If it is up to Oranje Comité Maastricht and a number of Vrijthof entrepreneurs, Koningsdag 2023 will be a big party. The committee and the entrepreneurs have teamed up under Stichting Vrijthof Concepts and have plans for a big festival: Oranje Gloed (orange glow).

Oranje Gloed builds on last year's success where the royal couple visited Maastricht together with their daughters. The 'oranjefeest' was received with such enthusiasm in the city that Stichting Vrijthof Concepts feels it deserves a grand sequel.

The foundation says it aims to bring together culture, music and surprise in one festival. Oranje Comité Maastricht will take care of the traditional elements of the festival, such as the Oecumenische Dienst (ecumenical service), the Vlaggenparade (flag parade), the Sport en Spelmiddag (sports and games afternoon) for children and the closing with the Maastrichtse Verkennersband. Stichting Vrijthof Concepts will take over from around 16:00 to offer musical entertainment from a stage on the Vrijthof.

Plans are now being discussed with the municipality. Residents living near the Vrijthof have already been informed by letter.

Read the original article in Dutch

Koningsdag (King's Day) is the national holiday of the Netherlands, celebrating Koning Willem-Alexander's birthday on 27 April each year. The colour of the Royal House of the Netherlands is orange, so on that day there is much orange to be seen and to be celebrated. To find out more about Koningsdag in English, head over to the Koninklijkhus website.