Amsterdam mayor handing out free cake on last day of Dutch capital's 750th celebration
Today is the last day of Amsterdam’s year-long celebration of its 750th anniversary. The city is celebrating with a 75-meter-long cake, good for 7,500 pieces, which Mayor Femke Halsema is cutting and handing out for free on Dam Square.
Halsema started cutting the cake at 7:50 a.m. on Monday. Right at that moment, heavy rain started to pour. But according to AT5, broadcasting live from the scene, that wasn’t enough to stop dozens of Amsterdammers from coming and having some cake.
Many of the pieces of cake will be distributed to other parts of the city, giving more Amsterdammers a chance to enjoy a piece of their city’s birthday cake.
Today is Amsterdam’s official birthday. In addition to free cake on Dam Square, Amsterdam residents can also enjoy cake and win prizes at the I Amsterdam Store at Amsterdam Central Station between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Public libraries will also host birthday activities from 3:00 p.m. ot 5:00 p.m.
The year-long celebration will close with the National Celebration of Amsterdam 750 Years this evening, a major concert featuring artists like Karsu, Maan, Wibi Soerjadi, and Kris Kross Amsterdam. The concert will be broadcast live on NPO1.
Most Amsterdam residents are happy with how the city celebrated its 750th birthday over the past year, with 70 percent looking back positively on the year-long celebration, according to a survey commissioned by the city of Amsterdam. The Festival on the Ring and SAIL, in particular, are often cited as highlights.
On average, 60 percent of locals participated in the festivities. Among young people, three-quarters participated. Only 8 percent of locals are unhappy with the festivities, calling it a waste of money.
