1. Interested in selling stuff cleared out from the attic, or in picking up a bargain? All over the country, ordinary people and also professional street traders are allowed to set up stall and sell goods on the street. There are often special markets for children. The biggest street markets are in Amsterdam, and in Utrecht where the selling actually starts on Thursday evening.

 

2. The celebrations in The Hague also kick off on Thursday evening. There will be lots of free performances, including by Caro Emerald, Di-rect and Dewolff.

 

3. Visit the village of Wemeldinge in the southern province of Zeeland which has been totally decked out in orange or Zeeland’s provincial capital Middelburg. Queen Beatrix and members of her family will be making appearances there and you might catch a glimpse of the royal visitors.

 

4. You can also just relax and miss the bad weather by staying at home and watching the queen’s visit on the television. The NOS public service television service will be broadcasting everything live from 09:45 to 13:30 on Nederland 1. There is also live coverage on BVN television, which will also show a round-up of events at 21:00. The show will be presented by Astrid Kersseboom, with help from writer and columnist Bas Heijne.

 

5. Visit Orange Pop 2010 in Hunner Park in Nijmegen. There will be 18 sets from 14:00 to midnight. Artists include Bettie Serveert, Gotcha! and All Stars.

6. You can make your own Queen’s Day video and post it on the Royal Family’s YouTube channel from 12:00 onwards. An independent jury will be choosing out five of the best which will win a royal audience at Queen Beatrix’ Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.

 

7. Go to Amsterdam’s Museumplein open space for Radio 538’s Queen’s Day party. The line-up will include Alain Clark, Caro Emerald, Frans Duijts and Gerard Joling.

 

8. Visit Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn where there is a programme of activities for children. Youngsters will be able to paint Queen’s Day pictures in the children’s garden. They will also be able to enjoy orange candy floss and put on make-up. Palace admission is being lowered for the occasion, with adults paying five euros.

9. Just do the shopping. More and more supermarkets are open on Queen’s Day, but check opening times as these can vary from place to place.

 

10. If you want to get away from the crowds, you could head for the countryside. There are organised excursions in Ilperveld nature park near the village of Landsmeer where the wild fowl breeding season is in full swing. There are two excursions on offer, one in the morning from 07:00 to 10:00, and the other in the afternoon from 13:30 to 15:30.