The Open State Foundation has its office on the old naval yard in the heart of Amsterdam. Right next to the national maritime museum, in the 17th century warehouse of the Dutch admirality, and across from the 1960’s former Base Commander’s home our (as I’m a board member there) offices are surrounded by other small organisations, start-ups, assorted innovative efforts, a tech academy, a hostel and a microbrewery.

Normally it is easy to forget that the area is also still in active use by the Dutch Navy, for which parts of it are unobtrusively shut off to the public. During summer people swim in the former harbour basin, there’s a sauna lodge at its edge, and floating gardens, just steps from surveilled fences.

This morning it was very obvious that this is still an active navy compound.
Four artillery pieces were shooting across the harbour basin, right as I traversed the pontoons across it with my bike to reach the Open State’s offices. Despite the serious looking military police cordoning off the otherwise public street, it was clear it was a ceremonial thing. The cannoneers wore gala outfits with lots of gold tresses.
The noise was enormous though as I moved towards my destination under their fire.

Turns out the Emperor of Japan is on a state visit and in Amsterdam today, and the firing was a salute.
It also explains the very visible large police presence at Central Station when I arrived from home and picked up a bike there.

Four guns firing over the harbour basin, seen from the harbour basin’s other end, at Marine Terrein in Amsterdam.