Ever wonder why the Dutch wear orange on almost every national occasion, and don't even have orange on their flag?The reason the Dutch wear orange at both the World Cup and national holidays is explained by history.
maybe you stepped on itOrange Football TribeFans flooding the streets during big matches,Or drown in the orange explosion that blankets every Dutch city on King's Day.
It is indeed an eerie sight, but why do the Dutch love orange? Shouldn't they all be wearing red, white or blue?
Well, it just so happens that orange has been the national color of the Netherlands for hundreds of years. But before we begin, let's take a closer look at this carrot-colored cult…
Why do the Dutch wear orange on King's Day?
If you are not familiar with the holidays,King's DayIt's a national holiday in the Netherlands and the whole country is dressed in orange, drinking beer and celebrating the king's birthday. Boy are they celebrating?
The canals are full of oombah-like boats, drinking themselves to death and occasionally singing:Orange up, orange up, long live the king!(Orange up, orange up, long live the king!).
read more |What happened in Holland on King's Day?
So the Dutch romance with orange is naturally linked to the Orange-Nassau royal family.
The bloodline begins with the famous William of Orange, who was crowned Prince of Orange in 1544. Under his leadership, the orange became the symbol of the Dutch royal family.
Old Willie's popularity isn't just because he's the heir to the throne, so who exactly is he?
Who was William of Orange?
Guillermo de Orange, also known as Silent William, was appointed heir to Orange County by René de Chalon and died without issue.
William would later lead the Dutch Revolt against Spanish occupation of the Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War (Dutch War of Independence, 1568–1648).
read more |The Dutch and their Monarchy; a coin with two sides
His leadership was highly influential in the rebellion and contributed to formal independenceUnited Provinces of the Netherlands1648.
Known as the father of Holland, he brought unity to the region for the first time. But he is also the ancestor of today's royal family,they make him the founder of this eraDutch monarchy.
So its name and the bright colors that accompany it symbolize the Dutch state.But where did its name come from? 🍊
Orange, France
orange, historically known aschimpanzeesNamed by the Dutch, it is a city in what is now southern France.
It has been for many yearsHoly Roman Empire, before becoming part of France in 1713. It was here that William of Nassau became Prince William of Orange in 1544.
So if you're wondering why Dutch fans wear orange at the World Cup, the answer goes back to Holland's origins.
But the dress code isn't just for fans.Orange(nickname for the Dutch national football team) will also be worn in orange when on the pitch during national matches.
The army of fans following the Dutch team is known asOrange Legion(The Orange Legion), have an almost magical ability to turn every bar, stadium and street they touch completely orange.
This phenomenon is calledorange fever(orange fever), which sounds crazy.
So there's no small love for orange, which may be down to why the Dutch wear the shade on King's Day. W
Here, orange originally symbolized the Dutch royal family and quickly became a symbol of Dutch national pride and the country as a whole.
Why isn't the Dutch flag orange?
Originally, the Dutch flag was actually orange, white and blue, designed by William of Orange himself. Dutch soldiers duringwar of independenceHe even uses color in battle.
However, at the end of the war, the orange belt was changed to red. Historians have a few theories as to why.
The first theory is that the dye used to paint the flagOrange can easily turn red over time, to avoid confusion,The flag officially changes to red.
Other historians believe the change was the result of the Anglo-Dutch Defense Treaty of 1654, which prohibited any member of the House of Orange from becoming head of state in the Netherlands.
Theory Three is newNetherlands flagBased on the coat of arms of Bavaria, since between 1354 and 1433 the Dutch county was divided withHouse of Wittelsbach.
But whatever the reason, orange has remained ingrained in the hearts of the Dutch and continues to represent the proud and boisterous Dutch woman in all her eccentricity and glamour.
When not to wear orange in the Netherlands
Wearing orange in the Netherlands can earn you points almost any day of the year, especially during the World Cup. Except maybe this day, April 30th.
