The whole singing Netherlands goes to the Chasséveld in Breda on King’s Day. But 538 King’s Day 2024 threatened to fall into the water several times yesterday due to numerous logistical problems.
No fewer than forty thousand festival goers will come together on 538 King’s Day 2024 to toast the king’s birthday. There is no shortage of decoration for both visitors and event; everyone looks their best with bright orange lion suits, colorful headgear and the flag of the Low Countries daubed on their faces. The impressive stage, characteristic of the party in Breda, also immediately catches the eye. With dials and meters that indicate how loud the party is going, the stage resembles an enlarged music system.
Pin failure at pin-only party
All the ingredients for a good birthday seem to be present on 538 King’s Day 2024. In theory, because once the enthusiasm of all the festive-looking guests and grounds has settled in, the logistical hassle of getting a beer begins. The crowds at the bars and eateries are getting bigger and bigger. As an organization, but also as a visitor, you fear it: a PIN failure that will bring the entire PIN-only event to a standstill. “But don’t worry, because the sun is shining,” the presenter calls out.
She is certainly right, but most visitors are not looking forward to it. The hour and a half long problem leads to a lot of frustration and cursing. Occasionally, festival goers leave the line – with both a happy and tired look on their faces – immediately carrying one or more trays of beer, ‘because you don’t want to stand in line for another half hour’. There you immediately pay an extra two euros in deposit for each drink, because everyone receives one recycle token upon arrival.
A black bar temporarily blocks the image on the screens. Photo: Lieve Smeets / Festileaks
Solved… or not?
Now that everyone has a drink in their hand and the toast to Willem-Alexander can take place, the party seems to really be starting. There is cheerful singing along to hits from Son Mieux and Bankzitters and there are enough green-purple streamers, fireworks and fountains for the real birthday feeling. But when everyone gets their drink at the same time, the need to visit the toilet also occurs at the same time for many. A new logistical challenge enters the site with half-hour queues, this time at the toilets.
Like a kind of plague, the festival is plagued by continuous problems. The PIN problem has been officially resolved, but there will continue to be hassle in various places when paying for food or drinks until the end of the holiday. In addition, the large screens on stage fail several times or a black bar is visible. The most painful logistical error is in the intro of La Fuente. He starts his set with an exciting melody and effects on the screens. But before he even plays a song, the introduction is interrupted by the audio of two commercials. Ouch.
Royal dancing
The logistics hang like a cloud over the Oranjefeest and the music. With more than forty artists on the line-up, everyone has to get off the floor at some point, right? Fortunately, the more the day progresses, the festive atmosphere increasingly breaks through the clouds. Sometimes it takes a while to switch gears with one stage and so many artists. If you are just enjoying your time at Bizzey or Krezip, the next act is already eager to entertain the audience in Breda for fifteen minutes. On the other hand, fortunately you don’t have to miss anything from the program.
The fact that all forty thousand visitors are watching the same show results in several moments when the audience collectively explodes. When Gerard Joling starts the first tunes of ‘Europapa’ (‘Joost Klein, good luck at the Eurovision Song Contest!’) no one can stand still. The DJ set by Prince Floris of Orange, who was in Emmen in the morning, is far from groundbreaking, but his enthusiasm is so contagious that you have to join in.
With ‘Guardian Angel’ by Marco Schuitmaker and ‘Hyperventilation’ by Antoon, entire groups of friends are absorbed in the music. The largest fan club is present for Roxy Dekker, who also seems impressed by all the visitors who chant her hits word for word. And when the sun sets, the shows of Lucas & Steve and Snollebollekes come into their own even better. Breda certainly danced on 538 King’s Day 2024, but the choreography can still be worked on here and there.
538 King’s Day 2024
Location Breda, Netherlands
Date April 27, 2024
Tickets No longer available.