Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Prinsjesdag - 18 september 2007


Today, the queen has read out her "troonrede" ("speech from the throne") before the Dutch parliament in Den Haag. It's not exactly hers, but an outline of the government's plans for the coming year.

Prinsjesdag is somewhat analogous to the President's State of the Union speech (SOU is not required by our Constitution btw, just an address. George Washington and John Adams both delivered the address in person. It was deliberately modelled on the Speech from the Throne with which the framers of the constitution were familiar from their British heritage. Thomas Jefferson began the tradition of sending a written message because, as a staunch republican, he thought a speech was too monarchical. It was Wilson who delivered the first SOU before a joint session of Congress.)

Usually, reporters & other "talking heads" rip the SOU to shreds. Similar commentary and criticisms will happen today in the Netherlands.

Here's the 'gouden koets' (golden coach) en route to parliament.



Read more about Prinsjesdag on wikipedia.

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