Windmill lights Dutch Day Out

Kite flying and ice skating were among activities planned.“One high-flying feature of the day will be a nine-metre monkey kite, wearing a Dutch Week T-shirt, that will go up in the air as part of a kite-vlieger workshop for kids. We also have the Oranjehof museum here, that tells the story of the Dutch immigrants in New Zealand — right next to a 30m high icon of Dutchness, the flourgrinding windmill De Molen.

There will be modern art on display, an 1880 Amsterdam street organ and lots of traditional games — plus an ice skating rink.

“Things don’t get much more Dutch than that.”

Ambassador of the Kingdom

of the Netherlands, Mira Woldberg, said celebrations would be a show of support for the Covid-stricken Netherlands.

“This year, the national King’s Day celebrations on April 27 have been cancelled back home, due to the serious impact of Covid 19,” she said.

“The Netherlands Embassy will therefore not host an official King’s Day reception. Instead, the embassy wants to express our sympathy and strong connection to all those affected by the global pandemic. Together with all Dutch organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand we will signal our sympathy from this side of the Earth by lighting up in orange several prominent and iconic buildings across Aotearoa during Dutch Week.”

President of Dutch Communities NZ, Dr Joost de Bruin, said Dutch people love to share their culture. “The aim of Dutch Week is to create an interactive and joint celebration of heritage, art, food, language and community with everybody else in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The contribution to the New Zealand art scene by Dutch artist Leon van den Eijkel will be celebrated in the Ma¯punaKabinet gallery ins Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. Colourful Nation-Kleur Bekennen is a retrospective that includes major works from the collection of Te Papa.

The exhibition will be opened by Dutch-born MP Marja Lubeck.