In honor of King’s Day in the Netherlands, Holland America Line is introducing the newest addition to the family, Lewie the Lion.
In honor of King’s Day in the Netherlands, Holland America Line is introducing its loyal furry friend and mascot, Lewie! Donning his best orange tie and majestic mane, Lewie descends from a long line of Dutch lions living in Rotterdam, and he loves traveling by sea.
Recognizing lions have been a national symbol of strength and courage to the people of the Netherlands for generations, Lewie takes great pride in his lineage. Passionate about traveling the world aboard Holland America Line’s fleet, Lewie loves experiencing the rich cultures of the places he visits. He’s also a modern traveler who enjoys making new friends, both on ship and in the wild.
Lewie loves traveling by sea, and he will make his debut in gift shops across the Holland America fleet in late summer 2023.
About King’s Day
Recognized as a holiday on April 27 in the Netherlands, King’s Day honors the birthday of the reigning Dutch monarch. The original holiday began on August 31, 1885, as Prinsessedag, or Princess’s Day, in honor of the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina. She was crowned as Queen in 1890 under the regency of her mother, Queen Emma, and the first Koninginnedag was celebrated in 1891 in the Netherlands. The date of the holiday then moved to recognize her daughter, Queen Juliana, when she assumed the throne in 1948. King’s Day took on its current name, Koningsdag, on April 27, 2014, after His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, ascended to the throne the previous year.
Holland America Line takes great joy in celebrating King’s Day each year, given the company’s roots in the Netherlands and ties to the royal family. In fact, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 13 Holland America Line vessels – from Prince Hendrik naming Statendam III in 1929 to Princess Margriet christening Rotterdam in 2022. Most recently, Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha was joined by Princess Margriet for a 150th anniversary celebration at Hotel New York, home to Holland America Line’s original headquarters from 1901 to 1977. You can read more about the unique event here.