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The one day of the year where orange is truly accepted as a fashion choice is upon us once again, as Bahrain’s Dutch community is welcoming guests of all cultures to the biggest party of the spring, writes Kristian Harrison.
The Oranjefeest, a celebration of Koningsdag, or ‘King’s Day’, will take place at Café Amsterdam, Adliya, on April 29 and it promises to be a night filled with tradition.
In Holland, the national day spectacle involves parades, festivities along the canals, a variety of street performers, and the selling of second-hand items (known as vrijmarkt, or ‘Free Market’).
Of course, the most recognisable aspect is the oranjegekte, or ‘orange fever’, where revellers dye their hair, wear ridiculous wigs and deck themselves in full clothing representative of the Dutch national colour.
Organiser Frank Lefeber said: “This is the second time we’re hosting it here at Café Amsterdam, which is obviously the perfect location for the theme. Last year was excellent but there were definitely areas we could have improved upon, so this year we’ve taken steps to work on those.
“For example, the buffet will be better this time, and we’ll be offering finger foods along with the drinks and live cooking stations. Also this year, everybody will be presented with a free portrait photograph taken by a professional, so everyone has a memory of the event.”
The party is open to everyone, not just Dutch nationals in Bahrain, fellow organiser Sylvia Vrijhof was keen to stress. She explained: “The Dutch community in Bahrain isn’t that large, so we’ll also be very happy to welcome guests who want to experience a sample of our culture. We also anticipate some visitors from around the Gulf, we know there has been a lot of interest from Saudi Aramco, for example.”
“It will be a great opportunity for people to meet while at the same time having a really enjoyable evening and hopefully learning a little bit about how the Dutch like to do things.”
The night begins at 7.30pm and will feature the band Bite, a special Dutch ensemble flown in specifically for the event, interspersed with tunes spun by DJ Derek, and an extensive buffet packed with traditional Dutch foods and beverages.
The event is for adults, and tickets cost BD32.500. They are available by calling 39691322 or 32293787. Orange attire is strongly suggested.
