Dutch Social Club of Utah and The Old Dutch Store present Salt Lake City’s 1st Annual Dutch King’s Day on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 11am to 6pm at The Gateway. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the customs and traditions of Holland. Featuring Internationally-renowned DJ Marc Brabant, crafts, authentic Dutch cuisine and beer, kids activities, bicycle fun ride and more! Wear orange and learn how to party with the Dutch!
Holland’s biggest party is coming to Salt Lake City! In the Netherlands on Koningsdag (King’s Day) there are many celebrations of King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. The most popular destination is Amsterdam, where more than a million visitors and locals join in the world’s largest street party. Wear orange! The flag of the Netherlands is red, white and blue, but orange is the color of the royal family and most everyone embraces this bright, happy color, welcome after a long, gray winter.
Did you know there are more bicycles than residents in Holland? Help us kick off Salt Lake City’s first annual Dutch King’s Day with a Fietstocht (family fun ride). Cyclists of all ages and levels are welcome to join the ride, but you must decorate your bikes and riders in orange! We will be gathering just west of The Gateway at 11 AM and circulating to delight the crowds. Prizes will be awarded for the Most Creative Decor, Oldest & Youngest Rider, Best Decoration, and more. Registration Required.
The festival begins at noon with a flag ceremony and welcoming remarks from the Consulate General of the Netherlands. Bring your friends, grab a tompouce and enjoy the excitement of Dutch King’s Day!
Spearheading this effort is the local, family-owned Old Dutch Store located in Sugarhouse. In 1978 a Dutch couple opened the doors bringing the traditions of Holland to Utah. Their good friend, Peter Van Schelt, worked alongside them, running the deli counter for many years. In 2003, Peter’s youngest daughter Sharon Van Schelt-Wuolukka bought the store and continued the Dutch heritage with her family. Peter then started making his artisan bratwurst and weisswurst while mentoring his granddaughter, Katie Reid, to continue his sausage-making legacy. Katie specializes in European delicacies and has mastered the Dutch beef kroketten and a delicious marzipan cake. Katie is now the Chef of the Old Dutch Store and founder of the Dutch Social Club of Utah. She looks forward to sharing Dutch traditions with the Salt Lake community at the 1st annual Dutch King’s Day.