Celebrate King's Day in the Netherlands
Drive to the Netherlands for the King’s Day celebrations and get swept up in orange madness!
Visit the Netherlands in spring to experience one of the country’s biggest and orange-est celebrations! Whether you are visiting with family or friends, King’s Day is an unmissable event packed with unique things to do across the country.
What is King’s Day?
King’s Day, or Koningsdag, is a national holiday in the Netherlands. The day celebrates the birthday of the reigning monarch, King Willem-Alexander. The holiday is marked by country-wide celebrations, concerts, markets, parties and festivities, with orange - the colour of the Dutch royal family - visible everywhere. The day has a joyful, lively, and energetic atmosphere. Full of community spirit, it is the perfect time for people of all ages to discover Dutch culture.
Interestingly, before Willem-Alexander became king in 2013, the day was known as Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) in celebration of previous queens, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix.
Streets are festooned with orange bunting on King’s Day
When is King’s Day?
King’s Day is on the 27th of April.
The day is celebrated on the 26th April if the 27th is a Sunday.
Where is the best place to celebrate King’s Day?
As a nationwide holiday, King’s Day can be celebrated anywhere in the Netherlands. The best place to celebrate King’s Day will depend on the type of experience you’re looking for and the other activities you want to enjoy on your trip.
| City | Approximate driving time for Calais | King’s Day highlights | City highlights |
| Eindhoven | 3 hrs 30 minutes | Outdoor parties at Stadhuisplein and Clausplein, family-friendly parties, street markets | Van Abbemuseum, Strijp-S creative district, Philips Museum |
| Rotterdam | 3 hrs 50 minutes | Pop-up markets, music events, floating stages along the Maas river | Markthal, Erasmus Bridge, Cube Houses |
| Gouda | 4 hrs | Street markets, local music, parades, games for children | Gouda Cheese Market, St. Janskerk, historic town centre |
| Utrecht | 4 hrs 15 minutes | Canal parties, street performances, family-friendly daytime activities | Dom Tower, Utrecht canals, Rietveld Schröder House |
| The Hague | 4 hrs 30 minutes | Vrimarkt in Plein and Grote Markt squares, seaside celebrations, Life I Live Festival | Mauritshuis Museum, Binnenhof, Scheveningen beach |
| Amsterdam | 4 hrs 30 minutes | Canal parties, floating stages, huge vrijmarkt | Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Jordaan neighbourhood |
Top things to do on King’s Day
With so much to see and do on King’s Day, squeezing it all into just one day can be a real challenge!
Browse the Vrijmarkt flea markets
A unique highlight of the day is that anyone can set up a stall and sell second-hand items on King’s Day. The streets are filled with vrijmarkt, or free markets, turning the Netherlands into a giant flea market packed with unique and quirky finds. Spend some time browsing the stalls and soaking up the festive atmosphere. For the best bargains, arrive early and don’t forget to bring cash, as most vendors won’t accept cards.
Browse the flea markets on King’s Day for unique and quirky finds!
Join street parties and open-air concerts
One of the simplest ways to join the King’s Day celebrations is to visit one of the many, many street parties and open-air concerts. You won’t miss them, as live music spills onto the streets from every square, café, and canal-side terrace. You’ll find large-scale parties at Amsterdam’s Museumplein and Dam Square, Rotterdam’s Binnenrotte, Utrecht’s Neude, and The Hague’s Plein and Grote Markt.
Hop aboard a boat party
Celebrate King’s Day like a local and hop aboard a party boat! With canals across the country teeming with festive boats and crowds dressed in orange, you can either enjoy the atmosphere from the canal-side or book a tour with a tour operator. This is a great way to see the streets from a unique perspective, soak up the festivities and become part of the sea of orange.
Popular tour operators in Amsterdam include Fun Amsterdam, Starboard, and Flagship Amsterdam. Party boats on King’s Day are less common in other areas of the country.
Watch the revellers celebrate King’s day on the canals.
Discover family-friendly King’s Day activities
Families won’t be short on things to do on the Dutch king’s birthday. King’s Day is jam-packed with events and activities perfect for little ones. Alongside family-friendly street parties, many cities host fairs with rides and attractions. Flea markets can be especially fun for children, with stalls offering games, puppet shows, face-painting, and street performances. Many of these stalls are even created and run by children themselves!
Taste traditional King’s Day treats
Traditional King’s Day foods are, of course, orange! Wherever you are in the Netherlands, you’re sure to find sweet treats like cakes, doughnuts, and pastries decorated with orange icing, sprinkles and glazes. Unmissable highlights include oranjebitter – an orange beer - and oranje tompouce – a rectangular puff pastry filled with cream or custard and topped with bright orange icing.
Alongside these King’s Day classics, many food stalls offer other Dutch delicacies and street foods, including savoury snacks like Dutch meatballs, sausages, herring, and fries, as well as sweet treats such as waffles, pancakes, and ice cream.
Enjoy an orange tompouce on King’s Day.
Experience King’s Night celebrations
The night before the King’s birthday, Koningsnacht - or King’s Night - is packed with parties, live music and open-air events in the lead up to the big day. It’s a popular night out in the Netherlands, and some revellers even party straight through from King’s Night into King’s Day. With many pubs, clubs, bars and cafés hosting King’s night events and staying open until late, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in Dutch nightlife.
Tips to make the most of King’s Day
Find top tips to make the most of your trip celebrating the King’s birthday in the Netherlands:
- Wear orange – Join the fun and dress in orange clothing and accessories.
- Bring cash – Many market stalls and small vendors won’t accept cards.
- Use public transport – Parking may be limited, and many roads will be closed.
- Arrive early – Make the most of flea market bargains and beat the crowds.
- Wear comfortable footwear – You’ll want footwear suitable for a full day of walking (and partying!)
Celebrate the Dutch King’s birthday - Book your trip with LeShuttle!
Put on an orange hat and plan your Dutch adventure! Driving to the Netherlands for King’s Day is easy with LeShuttle. Fijne Koningsdag – Happy King’s Day!
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