The red carpet on which the artists who performed on Monday evening made their entrance was polder glamor at its finest. The carpet was so short that there was little to stroll around for, among others, Jeangu Macrooy, Kriss Kross Amsterdam, Emma Kok, Noortje Herlaar and Karsu. It didn’t matter to them: they all felt honored that they could play at the final concert, with the royal couple and the crown princess in the front row.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Amalia will be received by Mayor Femke Halsema upon arrival for the National Celebration of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. © ANP / ANP
“It is very special to perform at this festival, especially for the king and queen,” said ‘semi-Amsterdammer’ Yves Berendse. “I have played for them before. Then they could sing along to ‘Back in Time’, but not all the verses.” Singer Noortje Herlaar said she wanted to pay special attention to the royal couple: “I’m taking my chance to see if they stay on track. I’m going to take a good look at them.”
Fashionable, lavish entrance: Queen Máxima and Crown Princess Amalia in trend colors for 750 years of Amsterdam
They certainly stayed focused, the Oranjes were clearly having a great time. They swayed during the opening hit ‘Amsterdam’ by Sjoukje Spijker, performed with DJ trio Kriss Kross Amsterdam.
In the morning on Dam Square, Mayor Femke Halsema cuts a cake of 75 meters long, in the shape of 750. © ANP / ANP
This was followed by the final concert, an exciting affair not only for the audience, but also for the artists. Although, semi-Amsterdammer Yves Berendse has sung for the royal couple before: “It is very special to perform at this festival and for the king and queen. I have performed for them before. Then they could sing along to Back in Time, but not all the verses.”
Crown Princess Amalia beamed upon arrival in Amsterdam. © ANP / Royals by Robin
Singer Noortje Herlaar said she wanted to pay special attention to the royal couple: “I’m taking my chance to see if they stay on track. I’m going to take a good look at them.”
Máxima couldn’t keep it dry
At the second number, The Way we Were performed by Emma Kok, Edsilia Rombley and bandoneonist Carel Kraayenhof, the queen couldn’t keep it dry. The large screen behind the stage showed images of the royal family in the capital: Beatrix’s surprise visit to Amsterdam on Queen’s Day in 1988, the 2013 coronation ceremony and the wedding of Willem-Alexander and Máxima. Was it the photos and videos of their wedding that made her emotional, or perhaps Kraayenhof’s playing, which also made her cry during the blessing?
Although the runner seemed a bit clumsy, the approach was very successful. Each time, an artist performed a duet in the attractive dome tent with a colleague elsewhere in the city. For example, Laetitia Gerards was singing in the Sloterplas, while harpist Remy van Kesteren sat on stage, violinist Noa Wildschut played with Wibi Soerjadi, whose grand piano had been placed in an abandoned Olympic Stadium, and a modern ballet was performed on top of the Mondriaan Tower. DJ Don Diablo closed with his own version of Enjoy the Silence – after all, the Amsterdam Dance Event has just ended.
Literally the highlight of the evening
For the highlight of the evening, the royal trio was allowed to go outside with Mayor Femke Halsema. With a push on an Amsterdam pole, complete with three St. Andrew’s crosses, Willem-Alexander ignited a fireworks show.
With a push of a button, the king ignited the closing fireworks. © ANP / Robin Utrecht
And with that, the twelve-month celebration of the capital’s 750th anniversary really came to an end.