For the party animals
King’s Day’s celebrations actually start the day before, with King’s Night, and so many clubs will be throwing a party that you’ll need a good excuse to not be stumbling onto one dancefloor or another. Among many, Westerunie is having its trademark rave party on King’s Night, while Voltt pumps NDSM-werf full of house and techno. On King’s Day, infamous technofest Loveland is taking over Meerpark in Oost, while RAI and the Olympic Stadium are invaded by big name DJs during their respective Kingsland and Kingsday festivals. The 20 DJs at Houthavens will also keep you dancing until the colour orange has become abhorrent. Find your perfect King's Day party or King's Night party.
For the marineers
It wouldn’t be an Amsterdam celebration if it didn’t also take the canals by storm with thousands of party boats, so the choice is yours: commandeer your own embarkation (beware of special regulations in place during King’s Day), or get tickets to a small party boat or a big cruise such as that organised by Anura, Bam Boe and Knus, who promise a full night of ‘maritime mayhem’. It’s also fun to watch the parade of boats trying to cover each other’s sound systems from the streets.
For the hoarders and bargain hunters
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure: King’s Day is the chance for Amsterdammers to peddle all their unwanted stuff by setting up shop literally everywhere in the streets and parks, transforming Amsterdam into a giant garage sale. No permit is required, and haggling is encouraged – which is always fun in dense crowds of drunk people wearing orange boas. Find out more about the King's Day street markets.
For families
You wouldn’t think such a rowdy party would be kid-friendly, but orange-costumed children get their own vrijmarkt (free market) in Vondelpark where they can sell their old toys, and a slew of events are designed especially for them, such as face-painting, puppet shows, games or sporting events. See more King's Day family fun.
For the agoraphobic
Between 600,000 and a million people descend onto the city to celebrate the King’s birthday, and while the Dutch are a lot more civilised than football hooligans, Amsterdam will be one giant drunken beehive for two days of loud and sometimes rambunctious fun. Stay home and lock the doors – but not without your orange party hat.
