On this day in Amsterdam, orange is the new everything. This fun-filled event takes over the entire city and there’s not a place in town that isn’t covered in orange confetti, glitter, flags and face paint. But it’s not just orange that fills the street.
There is food, fun, music, drinks and people dancing and having a great time on the best day of the year. Locally known as Koningsdag, it is held every 27th of April and everyone is invited to join the celebration of this National holiday. It doesn’t matter whether you’re on a boat in a canal, roaming the overflowing streets or chillin’ at the park: as long as you’re outside where all the Dutchies are. With your Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket, you’re one step ahead of the crowd.
Kingsday Amsterdam
Why You Should Visit Amsterdam for Kingsnight & Kingsday
A Bit of History - Dont Get Mixed Up
Formerly this day was referred to as Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day, in honor of the birthday of Queen Wilhelmina back in 1885. Her daughter Juliana later ascended to the throne in 1949 and the date was changed to the 30th of April to reflect her birthday.
When Princess Beatrix became queen, she decided to keep the tradition alive, mainly because her birthday is in January and that’s a little chilly for an outdoor party. But when she passed on the baton to her son, King Willem-Alexander, he changed the date to his birthday, the 27th of April. The year after the change a number of confused tourists with outdated guide books made the news by showing up fully dressed in orange while everyone else was still hung over from the actual King’s Day.
In theory, King’s Day serves to show respect and pride to the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch Royal Family. In practice, it’s just a great excuse to party.
Let’s Celebrate
The canals are nothing short of spectacular as boats filled with bright colors and wild decorations take over the canals in their thousands. You can choose to dance in one of these boats or you can opt to stand on one the many bridges and watch all the action from a higher viewpoint.
Then there are the parties! This public holiday is the perfect occasion to move your feet and that’s exactly what most Dutch do. But it’s not just them, tourists flock into town from other parts of Europe and the world to partake in the fun.
Over 700.000 people make their way to the capital for the King’s birthday, which is a lot considering the number of inhabitants is only 820.000.
There are never any warm weather guarantees, but the party is on regardless.
King’s Day traditions
The partying generally begins on the eve of King’s Day, the 26th, and continues till the end of the day on the 27th. When you walk back to your stay in the early hours of the 27th don’t be shocked to see people sitting on little camping chairs on the street or sidewalk. They’re holding their spot, probably in a popular area, for the ‘free-trade market’. On King’s Day, everyone is allowed to sell (almost) anything without a permit. Other people take less drastic measures and simply mark their spot as ‘bezet’, which means ‘taken’, with tape or chalk.
Early birds get up when the sun rises to hunt for hidden treasures and bargains on those free markets throughout the city. People sell literally everything and it’s a good place to start your King’s Day and buy that missing orange piece and some yummy home-baked goods. You’ll see lots of kids practicing their sales skills by vending the toys they’ve grown out of, playing music, organizing games to play and convincing you to try your luck at their ‘grabbelton’ (grab bag). Food stalls are set up everywhere around the city to keep the masses well fed.
King’s Day Etiquette
Wearing orange is optional? Not on King’s Day! Excuses like ‘I don’t have anything orange’ and ‘orange is not my color’ are utterly invalid as every store sells something orange on the days before the day and trust us on this one: no one looks good in orange. Neither do we, but we still wear it. It’s our national color and there’s no way out. The only place in the Netherlands where nobody wears orange on King’s Day is prison and that’s not where the party’s at. Talking about prison. The ‘free market’ concept doesn’t apply to alcohol and drugs. But that being said, plenty of people ignore the rules and sell delicious cocktails on the streets for a ‘habbekrats’ (almost nothing) and police generally look the other way when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
Want to eat a traditional King’s Day treat? Head over to Hema, the most Dutch shop of all Dutch shops and buy the orange version of their usually pink ‘tompouce’. It’s a local adaption of the mille-feuille and although not as refined as the French one, it’s definitely more delicious.
King’s Night in Amsterdam
King’s Day celebrations start the night before and parties in honor of the King are thrown everywhere in town. They’re often themed and sometimes require you to dress up in orange or as a member of the royal family. Dutch people never shy away from making fun of their royals, so definitely expect a pun or two here and there.
