De Nieuwe Kleren Van De Keizer (The Emperors New Clothes)

De Nieuwe Kleren Van De Keizer (The Emperor's New Clothes)

There once was an emperor who was so vain he spent more time trying on clothes than ruling his people.

He spent the whole day standing in front of a mirror, wondering what to try on next. His old valet would run back and forth with jackets and stockings but the emperor was never satisfied, until two tailors made him a very special costume...

Come and see it for yourself! This new fairytale can now be seen in the Fairytale Forest since 2012!

The Emperor's New Clothes

Originally a Hans Christian Andersen tale.

The story of The Emperor's New Clothes is played on audio during the show. This is in the Dutch language. Please find below a translation for your benefit.

There was once a vain emperor who liked nothing better but to parade around.
For each hour of the day he had a wonderful new set of clothes.
The people obeyed as they always have, standing behind the golden gates ready to obey the emperors order.
Bound by duty to acclaim him and to stroke his vain ego.
Two of his subjects were most bent out of shape, so much vanity was quite unheard of.
That is why they thought of a trick and appeared at the gates of the palace.
They kneeled before him , kissed his feet and told him..
We are imperial tailors and travel from palace to palace.
Especially for you we will weave you a garment so colourful and so special.
A fabric invisible to the dumb, is that not phenomenal?

The emperor ordered them to weave this fabric ready to be made into clothing.
The teahouse was equipped as a sewing studio for them and they were paid in coins.
The tailors started to work, this wasn’t just anything.
They snipped and weaved and sewed the most beautiful …nothing.
The emperor could wait no longer, the minutes felt like hours .
That’s why he sent his prime minister to take a peek at the tailors.

The minister went pale when he saw. The tailors weaving and folding busily.
But their hands were empty. Was he to consider himself dumb?
The minister, terribly shocked quickly thought up a tactic.
With much enthusiasm he proclaimed to the emperor: It is becoming magnificent!
Overjoyed by the good news and preceded by his imperial procession.
The emperor dove into the teahouse to meet his new clothes.

Now that the emperor was finally allowed to try on the clothes, he turned a little bit pale.
He turned this way and that in front of the mirror. But could not see the clothes no matter how he tried.
The emperor felt dumb but his court was cheering.
The clothes must be beautiful, so he told himself.
The emperor took a deep breath when he saw his people standing behind the golden gates.
But with his head held high he decided to go outside.

“Oh! He isn’t wearing anything!” cried out a little scamp.
It was silent for a moment but soon everyone was laughing at the emperor.
With shame on his cheeks but with a worthy royal step.
The emperor realized that he had been tricked.