Before the King's accession in 2013, King's Day wasIn fact,Queen's Day, in honor of Queen Beatrix. It used to be celebrated on April 30th, but of course it changed to April 27th when the king ascended the throne.
But after the change, many tourists still arrive in the Netherlands on April 30 wearing orange to celebrate the Queen's arrival. These uninformed lovers are calledthey confuse tourists- Tourist mistakes. oh dear
Wrong tourist spotted again in Amsterdamhttps://t.co/uUbfionzew pic.twitter.com/FHBfw95mwI
— AT5 (@AT5)April 29, 2017
In general, however, the Dutch are not particularly nationalistic, nor do they wear orangePrince's Day(Budget Day) orMemorial Day.
you may see a little orangeindependence Day, but certainly not to the extent of a true Orange Rush. This color is mainly used for sporting events and King's Day.
Country using orange, Netherlands
As the Dutch gained political power and sailed around the world to colonize and conquer, their influence left a deep imprint wherever they went. This includes the use of orange, which permeates many of the flags, names and symbols we still see today.
South AfricanBoersand orange
Between 1652 and 1795,Dutch East India CompanyIt controls the Eastern Cape's border with South Africa. Many company employees retired here and bought farmland, as well as slaves from Africa and Asia to run the farms.
But in 1806, the Cape Colony came under British rule and slavery in the area was abolished in 1834. DutchBoers(The farmers) eventually got tired of paying taxes to the British and refused to hand over their slaves.
So they put their foot downgreat hikeBuild your own settlement in southern Africa where they are free to manage themselves.
heAfrican BoersThus he established the Republic of Orange, almost in the middle of present-day South Africa.
It became an independent republic in 1854, and of course its flag has orange and white stripes, with the Dutch flag at the top left, blessed by the King of the Netherlands.
Ten ways to guess where the Orange River that runs through the state got its name! fast forwardBoer War, the Orange Republic became a province of the Orange Free State in 1910, annexed to the Union of South Africa.
The flag of the Union of South Africa (later the Republic of South Africa) from 1928 to 1994 is shown below.
You will notice the orange, white and blue stripes of the old Dutch flag and the orange Free State flag in the middle.
backpolicy of racial segregation, the flag became the striking colorful flag that South Africa has today (zero in orange) and the Orange Free Statesimplybecome a free state. But it just so happens that the Orange River, the longest in the country, retains its name.
Irish and Orange Protestants
Back in Europe, the orange stripes on the Irish flag are also associated with William of Orange:it seems strangeThe color represents the Irish Protestant minority who supported William of Orange and were also Unionists.
During this periodBattle of the Boyne, the Protestant King William of Orange faced the Catholic King James II of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Irish Protestants, at odds with their Catholic brethren, chose to support William of Orange. Therefore, they adopted orange as a symbol of Protestant Irish identity.
This contrasts with the green color of the Irish flag, which symbolizes Irish Catholic republicanism. The white in the middle symbolizes peace between the two groups.
William of carrots and oranges
Did you know that your favorite orange tuber is native to the Netherlands?
Carrots were originally purple, red or white, but the Dutch bred them for the characteristic orange they are known for today. Of course, this color change is a nod to the aging William of Orange.
read more |7 Times The Dutch Did It First - Fun Facts From The Netherlands
Even today, you can still findnational anthem of the Netherlandsand sometimes even an orange stripe can be seen flying next to the Dutch flag.🇳🇱
So there you go! What appears to be a random Dutch preference for all things orange actually has a very complex history of meaning behind it, reaching the farthest corners of the world and into Dutch traditions.
Have you experienced orange fever? What do you think of the Dutch obsession with color? Tell us in the comments below.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in September 2020 and has been fully updated for you to read in April 2023.
FAQs
Why are the Dutch obsessed with orange? ›
The orange color that's present throughout much of Dutch culture is a nod to the royal family, which is made up of members of the House of Orange. The dynasty dates back to 1544 when William of Orange inherited the estate and title at the age of 11.
