Everything you Need to Know about Celebrating King’s Day in Amsterdam

Do you want to celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam? We will tell you everything you need to know about celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands.

King’s Day is a national holiday on April 27th in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam is one of the best places to experience it. We’ll cover the history of King’s Day, what to expect on the day itself, and some tips for enjoying the festivities.

We loved visiting Amsterdam during the King’s Day celebrations. It is iconic. But it can get pretty crowded. So if you prefer celebrating somewhere a little less crowdy, we suggest visiting Utrecht or any other city in the Netherlands. There are King’s Day celebrations everywhere.

What is King’s Day in the Netherlands?

Koningsdag, or King’s Day, is a festive occasion in the Netherlands celebrated annually on April 27th. The holiday marks the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, the current monarch of the country. It is a national holiday so (nearly) everyone gets a day off work.

The tradition began in 1885, when the then-princess Wilhelmina’s fifth birthday was celebrated with a nationwide event. Over the years, the festivities have evolved to include parades, street parties, flea markets, and concerts.

Many Dutch people wear orange clothing, the national color, and adorn themselves with patriotic symbols such as flags and crowns. The day is also an opportunity for locals and tourists to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage, as museums, historic sites, and other attractions offer free or discounted admission.

King’s Day used to be called Queen’s Day, and it was celebrated on April 30th in honor of the birthday of Queen Juliana. When Queen Beatrix became queen, she decided to keep the holiday on April 30th in honor of her mother’s birthday. However, when King Willem-Alexander recently became king, the holiday was moved to April 27th, his birthday.

Why is Orange the National Color of the Netherlands?

The color orange is associated with the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. The House of Orange-Nassau has a long history in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. The first chief executive officer of the Dutch Republic was William of Orange, who led the Dutch in their struggle for independence against Spain. William of Orange’s descendants continued to play an important role in Dutch politics and society, and the color orange became associated the Dutch national identity.

The color orange is also linked to the Netherlands through the country’s most famous export: tulips. In the 17th century, tulip mania swept through the Netherlands, with people paying exorbitant prices for tulip bulbs. One of the most popular tulips at the time was the orange tulip, which became a symbol of Dutch prosperity and national pride.

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What to expect on King’s Day in Amsterdam?

King’s Day is a huge street party, with people dressed in orange and celebrating all over the city. The streets are filled with music, theater, food and drinks, and there are many outdoor markets and activities.

People sell things in the streets and parks. This is called the “vrijmarkt” – free market. Everyone can sell anything they want that day (with the limitation of some things like live animals, alcohol and food, unless you have a vendor’s licence) Most people sell things from their house they don’t use anymore. Amsterdam turns into a giant flea-market.

The canals are also a big part of the celebration, with many boats decked out in orange and people partying on them. It can be quite crowded, so be prepared for that.

Tips for Celebrating King’s Day in Amsterdam

Wear orange! It’s the national color and it’s traditional to dress up in orange on King’s Day. If you don’t have anything orange to wear; no worries! You will be able to buy cheap orange accessories everywhere in Amsterdam.
Get your hands on a orange tompouce (see picture below), which is the traditional pastry to eat on King’s Day. A tompouce is a slice of puff pastry split open and filled with a fluffy custard and topped with a sugary coating. Normally the sugar coating is pink, but for King’s Day they make them orange. And needless to say: they are delicious.
Plan your route ahead of time and be prepared for crowds. Some areas of the city will be more crowded than others, so if you want to avoid the crowds, plan accordingly.
Bring cash. Some vendors won’t accept credit/debit cards, and it’s always good to have some cash on hand. Most food and drink stands accept cards, so the cash is for when you want to buy something at one of the flea-markets.
Be aware that public transport will have a different and less frequent itinerary this day.
If you want to enjoy King’s Day on a boat you need to make a reservation online on forehand, since spots sell out really fast.
They are bands and DJ’s playing literally all over the city. You don’t need to search for that. This is all free. But at several spots in the city there are small scaled festivals/concerts. You will need a ticket for that. We included some handy links to these events below.
Want to celebrate even more? Coming to Amsterdam the day before King’s Day is the perfect solution for that. The night before is called King’s Night and this also means lots of music and parties all over the city.

More information you might need for King’s Day in Amsterdam

Here are some handy links to help you plan your King’s Day visit to Amsterdam:

The website of I-Amsterdam offers lots of information on all King’s Day activities!
Visit the Vondelpark for the biggest flea-market (including kids-market).
Want a fun pop-concert party? Head over to the Museumplein.
Want to listen to folksingers and enjoy flea-markets, the Jordaan is the place to be.
Want to go on a Canal Cruise, boats leave at Damrak every hour.
Looking for the best LGBTQ+ parties? Check out Westermarkt or the Reguliersdwarsstraat.

Kingsday in Amsterdam is an amazing experience that you won’t want to miss if you’re in the Netherlands in April.

Want to know the best Vegan Restaurants in Amsterdam? Check out our Friend’s article on the 35+ Vegan Hot Spots in Amsterdam.

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