{"id":133,"date":"2016-04-20T08:01:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T06:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikingamsterdam.com\/en\/blog\/?p=133"},"modified":"2016-04-19T23:02:43","modified_gmt":"2016-04-19T21:02:43","slug":"amsterdams-kings-day-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bikingamsterdam.com\/blog\/amsterdams-kings-day-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"Amsterdam’s King’s Day Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve never experienced Amsterdam\u2019s King’s Day (or \u201cKoningsdag\u201d in Dutch) \u2013 then you\u2019re in for quite a surprise.\u00a0 King\u2019s Day could quite possibly be the biggest birthday party you will ever attend.\u00a0 This national holiday on April 27th celebrates King Willem-Alexander\u2019s birthday \u2013 and all of Amsterdam joins in the festivities with dancing, live music, a citywide street market and a carnival-type atmosphere that takes hold over the entire city.<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t wait to get the party started? Not to worry, some celebrations kick off the night before on King\u2019s Night (or \u201cKoningsnacht\u201d).\u00a0 This is when some of Amsterdam\u2019s best clubs, bars and pubs throw their doors open to orange-clad revellers for King\u2019s Night events and parties \u2013 some of whom carry the festivities through the night and into the next day.<\/p>\n

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Boats create a traffic jam in the canals as everyone wears orange to celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam.<\/p><\/div>\n

Whatever you do, make sure to wear some orange \u2013 and if you\u2019re covered from head to toe, even better!\u00a0 By the way, feel free to don that orange wig at the back of your closet and indulge in some orange face paint.\u00a0 (Don\u2019t worry, you won\u2019t be alone.)\u00a0 Everyone in Holland (really, everyone) attires themselves in orange on this special day to show their pride and support for the Dutch Royal Family \u2013 also known as the House of Orange-Nassau.<\/p>\n

Once in orange, you\u2019ll fit right in \u2013 dancing along to live music in the public squares, on one of the many bridge and in the streets, all while watching the colourfully decorated boats in the canals. Kids are also part of the fun with face-painting, games and sports events.<\/p>\n

Though King\u2019s Day is new to Holland, these birthday celebrations aren\u2019t. King\u2019s Day started as recently as 2014, but before this it was celebrated on April 30th as Queen\u2019s Day to honour Queen Beatrix, the former monarch.\u00a0 However, April 30th isn\u2019t Queen Beatrix\u2019s actual birthday \u2013 it was her mother\u2019s. After Queen Beatrix took the throne, she kept Queen\u2019s Day as April 30 to celebrate and honour her mother\u2019s birthday (an especially prudent move as Queen Beatrix\u2019s actual birthday is in the wintry month of January).<\/p>\n

So, this long-standing national celebration continues.\u00a0 On King\u2019s Day, Amsterdam\u2019s streets bustle and overflow with activities and events for people of all ages with live music, parties and a citywide street market \u2013 one of the world\u2019s largest \u2013 where you can haggle, bargain and shop (an homage to Amsterdam\u2019s important trading roots).\u00a0\u00a0 This free open-air market kicks off at 6 in the morning and goes until about 8 o\u2019clock in the evening.<\/p>\n

Since you\u2019ll need to re-fuel after all that partying, head to one (or a few!) of the city\u2019s hundreds of food vendors dotting the many streets and squares.\u00a0 Whatever you do, don\u2019t end the day without trying some tompouce, a sweet Dutch pastry filled with delicious cream that you won\u2019t soon forget. (For King\u2019s Day, these treats are specially decorated with bright orange icing.)<\/p>\n

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The many squares in Amsterdam are packed with people dancing during King’s Day in Amsterdam.<\/p><\/div>\n

A few notes for visiting Amsterdam on King\u2019s Day:<\/p>\n