In exactly 191 days the time has come: King’s Day 2024. For Emmen, this day is the perfect opportunity to show what the city has to offer, because the Royal family will visit here on April 27. “At least let them go to Wildlands and to the Rensenpark,” says one Emmen resident. “Maybe they can – as a wink – build a dolmen in the center,” adds the other. “I don’t need cookie bites or other craziness,” adds an older resident of the city.
And there are more ideas bubbling up in the city, more than six months before the time comes. “Raadhuisplein is certainly a nice place to display,” says a resident of the city. “And where should the Royal family not go? To the Angelso district, as far as I’m concerned.”
The municipality of Emmen is now working behind the scenes on preparations for King’s Day. On Tuesday, the municipality called on its residents to think along. “We are mainly looking for surprising ideas with which we can show Emmen at its best and with which we can show the whole of the Netherlands how proud we are,” says spokesperson Bianca Wever.
Tuesday’s call also has an immediate effect, she continues. “All kinds of plans, proposals and even fully developed programs are already being received. It’s nice to see that involvement from the municipality.” She does not want to anticipate the content yet. “We have now opened the lines. Everyone has until Friday, November 17, to submit their plans or proposals. We will then assess everything and see how ideas fit within a certain theme or a red line.”
In terms of ideas, she says everything is good. “The craziest proposals are welcome. We will then have to assess whether those plans are ultimately feasible. It must fit within the program and the requirements when it comes to security.”