National Reading Days kick off in the Netherlands

The National Reading Days in the Netherlands kicked off on Wednesday morning with numerous Dutch celebrities reading to kids at breakfast at schools, kindergartens, daycares and libraries across the country, Het Parool reports.

Readers included Princess Laurentien, Minister Ronald Plasterk of Home Affairs, Minister Jet Bussemaker of Education, State Secretary Martin van Rijn of Public Health and presenter Beau van Erven Dorens. They all read from the picture book of the year - De Kleine Walvis, written and illustrated by Benji Davies. It tells the story of a boy who lives in a fisherman's house with his father and six cats. He finds a young whale on the beach after a stormy night and the two become friends.

The reading breakfast is the official kickoff of the 14th edition of the National Reading Days, ending on February 4th. The annual event is meant to encourage reading in children who can't yet read.

Prinses Laurentien steelt de harten van kinderen bij Voorleesontbijt. - https://t.co/2jj8VYrfhr pic.twitter.com/2mE9TXmNQZ

— LINDA. (@LINDAnieuws) January 25, 2017

Minister Bussemaker leest voor uit De Kleine Walvis op OBS Erasmus in Den Haag #voorleesontbijt pic.twitter.com/jbBZXkziw5

— Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (@MinOCW) January 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/biebAssen/status/824182774894645248

Bij het #Voorleesontbijt wordt voorgelezen uit een nieuw Feyenoord Voorleesboek: 'De Feyenoord-avonturen van Panda, Bever en Stekelvarken'. pic.twitter.com/oMr8QPlKgo

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) January 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/oswaldvdam/status/824187971884695557