King for a day
4-Door Fun with the Giulia Super
King’s Day is the national holiday of the Netherlands. The one day each year when the entire country turns orange. It’s a celebration filled with festive activities, live music and flea markets in every town and village. And plenty of classic car drives as well..
Koningsrit 2026
For this special occasion, the Oranjevereniging Bergen organized a curated tour for classic cars: Koningsrit 2026. Fifty carefully selected crews took part, representing a wonderfully broad spectrum of machinery: from pre-war cars (including some steam-powered examples) all the way up to classics from the 1980s. Exactly our kind of event and luckily, our entry was accepted! Weapon of choice? Our 1973 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super. The perfect classic for a proper day of 4-door fun.
A toast to the King
After gathering in the early morning to collect the route book and starting credentials, each car received a rally plaque on the grille and three fresh orange tulips tucked beneath the windscreen wiper. Crowds lined the streets, enthusiastically waving us off as the field rolled out from the historic village of Bergen for a dash further up the coast to Bergen aan Zee.
Accompanied by the deputy mayor of Bergen, who had the privilege of riding along in a 1930s Rolls-Royce, we stopped and parked at the bronze statue of Marie van Reenen. This statue commemorates Marie van Reenen-Völter, one of the key figures behind the creation of the seaside resort in the early 1900s. Together with her husband, she helped transform the dunes into the elegant coastal village that Bergen aan Zee still is today. The traditional toast the King’s birthday was due with a glass of Oranjebitter and of course the Dutch national anthem had to be sung in full voice.
Scenic route
From there, the real drive began. The route wound through the northern tip of North Holland, along narrow dike roads, passing tulip fields and through charming little villages turning heads of many enthusiastic Dutch.
Our next stop was the historic White Church in the village Groet, where coffee and a traditional Dutch pastry awaited us: the famous orange-topped Tom Pouce. On the old village square, the King’s Day flea market was already in full swing, and visitors gathered to admire the colourful parade of classics.
Royal bliss
After this pleasant pit stop, the route continued back toward Bergen. The official finish took place at the Ruïnekerk in the heart of the village, where everyone gathered once more for a final toast to a royal blissed drive behind the wheel. King for a day, indeed! 🏁
Team Classic Steering Wheel Shop
