Regulations Queen's Day 2009

Every year, amsterdam has a number of rules and regulations in regard to the celebration of Queen's Day. Here are the most important ones:

In the night of April 29th on April 30th the usual weekend regulations will apply. Bars may be opened until 04:00 am. Discotheques and night cafés with a licence can stay open until 05:00 am, the authorized cooldown discotheques until 06:00 am. In the early morning of Queens Day there will be a quiet period from 05:00 – 09:00 am. Bakeries throughout the city centre may stay open until 06:00 am, providing they have a permit. On April 30th the bakeries may open their doors from 07:00 am. Alcohol may not yet be sold at that time. At 09:00 am bars, restaurants and cafés may open their doors and terraces. The closing hours on Queen’s Day will be the same as on a normal weekday, meaning 01:00 am for all daytime businesses, 03:00 am for evening businesses and 05:00 am for night-time businesses.

Events and outdoor bars
Outdoor stages with live music may start on Queen’s Night from 19:00 pm until 01:00 am. During these hours outdoor bars may also be open. On Queen's Day, performances on outdoor stages may start from 12:00 am. Alcohol may be sold at the outdoor bars starting from 11:00 am. After 21:00 pm all outdoor music must have come to an end and the outdoor bars must be closed down. On the Museumplein the music may continue an hour longer, but must end at 22:00 pm.

'Freemarket' (Vrijmarkt)
On Queen’s Day the 'Freemarket' may be built up from 06:00 am, this means that from that moment on you may take in your place. At 09:00 the Vondelpark will be opened, hence opening the children's' freemarket. The freemarket may last until 20:00 pm. After this time all stands and carts need to have been removed so that the area is empty and clean again. On Queen’s Day the Regulation on Street Trade remains in effect. This implies that, amidst others, the sale of perishable goods and/or live animals require a special permit. Individuals may sell cans or bottles with soda, but not alcohol or 'perishable goods'- i.e. food. Only bars, restaurants, cafés and official tradesmen such as bakeries, butchers and grocery stores are allowed to sell food. Stores may be open on Queen’s Day. Only regular day markets may not take place.

Regulations regarding alcohol
Individuals are prohibited from carrying more than one can, bottle or other packaging holding a (weak) alcoholic beverage. If you do carry more than one drink you could be considered an alcohol dealer and hence risk confiscation.

Apart from the city council, the NS will also follow a strict alcohol policy on Queen’s Day. Starting from April 29th at 19:00 pm until May 1st 05:00 am no alcoholic beverages may be sold on any train station in the Netherlands. Moreover travellers may not carry more than one can or bottle of alcohol with them. The railway police are entitled to take possession of alcoholic beverages at all times.
Amsterdam city council has reached an agreement with bars, restaurants etc. that on Queen's Day and the night before, these establishments:

- Will not be selling 'metre of beers'.
- Will not serve drinks in glass at the outdoor bars. In addition, the city centre will use plastic eco-cups subject to a deposit system.
- Will not serve intoxicated party-goers.
-Will not sell alcohol to youth under 16 years.
- Will not sell strong liquor to youth under 18 years.
- Will not have or sell liquor at outdoor bars.
- Will not hold happy hours or other discounts.
- The counter-sale of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited.
All stores and supermarkets in the Centre and Oud-Zuid will not be selling crates of beer and/or 6-packs.