What a day! On Saturday, April 26, we celebrated Koningsdag Festival in San Diego – and what a celebration it was! Although the weather looked a bit Dutch (rain in San Diego?!), the skies cleared and we enjoyed a perfect day filled with sunshine and orange cheer.
A big thank-you to our sponsors
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Huge thanks to ASML, KLM, Philips, San Diego International Airport, Hollandia Dairy, Beemster, Bernardus, Heineken, Diamond, and the Tea3 Foundation. Your support enables us to celebrate Dutch culture with all generations. A special shout-out to the Tea3 Foundation for their crucial role in helping make this event happen.
Food, fun and shopping galore
We were spoiled this year with a record number of vendors. Think Jai’s famous bitterballen (yes – even bitterballen sandwiches!), the familiar scent of poffertjes from Castillo, the sweet treats from Dutch Treats & Sweets, and the baked delights from the Dutch Baker Van – thank you, Eric Timmermans! Aunty Lynne’s Food, the Belgian waffle truck, Oma’s Poffertjes with their delicious stroopwafels, Charlie Royal, Seabreeze Chocolates, and Lezat Indo Kitchen rounded out the flavor lineup. We also welcomed Finnia Fine Clothing, Yellow Wood Design, Itility, and The Indo Project.
The Indo Project was present to share their mission: preserving and promoting Indo heritage through education and storytelling. Learn more at https://theindoproject.org/.
Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without the Beemster cheese platter (three beautiful gift sets were offered through the Silent Auction!), tasty cheese samples and refreshing peppermint treats. A crisp Bernardus rosé and a cold Heineken added to the festive vibe. Hollandia Dairy joined in too, and Diamond provided essential wash stations and restrooms – maybe not glamorous, but very necessary!
Games, a scavenger hunt & Silent Auction
The Dutch School Southern California hosted classic Dutch games like shuffleboard (sjoelen) and nail pooping – enthusiastically played by both kids and parents! The balloon artist and face painting team brought extra color and joy to the event. We also organized a scavenger hunt that led participants past all vendor booths. Those who completed the challenge received a fun ASML lunchbox – a great prize for sharp-eyed treasure hunters!
And then the Silent Auction! This annual fundraiser is vital to our school, and thanks to generous contributions from both long-time and new supporters, we raised a fantastic amount. Special mention to The Dutch Tile Project, known for their beautiful modern Delft Blue tiles – now available with 10% off using the code DUTCHSCHOOL.
Theatre fans were delighted with gift cards from Moonlight Amphitheatre, Lamb’s Players and San Diego Junior Theatre.
Skyzone and Shake Shack also joined in with generous donations. And several wonderful people brought beautiful gift packages all the way from the Netherlands – including a luxurious Rituals pamper set. Thank you all for your warm support! And the ultimate highlight? Two comfort-class plane tickets from San Diego to Amsterdam, donated by KLM! What a prize – and what a tremendous boost for our school. Thank you, KLM!
Also, thank you to all our enthusiastic bidders! Thanks to your generosity, we raised a wonderful amount during our Silent Auction. The full proceeds will directly benefit our school. With your support, we can continue to invest in high-quality education for our students – from learning materials and digital tools to cultural lessons that bring the Dutch language and traditions to life. Together, we are building a strong foundation for the next generation of Dutch-speaking children in Southern California. Thank you to everyone who contributed – you truly make a difference!
The Dutch School Southern California organized traditional Dutch games as they do every year, such as sjoelen (shuffleboard) and spijkerpoepen (nail pooping) – enthusiasm all around, from both parents and children! In addition, the balloon artist and the face-painting team added color and fun to the day. There was also a scavenger hunt that led participants past all the stalls. Those who managed to complete all the tasks earned a nice lunchbox from ASML – a fun reward for sharp-eyed sleuths.
With heartfelt thanks
A big orange thank-you to the Event Solutions team, the JCC for providing the perfect venue, and the entire organizing committee – especially: Henk Hanselaar (Dutch Honorary Consul), Jonneke van Dam-van Staveren, John Hyatt (Dutch Meet group), and Laura Ligthart, director of the Dutch School Southern California.
Last but not least, a deep bow of gratitude to all our volunteers, teachers, parents and organizers who put in their time and energy to make this event shine. Thanks to you, our children grow up proud of their Dutch roots.
Next year? Same place, same weekend! Mark your calendar for King’s Day San Diego 2026 – this is a party you don’t want to miss!