Koning Willem-Alexander is set to celebrate his birthday in Lelystad next year, a decision that has raised eyebrows among Shownews experts. The consensus? “That city center is ugly. How will they pull this off?”
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For the experts at Shownieuws, Lelystad is a place usually encountered only by taking the wrong exit off the A6. The idea of King Willem-Alexander celebrating Kingsday in such an “ugly” city is befuddling, to say the least.
The Humor in Lelystad
The architecture of Lelystad hails from a time when functionality triumphed over aesthetics, and at the Shownieuws desk, aesthetic value reigns supreme. The thought of Kingsday in this city raises a pressing question for them: how will it happen?
BN’er expert Bart Ettekoven offered a candid opinion: “Do I have warm feelings towards Lelystad? I usually just drive past it really quickly. Sure, it has some nice spots. Its negative image is undeserved; there are actually some lovely green areas and neighborhoods. Yes, I see everyone laughing, but…”
A Negative Reputation
Show expert Eline de Ruig, a resident of Gooi, expressed hope that Lelystad will benefit from the exposure. “Things can only get better, right? There’s a bit of a negative vibe surrounding it, so if we can showcase the beautiful spots…”
Reporter Janine Schuinder was curious about the logistics, noting, “Normally, the king’s walks are about 900 meters to a kilometer long, but Lelystad is quite extensive. Will they move from spot to spot? There’s no main center there.”
The Ugly Aspect
Bart expressed his concerns, stating, “Typically, such a walk goes through the city center, but that’s precisely the ugly part of Lelystad in my opinion.”
Janine wondered out loud how they could possibly make Kingsday enjoyable. The previous location was Dokkum, which is scenic and charming with its canals and beautiful houses. “I’m really curious about how they plan to manage this,” she reflected.
In the words of Johan Derksen from Vandaag Inside: “It’s a fun, lively place. But it’s somewhere you wouldn’t want to be buried!”
