Amsterdam, Netherlands
King's Day (Koningsdag)
The whole country turns orange for a nationwide street market and the biggest party of Amsterdam's year.
The straight answer
King's Day is April 27 every year, or April 26 when the 27th is a Sunday, and Amsterdam turns into a citywide orange street party and flea market from early morning to evening.
King's Day, Koningsdag, celebrates the birthday of King Willem-Alexander on April 27, and it is the one day of the year when the Netherlands goes gloriously overboard. Everyone wears orange, the canals fill with party boats, and Amsterdam hosts the biggest celebration in the country. When the 27th falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Saturday the 26th.
The day's quirk is the vrijmarkt, the free market. On King's Day anyone can sell anything on the street without a permit, so the whole country becomes a giant flea market: children selling old toys and playing music for coins, families selling homemade cakes, and neighborhoods lined with blankets of secondhand goods.
It is also a very crowded day. Hundreds of thousands of visitors pour into Amsterdam on top of the residents, the center is closed to traffic, and trams stop running through much of it. Plan for walking, crowds, and a party that runs from morning to the early evening.
The event, explained
The celebration starts the night before with Koningsnacht, King's Night, when bars, clubs, and street stages in Amsterdam and other cities run late. Many locals treat it as the real party and King's Day as the recovery.
On the day, the canals are the stage: boats packed with orange-clad crowds and speakers cruise the waterways, while bridges and canal-side streets in the Jordaan and around the Prinsengracht become open-air parties.
The Vondelpark hosts the children's market, where only kids sell toys, crafts, and performances, which is the most charming corner of the day. Across the city, squares host stages and DJ sets.
The royal family visits a different Dutch town each year for a walkabout, which is broadcast nationally. The party in Amsterdam does not depend on it.
How to play it right
- 01Book lodging three to five months ahead. Amsterdam hotels are expensive and scarce at the best of times, and King's Day overlaps with the peak of tulip season.
- 02Wear orange. You will feel out of place without it, and orange shirts, hats, and feather boas are sold everywhere in the days before.
- 03Get around on foot. Trams do not run through the center for most of the day, roads are closed, and taking a bike into the crowds is a mistake. Trains into Amsterdam Centraal are packed; allow extra time.
- 04Go to the vrijmarkt early. Sellers start setting up at dawn, and the best finds go before mid morning. Bring cash in small amounts.
- 05Public toilets are scarce and lines are long; cafes often charge for use. Plan ahead and do not drink too fast.
- 06Weather is changeable, with highs near 57F (14C) and a real chance of showers. Bring a waterproof layer over your orange.
With kids in tow
- The Vondelpark children's market is the best King's Day activity for families, with kids performing and selling goods throughout the park, mostly in the morning.
- The canal and Jordaan parties get very crowded and boozy by afternoon. With young children, stay in the parks and outer neighborhoods and head home by mid afternoon.
- Consider staying outside the center, in a smaller Dutch town or a residential district, where the vrijmarkt atmosphere is local and relaxed.
Book your stay for King's Day (Koningsdag).
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- Hotels for April
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in King's Day (Koningsdag)Opens a hotel search for King's Day (Koningsdag) in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in King's Day (Koningsdag)Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in King's Day (Koningsdag)Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in King's Day (Koningsdag) for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
King's Day (Koningsdag), quick answers
When is King's Day in Amsterdam?
April 27 every year, the king's birthday. When April 27 falls on a Sunday, King's Day moves to Saturday, April 26. King's Night parties happen the evening before.
What is the vrijmarkt on King's Day?
A nationwide free market. On King's Day anyone can sell goods on the street without a permit, so streets and parks fill with flea markets, food stalls, and kids performing for coins.
Is public transport running on King's Day?
Trains run, but they are crowded. Trams do not run through much of the city center, and roads are closed. Walking is the easiest way to get around.
Is King's Day good for families?
In the mornings, yes. The Vondelpark children's market is a highlight. The canal parties later in the day are crowded and boozy.
Can I see the tulips on the same trip?
Yes. King's Day falls in the peak of tulip season, so the fields and Keukenhof are in bloom. Just expect the gardens to be busy that week too.
Make a trip of it: Amsterdam
The best time to visit Amsterdam
Best: Apr to Jun and Sep
The best time to visit Amsterdam is mid April through May for tulip season and King's Day, or September for warm canalside evenings without summer's peak crowds; the city itself runs at full strength all twelve months.
Also in April
Humpback Whale Season in Maui
Maui, Hawaii
Roughly December to April, with the peak from January to March
Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Late March into early April, with peak bloom varying a week or two year to year
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
Japan nationwide, sweeping south to north
Late March through April, moving south to north across the country
Tulip Season in the Netherlands
Lisse & Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mid March through mid May, with the fields at their boldest in mid-to-late April
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