De Geschiedenis van Woutertje Pieterse, Deel 2

In the middle of a noisy Amsterdam week, the city erupts when a king and a parade of foreign dignitaries announce a surprise appearance at the theater. The streets fill with vendors hawking oil cakes, nervous officials, and a crowd eager to catch a glimpse of the pompous visitors, while newspapers trumpet every title and costume as if they were miracles. Amid the clamor, ordinary people wonder whether the humble sellers will be allowed to stay, or if their modest trade will be swept away by the grandeur of the procession.

Wouter, still fresh from his second foray into the world of commerce, finds himself tossed between frantic meetings and the dazzling spectacle surrounding the royal visit. His thoughts spin like the catapulted “massa,” trying to keep his head—and his heart—steady as he navigates both the absurdities of the crowd and his own uneasy admiration for the heroes on stage. The narrative captures his bewilderment, the lively banter of the townsfolk, and the uneasy tension between public celebration and private doubt.