Do the Dutch like orange? ›The rulers of the Netherlands
Dutch sports fans wear orange at live events; the Dutch national football team is even affectionately known as Oranje. On King's Day, Dutchies cover themselves head-to-toe in orange and take to the streets to celebrate, and the national flag is flown with an orange pendant.
The color orange has come to symbolize the country, and to signify national pride. King's Day (Queen's Day before 2014) is one occasion on which the Dutch wear orange. On royal birthdays, the Dutch tricolor is flown with an orange pennant above it.
Why are Dutch people called orange? ›Orange is the colour of the Dutch royal family - the House of Orange-Nassau - and has thus been considered the national colour of the region for hundreds of years.
Why was orange banned in the Netherlands? ›In an attempt to prevent a rebellion, in 1784 the Estates of Holland even banned the wearing of orange. Incidentally, the growth of Orange as an ideological force was not confined to the Netherlands but was international.
Is orange the official color of Netherlands? ›The red, white and blue tricolour is the national flag of the Netherlands.
Why are the Dutch so tall? ›Then there's the Dutch diet: people in the Netherlands have a voracious appetite for dairy, and studies suggest this has contributed to their increased height. “Calcium builds bone and growth is dependent on having a good supply of that,” Barrett explained.
Why did the Dutch flag change from orange to red? ›Red gradually replaced orange (1630–60) as a sign of political change and growing dissociation of the Republic from the House of Orange. It appears that prior to 1664, the red-white-blue tricolour was commonly known as the "Flag of Holland" (Hollandsche Vlag); named after one of the revolting provinces.
For which color is the Netherlands best known? ›The national color of the Netherlands is orange
The Netherlands is known for the color orange. For example, you see it when their international football team is playing in the vivid color while thousands of orange-coloured fans are cheering from the tribune.
The word Dutch comes from a Proto-Germanic word meaning “of the people.” It shares a root with the German word Deutsch, which has led to some confusing names. The name Germans call Germany, for example, is Deutschland and the people there Deutsch. Dutch and German are related, after all, both being Germanic languages.
Why is Holland called Dutch? ›
Because they are of Germanic descent. Dutch = Deutsch.
What are people from the Netherlands called? ›Over time, English-speaking people used the word Dutch to describe people from both the Netherlands and Germany, and now just the Netherlands today.
What religion is Dutch orange? ›The Orange Order celebrates the civil and religious privileges conferred on Protestants by William of Orange, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
What is the House of Orange in Dutch? ›The House of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau, pronounced [ˈɦœys fɑn oːˌrɑɲə ˈnɑsʌu]) is the current reigning house of the Netherlands.
What does Oranje mean in Dutch? ›De Oranjes (plural of oranje, lit. "the oranges") is a shorthand term used to refer to the Dutch royal family.
What are the traditional Dutch colors? ›The Netherlands, like any country, has its own national flag. You probably recognise the Dutch flag (a horizontal tricolour of red, white and blue), but how much do you know about its significance and history?
Why did Holland forbid the wearing of orange clothes? ›Instead of being a color representing the whole country, orange came to represent the color of the Stadholder, a term for the magistrate. This became even more the case, as the magistrates began to act more like monarchs.
Why does the Netherlands have two names? ›The difference between Holland and Netherlands is the former is a province, while the later is the name of the entire country. According to the CIA World Factbook, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815 (and Belgium seceded from it in 1830—another fun fact I didn't know).
What do the Dutch look like? ›The Dutch generally have longer and broader face structures compared to other Europeans, such as the British. Their noses are also shorter and are slightly turned up at the tip. However, as with any group or ethnicity, these are often generalizations and do not apply to the whole population.
Does orange grow in Netherlands? ›yes, orange trees grow profusely in holland...not so much in poland..but a few orange trees can be found..as a matter of fact, the color orange is the official color of holland...the royal family is the house of orange ( oranje ).. orange just permeates dutch culture... 2. Re: Do oranges grow in Netherlands?
