King Willem-Alexander celebrates King’s Day in Dokkum

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his family celebrated King’s Day in Dokkum. In Frisian, it was called “Keningsdei.”

The family undertook several Frisian customs, such as ice skating and fierljeppen.

Prince Constantijn and Maurits went fierljeppen in their suits. Fierljeppen involves jumping over a body of water with a pole. Both made it across the water, but Prince Maurits said, “It didn’t look like a winner’s jump, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and their daughters were dressed in the colour of the flag of Dokkum. The town is known for its role in the historic ice-skating race, the Elfstedentocht, so the family went ice skating. Like during the actual race, the family passed several checkposts. One of these was manned by Olympic gymnast Epke Zonderland.

King Willem-Alexander took part in the Elfstedentocht in 1986 under the name W.A. van Buren. He said, “It was a big party back then, too, but my priority was to turn around quickly. But now I wouldn’t want to leave.”

The King thanked the people of Dokkum in Frisian with the words, “Tige tank” (much thanks).