King’s Day
King’s Day (Koningsdag) is a national holiday in the Netherlands, normally celebrated on 27 April each year. If 27 April falls on a Sunday, the celebrations take place on 26 April instead. The day celebrates the birthday of the King of the Netherlands and has become one of the country’s biggest and most colourful national celebrations.
The history of King’s Day dates back to 1885, when the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, the future Queen of the Netherlands, was celebrated for the first time. Her birthday, 31 August, was celebrated as a national event during her reign. Later, the date changed to 30 April, the birthday of Queen Juliana. When her daughter Queen Beatrix came to the throne in 1980, she decided to keep the celebrations on 30 April, even though her own birthday was on 31 January.
The current King of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander, was born on 27 April. When he became king in 2013, Queen’s Day became King’s Day and, from 2014 onwards, the celebration moved to 27 April.
How King’s Day is celebrated in the Netherlands
On King’s Day, the Netherlands turns orange. People dress in the national colour and take to the streets to enjoy parties, live music, markets and many other activities. The celebrations usually begin the evening before with King’s Night (Koningsnacht), when bars, clubs and streets across the country fill with people celebrating until late at night.
If you are looking for somewhere to experience Koningsnacht, The Hague is particularly well known for its celebrations, with live music and events taking place around the city centre.
Why does everyone wear orange?
During Koningsdag, concerts and street parties take place in cities and neighbourhoods throughout the Netherlands. It is traditional to wear something orange, and many people go much further, dressing from head to toe in the colour.
Orange is associated with the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, and has become a symbol of Dutch national identity. On King’s Day, orange clothes, hats, wigs, flags and decorations can be seen almost everywhere.
The vrijmarkt: the King’s Day street market
One of the most popular King’s Day traditions is the vrijmarkt, which literally means “free market”. On this day, people set up stalls or simply spread blankets on the pavement and sell second-hand items they no longer need.
Children also take part, selling old toys, books and games or sometimes performing music in the street to earn a little pocket money. The vrijmarkt creates an enormous open-air flea market and is one of the most distinctive traditions of Koningsdag.
King’s Day in Rotterdam
Rotterdam joins the rest of the Netherlands with street parties, live music, markets and events across the city. The programme changes every year, so it is worth checking the latest events before your visit.
If you are visiting Rotterdam around King’s Day, you can combine the celebrations with discovering some of the best things to see in Rotterdam. Public transport and access to some areas of the city centre may be affected by the celebrations, so allow extra time when travelling around the city.
One of the biggest celebrations in the Netherlands
King’s Day is a day filled with music, street markets, parties and a sea of orange. Whether you join a vrijmarkt, attend a concert or simply walk through the streets enjoying the atmosphere, Koningsdag is one of the best opportunities to experience Dutch culture and celebrations at their most colourful.