Hello Going Expat people,
I just realised that in my traditions blogs there is no article about the most known and celebrated day of the Netherlands: King’s day! Or Koningsdag in Dutch.
Yes, it is exactly that days when all the country literally turns orange and (very often) drunk, to celebrate the monarchy they don’t care about in the rest of the year.
Why the Dutch celebrate King’s Day?
First of all we need to clarify that this day became King’s Day only in 2014, in fact before then the monarch of the Reign of the Netherlands, was always a Queen. Since 1890 the country celebrates their monarch’s birthday starting with Queen Wilhelmina in August of that year.
After her the crown went to her daughter Juliana, who’s birthday was on 30 April and then, again her daughter Queen Beatrix who was born in January and decided to keep the celebration on the date of birth of her mother, probably for the weather that would have been too cold otherwise.
Queen’s day is therefore the real tradition and it would be again, whenever the current monarch, King Willem-Alexander, will pass the title to his first daughter Amalia.
Queen Beatrix abdicated officially on the 30th of April 2013, therefore that was the last Queen’s day, in favour of her son Willem-Alexander, whom date of birth is 27th of April and since then, the Netherlands celebrates King’s day.
If you are wondering if I have ever celebrated Queen’s day, the answer is YES. It was my first monarch party! In fact the picture shows a young me getting ready for the party.
I believe that was the one time I went fully orange, and of course, being the first time, I celebrate it in Amsterdam on a boat which was mainly getting stuck in the canals among all the others.
It was fun, but enough!
There are more activities you can do on this day, and we’ll see them later in the article.
Why does everyone wear something orange?
The colour orange is the colour of the Netherlands, however is nowhere to be seen in its flag, why is that then?
To have our answer, we need to go back to the 16th century when the Netherlands was founded. Orange refers to the family name of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange-Nassau, have you ever heard of William of Orange?
On Queen/King’s day people not only party, but let the Dutch flag out of their houses, and to it they add an orange drape, a cloth which, indeed, symbolize the monarchy and its family.
It is then common to wear at least something orange, since the day is dedicated to the Royal family anyways.
Today people do not necessary care about it, and orange became the colour of the Netherlands despite it. In fact, celebrating King’s day doesn’t mean be in favour of the monarchy, however an important 59% of Dutch people believes monarchy should remain in place.
How to celebrate?
Every mayor city offers a series of events, festivals and markets. Smaller cities have quite celebrations, but you will still see decorations everywhere and flea and free markets. In fact on that day everyone can sell stuff.
Some areas are specifically designed for Vrijmarkt so it is possible for families (it is fun for kids, but not only) and anyone who wants to to find a spot and sell their stuff.
Amsterdam is certainly the main place where to celebrate, be careful people go literally crazy on that day, and the use of alcohol is quite high. Here the main area where to celebrate:
Kingsland Festival – at the Olympisch Stadion, this is the largest King’s Day electronic music festival, there will be DJs like Afrojack and of course tickets are required.
Citywide Street Parties – From 9:00 AM, free markets and cafés open. By noon, outdoor parties commence, especially on Westerstraat, Prinsengracht, and Reguliersdwarsstraat. Outdoor activities conclude at 8:00 PM, after which celebrations continue indoors.
For the night celebrations, in fact you need to check what happens on the evening before.
Vondelpark – for music, fun and Vrijmarkt.
Also my beloved Rotterdam will turn orange
Sweet Kingsday Festival- at Spinozapark, this family-friendly event with live music, food trucks, and activities for all ages.
Citywide Vrijmarkt – basically every street and park will become a giant market
What about The Hague?
Street parties start on April 25 in the evening, make sure you dress appropriate already!
Like for every other city there will be some Vrijmarkt:
Malieveld Festivities, maybe for all ages celebrations and families as well.
Let’s check out what about Eindhoven
Supersized Kingsday Festival -yes, one more electronic music event.
Stadswandelpark Vrijmarkt, typical area where events happen
King’s day on the 26th of April
This year, 2025, the king’s birthday is on a Sunday, due to religious reasons, you cannot celebrate the monarch on the same day of God, therefore the celebration would be one day early, on the 26th instead than the 27th.
Last fact, the King every year visits a different city in the Netherlands, this year it would be Doetinchem, Gelderland
And now tell me, have you ever celebrated this day in the Netherlands?
Would you like to?
Rossella
Written by
Rossella Daví
