Royal walk
The programme connects the past and present of Emmen with the future ambitions of the municipality and the Southeast Drenthe region. We do this in a contemporary, but above all festive way. During the walk, the King passes 9 different squares and will be sung to by Bouke, Jannes and Daniël Lohues, among others. The programme shows old, new, known and unknown sides of Emmen. Drenthe is the cycling province of the Netherlands. That’s why King Willem-Alexander and his family are accompanied by a group of cyclists to the starting point: the square Noorderplein. Watch the video with the entire programme.
Squares 1, 2 and 3
Starting square and heritage street
King’s Commissioner Jetta Klijnsma, Mayor Eric van Oosterhout and Children’s Mayor Kirsten Alting will receive the Royal family at the square Noorderplein. Here, they will be sung to by Bouke Scholten, the Elvis of Emmen. In the street Noorderstraat, a gallery of living statues depicts the rich history of Emmen: from the megalithic tomb builders to Vincent van Gogh and from hard-working farmers to the stocking girl statue at the Danlon plant. The fashion show at the end of the street shows how age-old local costumes serve as inspiration for today’s fashion designers.
Dance square
At the second square, thirteen dance groups come together to show all kinds of different styles on the dance floor: dancing connects. It’s a beautiful mix of historical and modern dance. Dance couple Dietmar Hoekman and Hilda Wolbers of ‘t Aol Volk and breakdancer A.J. bridge decades of dance history in their own unique style.
Birthday square
It’s the King’s birthday. And we celebrate that. Yet there are other people too who have something to celebrate on 27 April 2024. For example, other birthday parties, Emmen residents who received a ribbon, Prince and Princess Carnival, the Emmen entrepreneur of the year and more! These birthday guests all sit together on a large terrace enjoying a local snack and drink. Every birthday party needs music of course. Jannes, the King of pirates, performs at this square. During the performance, a special place has been reserved for “Club Onbeperkt” (Club Unlimited): going out for people aged 16 and over with an intellectual disability.
Squares 4, 5 and 6
Culture square
The site of the old zoo is now Rensenpark. This is the place for art, culture and innovation. For King’s Day, the whole of Emmen has made ‘doodles’ (small drawings), which are on display throughout the city. At the entrance to Rensenpark, you will find a glass wall on which young people are doodling. After a warm welcome by Marjory Hospers of the Centre for Visual Arts, the Royal family is challenged to make a creative contribution.
Game square
Time for action. Qmusic DJ Jorien Renkema and Radio 538 DJ Jordi Warners are the presenters of an interactive game about the region. The teams consist of children from the children’s municipal council and children from Ukraine who have found a new (temporary) home in Emmen. The teams have to guess what is being depicted. The winner wins eternal Emmen glory. Of course, the Royal family is very much invited to participate and show what they know about Emmen and Drenthe.
Innovation square
Emmen is a city of innovation. The latest feat that Emmen is bringing to the world is circular plastic. Circular plastics are developed and recycled in Emmen, thanks to a collaboration between the educational and business sectors. The King and his entourage are invited to the square in front of the town hall to admire a flower meadow of circular plastics that has been redubbed Circular Plastic Fantastic! With an almost 10-metre-high bouquet of flowers, created with the latest techniques, the family receives a short introduction from students and Vincent Voet, lecturer at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, about this major step in solving this vast global problem.
Squares 7, 8 and 9
Sports square
The Netherlands is a football country. And Emmen is a football city. The beautiful game connects everyone in the city. From the walking football team to the G-team. On our football pitch, Emmen shows what is happening in the field of football. Anyone who wants can participate in a penalty shoot-out. But that’s not all. Emmen also plays handball at a the highest level. And Elly Mensen, Emmen’s world champion shuffleboard, also gives a demonstration. Old Dutch silliness? For your information, shuffleboard is an elite sport and a contemporary game. See Elly make her moves.
Wildlands and the Atlas Theatre
Wildlands is the pride of Emmen. For almost 90 years, the city has had one of the most beautiful zoos in Europe, right in the town centre. Together with the Atlas Theatre, Wildlands is a place for relaxation, inspiration, education and entertainment in Emmen. Of course, the Royal family will visit this city’s showpiece. They will be welcomed with a surprising programme that’s in keeping with the tradition of Wildlands and the Atlas Theatre.
Square Raadhuisplein becomes sing-along square
The big smash is a grand sing-along. This will be in full swing as the King walks from Wildlands to the square Raadhuisplein. King’s Day in Emmen wouldn’t be complete without a performance by Drenthe’s pride Daniël Lohues. He will perform with a band especially for this occasion. This is the end of the walk. After a word of thanks from the Mayor, His Majesty the King will take to the floor. This will prompt conductor Reinout Douma of the North Pole Orchestra to take to the rostrum to lead the Dutch national anthem of Wilhelmus as the grand closing piece, sung by Rosa da Silva and an occasional choir led by Rineke Marwitz. Of course, the audience will sing along. After which the Royal family will leave the stage and the city. But for Emmen, the party will only have just begun.
Questions and answers
We celebrate King’s Day together. Not only with the King and his family in the centre of Emmen, but also in the local villages and neighbourhoods. Through ‘Orange together’, residents of the municipality can receive a contribution to finance their festive activities on and around King’s Day. You can apply for this subsidy until 31 March. We want to stimulate small-scale initiatives, such as neighbourhood barbecues, a flea market or having cream slices whilst watching the television broadcast on King’s Day together.
This year, King’s Day coincides with a Saturday and that’s why we are turning it into a festive weekend in Emmen, with stores open in the evening and on Sunday with an Orange touch, a flea market and, on King’s Day, a party at the square Raadhuisplein until late in the evening.
On Saturday, you can visit the flea market in the centre. Visit https://www.vitalismarkten.nl/nl/koningsmarkt-emmen for more information.
After the Royal family has been welcomed, the King’s Festival kicks off. Visit https://koningsdagemmen.nl/ for more information.
Note: The municipality only organises the King’s visit. The flea market and the festival are organised by others.
We celebrate King’s Day together. Not only with the King and his family in the centre of Emmen, but also in the local villages and neighbourhoods. Through ‘Orange together’, residents of the municipality can receive a contribution to finance their festive activities on and around King’s Day. You can apply for this subsidy until 31 March. We want to stimulate small-scale initiatives, such as neighbourhood barbecues, a flea market or having cream slices whilst watching the television broadcast on King’s Day together. The activities in the villages and neighbourhoods are not yet known. As soon as they are known, they will be announced on this website.
Last summer, the Netherlands Government Information Service announced that His Majesty the King, together with members of the Royal Family, will celebrate King’s Day in Emmen. Announcements about the presence of members of the Royal House and the Royal family will be made through the Government Information Service in the run-up to King’s Day.
The visit will be broadcast live by the NOS on NPO1, on Saturday 27 April. In principle, the route will be completed in two hours.
The King’s Market is on Saturday 27 April in the centre of Emmen. For information about renting stalls, etc., please contact Vitalis at info@vitalismarkts.nl.
The King’s Market is open on Saturday 27 April between 6.00 am and 4.00 pm. On Friday 26 April, you are allowed to take up a spot at the King’s Market from 6 pm onward. Note: on Saturday 27 April, the centre (market area) must be car-free from 8 am onward!
The scheduled weekly market on Friday April 26 is cancelled.
You don’t have to buy tickets for the festival. For all information about the festival, reference is made to the King’s Day Festival website: https://koningsdagemmen.nl.