GOING DUTCH!

The Dutch community living in Bahrain will be painting the island orange starting from tomorrow as the European nation prepares to welcome its first male monarch in 123 years.

Its honorary consul Jaap Vaandrager is urging all residents of the kingdom to join in the festivities which include a hotel ball, a visit from a top chef and a display of culinary delights from The Netherlands.

To mark the last Queen’s Day, the Dutch Association Bahrain and Saudi Eastern Province, in collaboration with Crowne Plaza Bahrain and Lulu Hypermarket, will kick-off the celebrations at the hotel tomorrow evening in a traditional village setting for the Oranjebal 2013.

Mr Vaandrager, 52, a father-of-three, from Hamala, said: “We want the people in Bahrain to experience the Dutch way of life during this time … it will not be a normal celebration this year, it will be special and everyone is welcome.”

The Kingdom of The Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 1815 and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.

Prince Willem-Alexander, 45, will succeed his popular mother Beatrix, 75, as head of state when she abdicates on April 30 after 33 years on the throne.

The Dutch community has decided to ‘work up to that date’ with a series of events. “The Oranjbal will be styled like a Dutch village and because of the support of Lulu Hypermarket there will be a salad bar with vegetables imported from Holland as well as little stalls around the area celebrating our culture,” said Mr Vaandrager.

“We are a farming country and we have great cheeses, flowers and chocolate ... we are very big on chocolate in Holland.

“People will also be dressed in their traditional clothes and typical Dutch ornaments like windmills will be placed around the hall.”

Everything will be transferred to Lulu Hypermarket in Hidd the following day and will be on display until April 28.

“We are also famous for our baking so we will be getting a baker from Holland. Our bread is super nice. Hopefully, we will soon be able to import Dutch bread to Bahrain regularly and this will allow everyone the chance to try it, it’s so good!” added Mr Vaandrager.

“This week will hopefully open up the opportunity for Holland and Bahrain to merge even closer together.

“From next year there will no longer be a ‘Queen’s Day’ occasion, instead we will be celebrating King’s Day!

“Following the abdication of our Queen we will have, inshallah, a king for the first time in 123 years.

“It’s very strange because a lot of Dutch sayings start with ‘in the name of our Queen’. The portraits I have as a proud Dutchman around my office will need to be changed. In fact everything will be changed.”

Mr Vaandrager hopes his role will help build a prosperous relationship between Holland and Bahrain. He believes the best way to do this is for Bahrainis to experience Dutch culture and it will consequently result in trade growing between the two countries.

He said: “I want Bahrainis to go to Holland and see the opportunities available there. We have a vast small and medium enterprises (SME) market. I would also like to encourage young people from here to go to Holland for their studies.”

In future, Koningsdag or King’s Day will be celebrated on April 27, Willem-Alexander’s birthday, or on the previous day, if the date falls on a Sunday.

Mr Vaandrager is excited about the royal changeover and believes whatever day the Oranjebal is held it will always be a night not to be missed. Everything from cheese, chocolate, meat and flowers as well as Dutch dance routines and musical acts will be on show this year in Bahrain. For food lovers, numerous stalls displaying a variety of Dutch specialties like Bitterballen and Poffertjes will be among the culinary highlights.

To add to the authenticity, a specialist baker from Holland, Jan-Aart Schuld, will be flown to Bahrain by Lulu Hypermarket, especially for the event.

A band from Holland, Hit Me, sponsored by Crowne Plaza Bahrain and the Dutch Association, will also perform.

The guests will be joined at the party by the Dutch Ambassador residing in Kuwait, Nicolaas Beets.

Although living in the Middle East for almost 30 years, Mr Vaandrager still visits his home country regularly. He has met the future king and his wife, Maxima, and considers them friends.

He is extremely happy for Willem-Alexander to take the throne as he believes that he will make a fantastic king because he has a very supportive family.

“Family is very important,” Mr Vaandrager said. “The future king will be fantastic because he has good support and a great family.

“Family ties and traditions are something very important in Bahrain and in Holland too. My wife Wendy helps me with everything I do and I am very grateful.”

The couple have four children, Celine, 16, Charlotte, 13, and twins Jacob and Willemjin, 11. He is president of MH Hydraulics, a global hydraulic maintenance, repair and sales company based in Holland and active in more than 60 countries.

A colourful character, he can be seen zooming around Bahrain on his BMW scooter sporting a business suit and an orange tie on the way to work and meetings.

He explained that the ‘cool’ ride does get him a lot of attention and that many people think he is crazy, but the cost-efficient vehicle takes a mere 700fils a week to fill with petrol and allows him to fuel his passion for motorsport.

The honorary Dutch consul has notched more than 15 wins in various motor racing events over the years, in a variety of sports cars.

 The Oranjebal tickets are available at Crowne Plaza Bahrain and Lulu Hypermarket as well as the association’s committee members. Tickets cost BD25 for members and BD30 for non members. For details, call 39586648 or 39332197.