Greg Shapiro for Dutch Independence Day, on NPO Radio1
24 July, 2026
I joined a Dutch radio program to ask why the Netherlands doesn’t celebrate Independence Day. When their 1581 Plakaat van Verlatinghe was the basis for the 1776 US Declaration of Independence!
On Dit Is de Dag, presenter Jan-Willem Wesselink started by asking me if the Dutch Declaration of Independence is taught in American schools. I said “NO WAY! We didn’t even cover it in my Dutch citizenship exam.”
But I’ve since come to learn that in 1581 – on 26 July – the Dutch people declared their independence from the Spanish king.
Q: “So you think Dutch people should celebrate Independence Day like you do in America?”
A: “Practically, it doesn’t make much sense. Every year on 26 July, most Dutch people are on vacation. Many of them in Spain. So yeah, we celebrate our independence from Spain by going back to Spain?”
Historian Geerten Waling agreed: “That’s ironic, isn’t it? So many Dutch people in Spain on 26 July. That would make for an awkward Independence Day.”
(What I didn’t say was: “Dutch folks who celebrate Independence Day by going to Spain? You’re just like Sinterklaas’ Naughty List. You’re getting sent to Spain.”)
(“And every year in the World Cup, how do we start every match? By singing the Dutch national anthem. Which ends with the line: ‘my allegiance for all time, I pledge to the King of Spain.’” Netherlands, you’ve got to get over Spain.”)
(“But of course the Netherlands celebrates National Pride Day every year on 27 April – the birthday of the King. So instead of celebrating your Independence from the King, you literally dress up in orange crowns and pretend to be the king. Netherlands, you don’t deserve independence. You clearly don’t want it.”)
(“And this year the USA couldn’t have a real Independence Day, because the President is acting more and more like a King. What if we just swap? On the 4th of July, Trump can celebrate Kings Day, and on the 26th of July, the Dutch celebrate Independence Day.”)
In the interview, the historians Geerten Waling and Luc Panhuysen presented several alternative dates. My favorite would be the birthday of Willem the Silent (The George Washington of the Dutch Revolution). At the same time as King Day.