Orange fever during King's Day and Liberation Day

We have once again arrived in the months of April and May, when orange fever strikes. And when a major sports tournament is organized, such as the Olympic Games, the European or World Football Championship, or the Davis Cup, we are all dressed in orange en masse. Don't forget the commercial sector, which responds immediately with orange merchandise, T-shirts, flags, and of course, orange cream puffs. Will you be wearing orange clothing during King's Day and Liberation Day? Do you know why we choose the color orange and not blue or red?

Orange (principality)

The principality is named after the town of Orange, a small town in the Vaucluse, on the left bank of the Rhône, twenty kilometers north of Avignon. The territory of the principality measured approximately 19,31 by 14,48 km, or 279,71 km². This made it almost as large as the island of Bonaire, or a good one and a half times the size of the island of Texel. The current municipality of Orange covers approximately a quarter of this area.  

William of Nassau / William the Silent / William of Orange

The link between the Netherlands and the House of Orange has to do with our royal family. For this, we must go back to 1533. That was when William of Nassau was born in Germany. Now also known as Prince William of Orange-Nassau, William of Orange, William the Silent, and Father of the Fatherland. But at his birth, however, without 'Orange' in his name. At the age of 11, he inherited the southern French principality of 'Orange' from his cousin René of Chalon. Because this place was a principality, he was given the title of prince. And because 'orange' means orange in Dutch, he was given the name: Prince William of Orange-Nassau. In the 16th century, the Netherlands was still in the hands of the Spanish king, and William of Orange emerged as the leader of the Revolt. The flag used by his supporters was orange-white-blue: the colors of William's uniform and his name. Around the 17th century, the orange was gradually replaced by red. The story goes that the orange was less visible at sea.

When William Frederick of Orange-Nassau was crowned King of the Netherlands in 1815, the coat of arms of the Netherlands was also established. This became the Orange-Nassau family coat of arms: the lionAs a result, not only the color orange is associated with the Dutch monarchy, but also the lion. Orange returns as the color of resistance during times of foreign domination. For example, during the Second World War, Queen Wilhelmina addressed the people on, among other things, Radio Orange.

Over the past few decades, Dutch spectators at major sporting events have turned completely orange. No matter which sport you watch, you spot the Dutch immediately by their bright orange outfits. As far as football is concerned, the 'Orange feeling' took serious shape in 1974 when we reached the World Cup final. Unfortunately, the Netherlands lost. But in 1988, the Dutch national team won the European Championship, and the full-blown 'Orange madness' returned.

Orange is growing into the color of the Netherlands. Companies are also cleverly capitalizing on this: orange hats, cheering outfits, face paint, Wuppies, hair dye, scarves, and vuvuzelas. These orange outfits and gadgets make you part of the 'Orange Legion,' and through this, we feel a sense of connection and togetherness. That sense of togetherness dates back to prehistoric times. Don't forget the orange tompouces! At the birth of Beatrix, it was customary to eat rusks with sprinkles; at the birth of Willem-Alexander, it had changed to orange tompouces.  

Liberation skirt

Liberation skirt, life skirt, orange skirtThese are all names for the special skirt that appeared in the wardrobes of many Dutch women after the Second World War. Officially, the colorful garment was christened the National Celebration Skirt, based on an idea by the Amsterdam resistance heroine and feminist Adrienne Minette (Mies) Boissevain – Van Lennep (1896 – 1965). After the liberation, she called upon all women in the Netherlands to make a skirt from old scraps and fabric remnants from the war, incorporating personal memories into it. The National Celebration Skirt was intended to become the symbol of post-war solidarity, reconstruction, and renewal; various patches forming a new whole together. According to Boissevain, the skirt represented 'unity in diversity, new from old, construction from destruction, and one attire creates unity'. Specific manufacturing instructions applied to its production. For instance, the hem had to consist of solid points, representing 'the highlights of our national existence', such as Liberation Day. The idea was that the dates on which the skirt had been worn were to be embroidered into the points.

Boissevain found the inspiration for the skirt in prison, where she was sent a small necktie made of patches in which she recognized the garments of family and friends. She shared the story associated with each piece of fabric with her fellow prisoners, after which they, too, began to share their stories. This strengthened the sense of togetherness among the women. Boissevain survived the Vught and Ravensbrück camps, where she was known as 'Sister Mammie'. Her husband died in Buchenwald. Two of their three sons were executed in 1943. Boissevain's call to celebrate the liberation with a festive skirt fell on fertile ground. She advocated wearing the skirt on national holidays and at important private occasions. In total, possibly eight thousand skirts were made in the Netherlands. Four thousand are registered in an official Festive Skirt Register. A festive skirt song was also created, and separate skirt balls were organized. The so-called National Skirt Committee organized a grand parade of women in festive skirts on September 2, 1948, in honor of Queen Wilhelmina's Golden Jubilee and the upcoming inauguration of Queen Juliana. This period is considered the absolute peak of the festive skirt, which subsequently gradually disappeared from view. Source: https://www.friesverzetsmuseum.nl/bevrijdingsrok  

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