pinterest pin Celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands

What is King’s Day in the Netherlands?

King's Day is probably one of the most popular and flamboyant celebrations in the Netherlands. Every year on April 27 (or the day before if it falls on a Sunday), the Dutch celebrate their King Willem-Alexander's birthday as a national holiday with a lot of music, dancing, flea markets, and fun fairs all over the country. If you happen to be in the Netherlands, you can’t miss this event!

Why wear Orange on King’s Day?

On King’s Day it is customary to wear orange and you may have thought why. Well, Willem of Orange is where it all started. In 1533, he was born as Willem of Nassau-Dillenburg. He became a sovereign monarch at the age of 11 when he inherited the Principality of Orange in the south of France. Then, he adopted the name Willem of Orange-Nassau, more commonly known as Willem of Orange. The royal family was referred to as the "House of Orange" (Huis van Oranje) from that point on. When he led the Dutch revolt against Spain and overthrew them from the city of Den Briel, people began to use orange as a symbolic color for the first time. Today, orange is worn by Dutch people as a sign of pride and national unity.

kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

A Brief History of King’s Day

Since 1890, the Netherlands has had all female monarchs namely Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix. Therefore, the Dutch had been celebrating the birthday of their Queens on Queensday (Konninginnedag). However, in 2013, when the last Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne for her son the Crown Prince Willem Alexander, and took the title of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Willem Alexander became the first Dutch king since 1890, and the Queensday changed to the King's Day.

Where to best celebrate King’s Day?

Though there are celebrations on King's Day all around the Netherlands, Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven are five of the busiest cities on King's Day, with the most popular being Amsterdam, with an average of 700,000 visitors joining the 822,000+ natives in one of the world's biggest street party.

This map was made with Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

How is King’s Day celebrated?

1. King’s Night

The King's Night, which is the evening before the King's Day, is when the festivities officially begin. The celebrations continue to the next morning of King’s Day and go on for an additional full day. It is widely observed in many cities with DJs playing in restaurants or clubs and live music being played in bars and on the streets. It is a lively and welcoming evening of dancing and communal celebration in advance of the King's birthday. During King's Night, you can also attend a number of free festivals, including The Life I Live-festival in The Hague, the Deventer King's festival in Deventer, the Royal Dutch in Eindhoven, and the Foute Oranjefeest in Arnhem.

2. The King and The Queen Consort’s meeting with the people

Each year, the King and his family visit a different Dutch municipality, giving the residents a chance to showcase their city and the region in an original, joyous way. The majority of onlookers are fully orange-clad, joyfully waving Dutch flags or sporting the little tricolor painted on their cheeks.

horse chariot during kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

man blowing saop bubbles during kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

3. Orange Attire

Wearing orange attire is a tradition for King's Day celebrations. Making fun of the royal family (House of Orange) by coloring faces and hair orange, consuming orange-colored beverages, donning orange crowns, and dressing as the king or queen are all a part of the King's Day festivities.

boy wearing orange attire and garland during kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

4. Canal Boat Parade

Early in the afternoon, a joyful boat parade normally lasts for many hours along the city canals. On the banks of the canals and in boats, people dance. Some boats will occasionally stop at the shore and offer you an invitation to their floating party.

5. Street Party

Professional street performers compete for attention all throughout the city. There are street discos, pick-up bands, young rappers, and wannabe opera singers. Drum groups in the Rio style have gained a lot of popularity recently.

6. Carnivals

There are several carnivals taking place in each of the major cities mentioned above where there are plenty of joy rides for kids and adults alike. You can also participate in crazy Dutch traditional activities like "bite-the-cake" and "throwing toilet bowls" during fun fairs that are hosted throughout the nation.

man and boy wearing sunglasses and garlands standing at carnival during kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

carnival during kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

boy eating candy floss during kings day carnival in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

7. Flea Market

The Dutch, who have historically been a nation of traders and sailors, sell and buy household items to commemorate their most significant national festival. Most of the prices are symbolic. The main factor in this is enjoyment. It is customary to bargain over the price.

kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange and flea markets all around

boy wearing hat checking out predator statues in kings day flea market in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

Tips and Tricks

1. Transportation

Remember all of the King's Day events are held in the city centers. Therefore, roads may be closed and it may be highly crowded due to flea markets, parades, and festivals, especially in large cities. Therefore, we advise using public transportation to reach the city centers on King's Day. When in the city center, travel on foot.

2. Public Toilets

Every King's Day, a ton of idiots discover that footage of their faces (and other body parts) broadcasted on Twitter as a result of their urinating in canals, on bikes, doors, and alleys. Don’t be one of them. Make use of a public toilets to avoid embarrassment (not to mention a €150 fine).

3. Alcohol Limits

Though the rules vary from city to city, but by and large, on King's Day, it is unlawful to possess more than one alcoholic beverage in a public place. Beer kegs are regarded as multiple drinks and may be seized. From six in the morning until midnight, this rule is in effect.

4. Canal Rules

The City of Amsterdam has increased the laws and restrictions governing King's Day canal usage in recent years. Huge barges, boats longer than ten meters, noisy music, and carrying more than one can or bottle of beer per passenger are all prohibited.

5. Crowd Measures

Authorities in Amsterdam have tried to halt the flow of visitors in recent years, with some success, as the city just became too crowded. Huge concerts used to be held at a number of city areas, including Museumplein, Rembrandtplein, and Dam Square. But today they are all outside the city and are no longer free since the free concerts brought too many people to Amsterdam and overwhelmed the city, the trains, and the police.

6. Pickpockets

Keep any valuables out of your pockets. You will move through crowded areas. Not every traveler to Amsterdam arrives with the best of intentions.

7. Hotel Availability

If you plan to travel to Amsterdam on the King's Day, make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. On this day, hotels are normally fully booked.

lady and boy wearing hat and garlands standing in front of dutch parliament binnenhof in kings day in holland netherlands party celebration in canals and streets of amsterdam and den haag with people wearing orange

Epilogue

So that was all about celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article. And until we meet next time, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!