National King’s Day celebration plans revealed

With April 27th just around the corner, Tilburg is revealing its plans for this year's official King's Day celebrations. Royalty expert Marc van der Linden call's Tilburg's King's Day program the most ambitious one yet, Omroep Brabant reports.

Tilburg wants to present itself as a young city. According to Van der Linden, "on paper" the program manages to do just that. "It looks very nice. All Tilburg residents are involved. From a Syrian refugee who wants to give a big 'thank you' to transvestites."

As this year is King Willem-Alexander's 50th birthday, King's Day is expected to be extra festive. The celebrations will cost about a million euros and are expected to attract some 70 thousand visitors.

The royal family will arrive at Tilburg Station by train. Fifteen members of the Royal Family will visit Tilburg for the celebration. They of course include King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and princesses Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. But prince Constantijn, princess Luarentien, prince Maurits and princes Marilene, prince Bernhard and princess Anette, prince Pieter-Christiaan and princess Anita, prince Floris and princess Aimee will also take part int he festivities.

Guus Meeuwis is working on a song especially for King's Day. He is honored that 'his' city gets to receive the King on his 50th birthday. "We're going to make a big party of it and are looking forward to it. We're already counting the days", Meeuwis said to RTL.

The royal family will be taken along 13 worlds through Tilburg. The number 13 was chosen for Tilburg's net number 013.

The thirteen worlds include the arrival, in which the royal family will be welcomed by Mayor Peter Noordanus and a number of Tilburg kids. The Big Welcome includes a large musical reception with members of 77 Tilburg choirs and the Euregio Youth Orchestra. World number three is the Carnival of Cultures where the royals will walk among the public and carnival floats.

In world four, Tilburg builds a party, music and social initiatives get the focus. World 5 is called Tilburg education city and the Royal family will visit an education project in which kids of all ages are encouraged to build their own inventions. World six, Tilburg scents and colors, the Royal family will be introduced to Syrian refugee Rania Sommakia, whose been living in the city for 18 months and wants to say thank you.

At world 7, Urban Sports, the royals will see the wall of fame on which several urban sports are presented, including skating, bmx, free runners etc. World eight is called 50 pianos and consists of 50 pianists who will play a specially composed piece. In World 9, the Green heart of Brabant, surrounding municipalities will have a say.

World 10 will focus on Tilburg's past and World 11 on the city's future with the theme Tech festival. World 12 is called De Heuvelpoort and the royals will pass three ports. The first two are formed by canvasses painted by supporters of Willem II and De Trappers. The third is formed by paintings by Fontys students.

And World 13 is the Grand Finale. The musical finale on the Piusplein involves a big stage with the public in front of it. On the stage various well known Tilburg residents will say goodbye to the royal family, who will be waved off by thousands of handkerchiefs as per Tilburg tradition.