Some 5,400 Dutch primary schools are on Friday taking part in the Koningsspelen – a sports day organised in honour of king Willem-Alexander.

The first sports day took place last year to celebrate the new king’s inauguration. Schools are free to decide what should happen during the event, but activities must be linked to sport and movement to qualify.

This year the king opened the games at primary schools in Ens, in the Noordoostpolder north east of Amsterdam. In total, some 1.1 million primary school children are taking part.

Breakfast

The day kicked off at most schools with a communal breakfast, provided by food retail group Jumbo. The supermarket has been under attack for including on the menu high-sugar food such as chocolate paste and sprinkles.

The government’s diet advisory centre Voedingcentrum says healthier alternatives, such as reduced-sugar jam and more fruit, should have been included.

Food campaign group Foodwatch has also criticised the breakfast, saying it is advertising for Jumbo. ‘Companies have interests other than education, they want to attract customers,’ a spokesman said.

Indoctrination

Meanwhile, the Volkskrant asks if the games, which children are asked to attend dressed in orange or the colours of the Dutch flag, are a form of brainwashing.

‘Today, the next step has been taken in the monarchic indoctrination of the Dutch people, and of school children in particular,’ reader Menno Boetes wrote.

‘The orange mania is comparable to the situation around the Kim family in North Korea. If the royals have something to celebrate, school children are forced to wave a flag.’

Protest

Anjo Clement of the Dutch republican association pointed out that because the games are held on a regular school day ‘you can’t keep your children home in protest’.

But Ineke Strouken, director of the Dutch folk culture centre, said the games are good for social cohesion.

‘We are looking for things we can do together, like the King’s Day market, the New Year swim, singing together or watching the Matthew Passion,’ she told the paper. ‘We are connected through sport, trade and singing and that should be cherished.

However, it is too soon to talk of a tradition, she said. ‘Traditions have to be passed from generation to generation.’