Koningsdag in Veen canceled after cyclist killed in Wijk en Aalburg crash
A 34-year-old man from Veen was killed last Sunday in Wijk en Aalburg after being struck by a speeding car on Maasdijk, prompting the cancellation of all Koningsdag celebrations in his home village, Omroep Brabant reports.
The man had attended a church service at the Hervormde Kerk and was cycling home along the Afgedamde Maas dike. As he turned from Schoolstraat onto the dike, a car hit him while traveling significantly above the 30 kilometers per hour speed limit. Police said the vehicle was driving “tens of kilometers per hour too fast.”
Emergency services took the cyclist to a hospital, where he later died. Police have seized the driver’s license of the motorist involved. The driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and investigators are still determining the exact speed at the time of the crash.
At the scene on Maasdijk, several bouquets of flowers were placed, including white freesias and white gerberas. A handwritten card read, “This should not have happened, April 20, 2026,” Omroep Brabant reported. The victim leaves behind a wife and three children.
In response, the Oranjevereniging Prinses Margriet in Veen canceled all Koningsdag events, including the parade, soapbox race, and traditional aubade.
“We have taken this decision out of respect for the victim and his next of kin; the impact in Veen is very great,” the association’s chair said. “The victim will be buried on Tuesday, and we do not find it appropriate to celebrate extensively on Monday.”
Koningsdag is normally one of the most important annual events in the village. The organizers said the decision was made quickly. “We are not a large city but a small village with great respect for each other,” the chair said.
