Afterwards, the Netherlands will be surprised. Emmen, the hidden pearl | column Eric van Oosterhout

When I’m in front of the cameras Blue blood I think for a moment of my dear mother who passed away. How wonderful she would have loved that. Her son on one of her favorite shows. The entire retirement home would have known that.

The arrival of King’s Day brings a lot of media attention. I have now been mayor in Drenthe for seventeen years, so I am already used to something. But when do you have an interview in the Story . And not because my marriage is in danger, but because the king is coming to Emmen.

It is teeming with interest. King’s Day appears to be an excellent way to show Emmen in a positive light in all corners of the Netherlands. This week I am again in all kinds of national programs. We finally have the opportunity to present Emmen from other lists.

Emmen is one of the top ten municipalities with the happiest residents. We are one of the safest large municipalities. And after Groningen, Emmen is the greenest municipality in the Netherlands. It was one of the main reasons for registering for this great event: King’s Day puts the municipality in the spotlight in a very positive way.

In the summer of 2023, we will receive the green light from Noordeinde Palace. We knew from the start that it was a lot of work. But we still underestimated it somewhat. An enthusiastic team of excellent employees has put together an excellent program under the leadership of Alderman Rink.

My agenda in recent weeks has also been largely devoted to King’s Day. While the normal store remains open, it will certainly happen from March 14. Then we presented the main points of the program in the beautiful Atlas theater. A flood of interviews followed.

But it’s not just the media that takes up time. There are also a lot of meetings to organize a nice and safe party. For example, we regularly consult with bodies such as the Government Information Service, the NOS and the representation of the Royal House. King’s Day is the most watched live program during the day, so there is a lot to consider.

In this Steering Group we will discuss the main points; sometimes at the Palace in The Hague, sometimes digitally and often in Emmen. There is also a separate Safety Consultation. It will be clear that the world has not become calmer. This means a lot of consultation at the highest level with, among others, Deputy Mayor Wanders.

Of course, there is also a lot that needs to be done within the municipality. In the Administrative Consultation we discuss the most important points with the project leaders every week. A lot of time is also spent on all kinds of snacks. When you come to the ‘Orange department’, there is something to discuss. Many hours have been lost on the color and size of the bouquet that has to be handed over.

We promote the event in all kinds of ways between meeting companies. Wildlands has the Royal Ten Days. FC Emmen even has a real King’s match in orange uniforms. The city is beautifully decorated. King’s Day is also celebrated in the villages and neighborhoods with around 200 parties.

It will be a great party on Saturday. With our musical choice we show that we are the Volendam of the Northern Netherlands. It’s all Emmen that makes the rounds beautifully: Bouke, Lohues, Jannes, Carina Vinke, and Rosa da Silva. It will be cheerful, but also informative with a presentation of the very important circular economy and Wildlands.

We show where we come from and how we connect our past with the present and future ambition. Afterwards, the Netherlands will be surprised. As a national magazine noted: “Emmen, a hidden gem.”