the usual a clog dancing group and of course some multi-culti thing.

IF there would be a ball it would have to start rather late (I assume that Máxima won't be wearing a ball gown while visiting Java eiland - which means she would have to change to go to a ball afterwards). Considering how disappointing the programme has been thus far, I expect that they will skip it too.

I can't imagine that the couple will visit museum square where there is a 'kings ball' with 'musical performances'. Considering that the security has been tight, I am sure that having the royal couple around 50.000 intoxicated people wouldn't be the wisest thing to do.

---------------

Originally Posted by Marengo

I wish that the mayor would have specified what the difference in costs between this year and the previous year is. I don't think that a boat ride over the IJ will cost 7 million (albeit there will be some -undoubtably mediocre - 'cultural performances' along the route. And dispite the mayor's long speech it doesn't seem that there will be anything more than that.

I don't know which idiot writes the speeches for the mayor, but as I predicted the head line in the press is: Inauguration costs 7 million euros. Which is not correct.

Inhuldiging kost Amsterdam 7 miljoen euro - Binnenland | Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl [binnenland]

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Since the boat-thing starts at 18:30 and will surely take up 1 1/2 hours to see all the primairy school children scream the usual songs and perhaps to see the usual a clog dancing group and of course some multi-culti thing.

IF there would be a ball it would have to start rather late (I assume that Máxima won't be wearing a ball gown while visiting Java eiland - which means she would have to change to go to a ball afterwards). Considering how disappointing the programme has been thus far, I expect that they will skip it too.

I can't imagine that the couple will visit museum square where there is a 'kings ball' with 'musical performances'. Considering that the security has been tight, I am sure that having the royal couple around 50.000 intoxicated people wouldn't be the wisest thing to do.

---------------



I don't know which idiot writes the speeches for the mayor, but as I predicted the head line in the press is: Inauguration costs 7 million euros.

Inhuldiging kost Amsterdam 7 miljoen euro - Binnenland | Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl [binnenland]

Oh heck yes...RTL will have an evening of sorts,as will DWDD......7 bloody million peanuts...Oh,and the SP ofcourse...There's always them,the national nuisance...

I for the life of me don't understand the whole hullabaloo..There's still the script of 02.02.02 in regard to security et tout..I mean,it's all there already...

Btw,the Royal Couple will host a gala dinner at the Muziektheater aan 't Ij after the sail for their guests.So,that might add a touch of glitter after all to the evening.

[NGalitzine]

Sounds as if the whole affair will be pretty low key and down market....no carriage ride or royal barge, use the May 5th boat instead and then take a bus, no fireworks but fire a canon instead. I would almost say why bother at all, I have seen bigger celebrations for the opening of a factory or a new college.
Hardly seems fitting for new monarchs being installed in their national capital. Perhaps a change in the dress code to jeans and t-shirts would be more in keeping with the Mayors plans. They seem to be going for about as much pomp and circumstance as a couple who run off to city hall on their lunch break to get married and then stop at McDonalds for a burger before going back to work.

Question: Why does everything seem to be in the hands of the Mayor of Amsterdam? Why is not the national government in charge of celebrations for the installation of the new head of state? Do the Dutch not have a sense of tradition and occassion?

[kathia_sophia]

i hope they announce the guest-list soon!

[Marengo]

Dutch mayors actually have less 'powers' than mayors in most other countries. So,no... the mayor certainly isn't completely responsible for this disappointing programme. It seems that crowd control has been the main issue for the ones in charge. I would say that the end result is a cooperation between the court, the city hall, the police and probably the office of the prime minister.

---
The guestlist will probably only be released a few days in advance. Though some courts may announce the attendance on their agenda's, which usually is announced earlier.

[royalistbert]

No Carriage ride! How very disappointing. So they will be in a Car where hardly anyone can see them.

[Marengo]

No, it gets worse: in a bus!

[Artemisia]

It will be once-in-a-lifetime event for many so surely they could have arranged something more sightly than a bus ride?
I understand a bus is practical but a coronation (or inauguration) is something special so I can't deny I am really disappointed.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

It will be once-in-a-lifetime event for many so surely they could have arranged something more sightly than a bus ride?
I understand a bus is practical but a coronation (or inauguration) is something special so I can't deny I am really disappointed.

It is really disappointing and the boat they will use is also an ordinary boat

[royalistbert]

A carriage would be much more environmentally friendly.

I find hard to picture the new King with ermine mantle on a bus. It look look like a fancy dress party.

[Marengo]

They will only use the bus to drive from the palace to Amsterdam Noord for the boat ride. It is not for a tour around the city.

They won't need a carriage to get from the palace to the church since the buildings are next to each other. The royal party will walk under fish nets, to honor the fisher men of Scheveningen who helped king Willem I upon his return to The Netherlands.

[royalistbert]

Still I would expect them to use Carriages for this a special occasion. I suppose it won't look as bad as it sounds on the actual day. I am sure it will still be a grand occasion.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by royalistbert

Still I would expect them to use Carriages for this a special occasion. I suppose it won't look as bad as it sounds on the actual day. I am sure it will still be a grand occasion.

A sort of "It will be allright on the night" effect,oh,wait and see.

And we've seen the Royal Bus numerous times allready so it's not that odd a vehicle to use,and both in 1998,HM 60 birthday,and in 2002,guests were driven to and fro different events by busses from "Beuk" too....Oh well,as long as they all get to the church on time.We surely will see the guests leaving the Palace on their way to the gala dinner at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ...

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by royalistbert

Still I would expect them to use Carriages for this a special occasion. I suppose it won't look as bad as it sounds on the actual day. I am sure it will still be a grand occasion.

The Palace and Church are right next door to each other so I wouldn't expect them to use a carraige,they will walk to the Church from the Palace.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

The Palace and Church are right next door to each other so I wouldn't expect them to use a carraige,they will walk to the Church from the Palace.

But they could make a carriage tour after the Inauguration. At the Wedding in 2002 they have done it like this. And there the same locations where used.