Where to Celebrate King’s Day
It’s Thursday so there’s no need to get up early unless you want to score those bargains at the market first, and the flow of people usually starts moving around noon.
Take a tour around the city center to start off your day and soak up the traditional vibes before heading over to one of the many smashing festivities around. The best events for Kingsday and Kingsnight can be found on our website, four noteworthy mentions include:
ULMF
As the sun rises over Amsterdam on April 27th, the city comes alive with excitement and anticipation for the biggest party of the year – Kingsday. And for music lovers, there's no better place to be than the Urban Legends Music Festival. With an epic lineup of HipHop, Dutch HipHop, Rap, and so much more; this festival is the ultimate destination for anyone looking to celebrate Kingsday in style. From the moment the gates open to the final beat drop, the Urban Legends Music Festival promises to deliver non-stop music until the next morning, good vibes, and unforgettable memories. If this is not enough to convince you, more can be found on our calendar page.
Het Sieraad
Get ready to dance the night away at Het Sieraad, one of Amsterdam's ultimate destinations for techno and house music! On April 27th, join the Kingsday celebration and immerse yourself in an unforgettable party experience. With top-notch sounds and lighting systems, as well as some of the best DJs in the business, Het Sieraad is the place to be for anyone looking to party long and hard. So don't miss out – grab your friends, and head to Het Sieraad for a night of non-stop beats and endless fun!
Club Up Hangover x Honey
Party like never before with Honey and Hangover at ClubUp's Kingsday extravaganza! This will feature a diverse and lively crowd of party-goers for a night of non-stop fun and excitement. From banging beats to delicious drinks, Honey and Hangover have everything you need to celebrate Kingsday in style. With a festive atmosphere and a team of top-notch DJs and entertainers, this event promises to be an experience you'll never forget. Grab your closest friends and an orange party outfit to celebrate the Dutch monarchy in the most vibrant way possible.
Supperclub
Celebrate Kingsday in the most exclusive way possible at Supperclub, Amsterdam's most elite nightlife venue! Join a select group of VIPs for a night of royal revelry and indulgence. With a strict dress code that ensures only the most stylish and sophisticated guests gain entry, Supperclub is the place to see and be seen this Kingsday. Enjoy world-class entertainment and top-shelf drinks in a stunning, luxurious setting that's sure to leave you feeling like royalty. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this exclusive event – get your tickets now and let's make this Kingsday one for the history books!
The streets of Amsterdam
If the sun is shining and temperatures are on the rise, grab some drinks and sit down on the side of a canal. You will see hundreds of boats, big and small, packed with people singing and dancing to music blasting from their speakers. It’s a spectacular sight to see and one you should definitely witness with your own eyes.
Maneuver your way to one of Amsterdam’s bigger parks, Vondelpark or Westerpark, to mix the party vibes with some lovely relaxation on the grass. You’ll see people sitting on blankets everywhere, eating, drinking, and playing instruments and games. It’s a great way to sit back for a minute and process the madness.
For traditional feels and a taste of some good old Dutch ‘gezelligheid’, go to the Jordaan area. You’ll find smaller stages with bands, DJ’s and solo artists showing off their musical skills on squares and even in small streets. Start at the central station and pass through the ‘Haarlemmerdijk’ on the way there, it’s always packed with food and happy people.
Options for the evening of King’s Day brought to you by your Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket are a Tropical Boat Party, Panamas Kingsday After to keep the party from Kingsnight going, Club John Doe at Rembrandtplein and much more!
Wise Words from the King.
Public transport in the city center on King’s Day? Nope. Driving around the canals on your rental bike? Forget it. Walking to the Jordaan area from Amsterdam’s central station takes about 10 minutes on a regular day, but on King’s Day it can take over an hour and that doesn’t include drinking stops. Your feet are the only way of transport on this day so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
In a jam-packed city where the beer is flowing richly, there never seem to be enough toilets for everyone. Getting to the nearest one might seem like a never-ending journey and finding a quiet spot is not going to happen on this day. So keep your eyes out for open doors topped with ‘WC’ signs. Locals benefit from the shortage of toilets and open theirs to the public. Trust us, there comes a moment where you will gladly pay €3 to go into a total stranger’s house to use their restroom.