What is the tallest race in the world? ›
Dutch people are the world's tallest, with an average height of 175.62cm (5 feet 7.96 inches.) Dutch men are an average 182.53cm (5 feet 11.86 inches) tall. Dutch women are an average 168.72cm (5 feet 6.42 inches) tall.
How tall is the average Dutch woman? ›Women of the same age born in the Netherlands measure 169.3 cm. During the course of the last century we have kept growing taller, but after 1980 this growth seemed to have ceased.
What is a typical Dutch breakfast? ›A typical Dutch breakfast consists of bread, whether or not toasted, with cheesemeat butter and sweet toppingslike chocolate spread, sprinkles and flakes. In addition to a sandwich, Dutch people also often eat rusks, gingerbread, currant bread or a plate of porridge.
What do the X's mean in Amsterdam? ›The three Xs (XXX) are actually the three Saint Andrew's crosses. St. Andrew was a fisherman who was martyred on an X-shaped cross in the 1st century AD, which is relevant to Amsterdam as the city's symbol dates back to 1505 when it was a fishing town and all ships registered in Amsterdam flew this flag.
Who are considered the Dutch? ›The Dutch (Dutch: Nederlanders) are the people of the Netherlands. They share a common ancestry and culture and speak the Dutch language.
What language does Netherlands speak? ›There are around 23 million native speakers of Dutch worldwide. Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders) and Suriname. Dutch is also an official language of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten.
What eye color is most common in Netherlands? ›In The Netherlands approximately 80% of the inhabitants have green or blue eyes. Germany (especially the northern part of the country) follows with almost 70% having lighter eye colours. Within the ”light” eyed population, the green eyes are outnumbered by the blue eyes.
Why did Dutch wear clogs? ›Naturally water resistant, they protected feet from the wet Dutch climate, and enabled their wearer to move across sodden ground with ease. Clogs continued to be worn by agricultural workers well into the 20th century, as their sturdiness guarded against injury.
What is the common eye color in Netherlands? ›...
Lighter eyes across Northern Europe.
The first 31 families arrived in the harbor of the North River in 1623 aboard the “New Netherland,” and by 1624, the colony of “New Amsterdam” began to be formed.
What was Dutch America called? ›
New Netherland was the first Dutch colony in North America. It extended from Albany, New York, in the north to Delaware in the south and encompassed parts of what are now the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware.
Why is Dutch so different from German? ›While German and Dutch are quite similar in terms of vocabulary, they do differ significantly grammatically. This is because Dutch has evolved to have a 'simpler' grammar structure for a learner. German has 4 cases while Dutch has none. This is a major difference.
What are the Dutch known for? ›Originally the Dutch are known for their cheese and tulips. Every year, the Netherlands exports approximately 600 million kilos of cheese and more than 5 billion Euros worth of flowers and plants.
What do the Dutch call their country? ›The Dutch government has decided to stop using the term “Holland” to refer to the country and only go by the official name, the Netherlands.
What was the old name for the Netherlands? ›Dutch government ditches Holland to rebrand as the Netherlands.
What is typical Dutch behavior? ›Dutch people are usually very open, friendly and welcoming. In the Netherlands, only parents and children live together. In general, they do not live with grandparents, aunts, and uncles. During meals, Dutch families usually share their adventures of the day.
What ethnic is Netherlands? ›| Demographics of the Netherlands | |
|---|---|
| Major ethnic | Dutch 73.7% |
| Minor ethnic | Other European 6.3% Indo 4.9% Turks 2.4% Moroccans 2.2% Surinamese 2.1% Caribbeans 0.9% Chinese 0.3% Iraqis 0.3% Other 9.5% |
| Language | |
| Official | Dutch, Frisian |
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is made up of four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten.
Are Dutch Catholic or Protestant? ›Currently, Catholicism is the single largest denomination of the Netherlands, forming some 18.3% of the Dutch people in 2021, down from 40% in the 1960s. According to the church itself, 20.8% of the Dutch population were formal members in 2021.
