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SAVE THE DATE. Thursday, April 27th is King’s Day (Koningsdag)! If you aren’t sure what that is, it’s sort of the Dutch equivalent of St. Patrick’s Day. Just like everybody is Irish and raises a toast to Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, on King’s Day anybody who wants to be Dutch, is Dutch. King’s Day is an excuse to wear orange, go for a spring day bike ride, and gather at a fine local establishment or two with friends to drink Dutch bier and raise a toast to the Netherlands.
This
year, you don’t have to travel to Amsterdam to celebrate King’s Day because
Shorewood and Milwaukee are having their very own King’s Day festivities. On Thursday,
April 27th, those celebrating King’s Day are gathering at Three
Lions Pub in Shorewood starting at 4, and then riding to other participating establishments (more details regarding other participating bars coming soon to come soon).
Attendees are encouraged to bike to and between participating venues. (Note, there is no organized ride; all riders ride at their own risk, just
like any other day.) Those attending are encouraged to wear orange (the national color of
the Netherlands, and the official color of King’s Day). All welcome, invite
your friends. You don’t have to be Dutch to bike or join in the
celebration on King’s Day!
These gatherings are being organized to bring greater awareness
to the Netherlands’ leadership in making their communities over the
last 50 years much more bike friendly, and less car dependent.
Currently, the Dutch have the highest rates of routine, everyday bike use in
the World, and many studies indicate those high rates have many benefits for
Dutch health, happiness, prosperity and the environment. Each participating
venue is making a King’s Day Donation to the Wisconsin Bike Fed, to support the Bike Fed’s work
in making Wisconsin an even better place to bike than it already is. While not required, participants are also encouraged to
make a donation to the Wisconsin Bike Fed that day (donations will be accepted at each venue, and Bike Fed apparel will be available for purchase). Dutch beer and other drink specials will be available at each bar to all
cyclists wearing orange.
If
you think you may attend, please RSVP to the below email address (so we can
give venues a rough count as to how many
may be stopping by that day). Proost!
Alexander "Sandie" Pendleton,
sandiependleton@gmail.com, 414.418.4469
If You Drink, Drink Responsibly. Hartelijk dank!
