King's Day in Amsterdam

Amidst orange-pride, live music, DJs, parties and a citywide street market, you'll find an electric atmosphere not to be missed. The next King's Day will be celebrated on Friday, 27 April 2018.

History of King’s Day (and Queen’s Day)

Amsterdam celebrated King’s Day (Koningsdag) for the first time in 2014, after the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander on 30 April 2013 (what was then still Queen’s Day).

The royal celebrations were first held on 31 August 1885 in honour of the birth of Queen Wilhelmina, and the Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) tradition was born. After Wilhelmina’s daughter (Juliana) succeeded to the throne in 1949, the day was changed to 30 April in accordance with the new Queen's birthday.  

When she became queen, the now Princess Beatrix chose to retain the day in honour of her mother but as of 2014, King’s Day is officially celebrated on 27 April (the king’s birthday).

The name may have changed slightly but the festive spirit of the day is sure to remain! You'll be treated to a sea of orange as everyone - and their pet - is covered head to toe in oranje (orange) as a show of pride for the Dutch Royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.

Every year, the royal entourage visits a town or municipality in the Netherlands as part of the celebrations.

Citywide street sale

As a city built on trade, Amsterdammers love to haggle and bargain. The vrijmarkt (literally ‘free market’) gives everyone and their mum the chance to sell their second-hand things on the streets and parks of Amsterdam, creating one of the world's largest flea markets.

And it’s not only second-hand wares on offer - plenty of food stalls spring up to fuel your bargain hunting frenzy! Read more about the citywide street market

Family fun

Aside from children being able to try their hand at trading on King’s Day, there are also plenty more activities taking place across the city for the young and young at heart including face-painting, games and sports events. Check the King’s Day family fun page for more information.

King's Night & Day parties

King's Day is a public holiday but certainly not a day of rest. The Dutch, expats and tourists alike flock to Amsterdam for a day of celebration. The fun traditionally begins on the eve of the big day (King’s Night) with the carnival atmosphere continuing throughout the city on King’s Day. DJs play parties on public squares, brightly decorated boats fill canals and live music spills onto streets from cafe patios. Read more about King’s Day events.

King's Day on the canals

Never has gridlock traffic been so much fun! On King’s Day, thousands of brightly decorated boats pack the narrow Amsterdam canals. The next best thing to being on one of the boats is watching - and dancing - from one of the many bridges. Check the King’s Day boating regulations page for more information.

Museums on King’s Day

While the majority of Amsterdam's major museums and attractions are closed on King’s Day, several notable visitor hotspots traditionally stay open including the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. An overview of museums open on King’s Day can be downloaded here.

Celebrating King's Day in the Amsterdam Area and beyond

On King's Day, cities across the Amsterdam Area are awash in orange, with all-day festivals filling the streets with markets, music, laughter and cheer. If you're looking to avoid the crowds in Amsterdam city centre and celebrate this iconic Dutch day elsewhere in the region (or even further afield), then our inspirational guide should help you find your ideal King's Day spot.

Download the King's Day app

Stay up to date with the best parties and events, see market locations, or simply find your nearest toilet with this special King's Day app by Woov. The app is in Dutch but contains a handy map to help you navigate this year's King's Day. Download it in the app store or get it on Google play.