Was the Dutch flag orange? ›In the years after WIlliam of Orange ascended the throne and the Netherlands gained independence from Spanish rule, the national flag was originally blue, white and orange. However, over the course of the last nearly five centuries, the country traded out the orange for red.
What religion is Dutch majority? ›
More than half (55 percent) of Dutch people aged 15 years and over are not religious. In 2020, 20 percent of the Dutch population belonged to the Catholic Church, 14 percent were Protestant, 5 percent Muslim and 5 percent belonged to another religious group.
Who was the Dutch king of orange? ›William III was born on 4th November 1650. A Dutchman by birth, part of the House of Orange, he would later reign as King of England, Scotland and Ireland until his death in 1702. William's reign came at a precarious time in Europe when religious divide dominated international relations.
What number is Dutch orange? ›...
Dutch Orange #010.
| Weight | 0.35 lbs |
|---|---|
| color | Orange |
The Principality of Orange was, from 1163 to 1713, a feudal state in Provence, in the south of modern-day France, on the east bank of the river Rhone, north of the city of Avignon, and surrounded by the independent papal state of Comtat Venaissin.
Why is Dutch called orange? ›Orange is the colour of the Dutch royal family - the House of Orange-Nassau - and has thus been considered the national colour of the region for hundreds of years.
What does DD mean Dutch? ›Dutch term or phrase: d.d. (de dato) English translation: dated/of.
What is the Dutch name for California? ›Californië may refer to: Californië, Gelderland, a hamlet in the Netherlands. Californië, Limburg, a hamlet in the Netherlands. the Dutch name of California.
What is the national color of the Netherlands? ›Orange is the colour of the Dutch royal family - the House of Orange-Nassau - and has thus been considered the national colour of the region for hundreds of years.
What was the orange Party in the Netherlands? ›| Code Orange Code Oranje | |
|---|---|
| Ideology | Direct democracy Soft euroscepticism |
| Political position | Syncretic |
| Colours | Orange |
| Senate | 0 / 75 |
Word of the Day: sinaasappelsap (orange juice)
What is Netherlands Favourite color? ›
It's truly a spectacle to behold, but why does the Netherlands love orange? Shouldn't they all be dressed in red, white or blue? Well, as it happens, orange has been a national colour of the Netherlands for hundreds of years. But before we get into that, let's take a closer look at this carrot-coloured adoration…
What is the symbol of the Dutch culture? ›The symbols of Dutchness—wooden shoes, lace caps, tulips, and windmills—are known throughout the world, but they tell only a small part of the story of contemporary life in the Netherlands.
Does the House of Orange still rule the Netherlands? ›The House of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau, pronounced [ˈɦœys fɑn oːˌrɑɲə ˈnɑsʌu]) is the current reigning house of the Netherlands.
Why do we wear orange on Kings day? ›Why orange? If you have ever seen photographs of King's Day, you probably noticed that almost everyone is dressed in orange. This is because the royal family bears the name “House of Orange” (Huis van Oranje) and as a result it has become the national colour.
Why Dutch are called Dutch? ›The word Dutch comes from a Proto-Germanic word meaning “of the people.” It shares a root with the German word Deutsch, which has led to some confusing names. The name Germans call Germany, for example, is Deutschland and the people there Deutsch. Dutch and German are related, after all, both being Germanic languages.
What is the Netherlands official drink? ›Jenever (Genever) Jenever - the alcoholic beverage flavoured with juniper berries - is a traditional drink from the Netherlands. Jenever (also commonly spelled as genever) has a long history in the Netherlands.
What is the Netherlands drink of choice? ›There are many drinks that can be described as typically Dutch, the best-known being beer and jenever, hugely popular both in the Netherlands and abroad. In bars across the country, and at events and festivals, beer is a popular choice and if you ask, you are likely to find jenever too!
Which country has the most orange juice? ›Brazil is the global leader in orange juice production. The country's most recent season saw an estimated 1.157m tonnes of orange juice – in frozen concentrate and not-from-concentrate juice formats – produced.