{"id":170318,"date":"2024-04-12T09:10:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T05:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/?p=170318"},"modified":"2024-04-19T09:40:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T05:40:00","slug":"kings-day-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/kings-day-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange Madness: Navigating King\u2019s Day in Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amsterdam holds a reputation for being a party hub, but have you ever seen the entire city come together to party anywhere and everywhere? King\u2019s Day,<\/a> or Koningsdag, is a vibrant explosion of orange that washes over Amsterdam<\/a> every year on King Willem-Alexander\u2019s birthday, which falls on April 27. On this national holiday, everyone from the young, the old, tourists, families and students will throng the streets donning their brightest orange attire (which is also their national color). <\/p>\n

Read on as this guide will be your orange compass, helping you navigate through the organized chaos and hidden gems of King\u2019s Day in Amsterdam. <\/p>\n

The history behind King\u2019s Day<\/h2>\n

\"Kansai<\/p>\n

Well, it wasn\u2019t always called King\u2019s Day. In fact, King\u2019s Day was first celebrated in 1885 as Princess\u2019 Day on August 31 as it commemorated Princess Wilhelmina\u2019s fifth birthday. When she became a queen in 1891, it was renamed Queen\u2019s Day and celebrations continued. When Queen Juliana took the throne in 1948, she wanted to make it grander and changed the date to her birthday, April 30. Queen Beatrix followed suit in 1980 and kept the tradition alive. Things changed once again when Williem-Alexander became the king in 2013. The date of the celebration changed to April 27, and the name to King\u2019s Day or Koningsdag. Talk about royal treatment, right? <\/p>\n

What happens on King\u2019s Day? <\/h2>\n

\"Kansai<\/p>\n

Over the years, King’s Day has really grown into something special for Dutch culture and heritage, bringing everyone together to celebrate the royal family with bustling parties, colorful parades, and tons of orange everywhere! Here\u2019s everything you can expect during King\u2019s Day in Amsterdam:<\/p>\n

Stay Orange<\/h3>\n

If you haven\u2019t got the drift yet, on King\u2019s Day, everyone wears orange. Everywhere you look, you will see people dressed only in orange \u2013 everything from clothes, hair and makeup. If you don\u2019t own anything orange, there are heaps of stores and stalls that will have something for you.<\/p>\n

Boat and canal parties<\/h3>\n

Canal parties are all the rage on King\u2019s Day, where boats are adorned with, of course, orange decorations! There will be DJs entertaining you while you cruise along Amsterdam\u2019s picturesque waterways. Talk about dancing to some sick beats and drinking under the open sky! <\/p>\n

Market sights<\/h3>\n

The Vrijmarkt, also known as \u201cfree market\u201d, sees locals setting up stalls on streets to sell second-hand goods, crafts, and homemade treats, creating a vibrant community spirit from 6 am until stocks run out.<\/p>\n

Festive foods<\/h3>\n

From traditional Dutch snacks like bitterballen, stroopwafels to festive treats like orange tompouce, there\u2019s something for every palate. Normally, the tompouce, which is a local variety of the mille-feuille, is pink in color. However, for this one day only, it\u2019s served orange. <\/p>\n

Live music and entertainment<\/h3>\n

As the boats host lively parties, the streets come alive with music. You\u2019ll see plenty of street musicians and free outdoor stages featuring local bands and DJs working their magic. There are also ticketed concerts like the Kingsland Festival in Amsterdam, featuring artists such as Martin Garrix, Bankzitters, Cho, and Kris Kross Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

Getting there<\/h2>\n

\"Itami<\/p>\n

When most of Amsterdam is going to be out and about on the streets, you have to plan out your travel situation. Don\u2019t worry, we have you covered. <\/p>\n

By Train:<\/h3>\n

For a busy day in Amsterdam, taking the train will be your best bet (even if you are reaching from other cities). However, with limited trains available for the day, you can expect cancelations and very crowded carriages. The timetable will be announced on the eve of April 26 and on King’s Day itself. For more information about train travel, check out the NS website.<\/a> International travelers can check the NS International website <\/a> for train schedules. If you require travel assistance (in case you have a physical disability or help entering, exiting, or transferring between trains), there are alternative forms of NS Travel Assistance available.<\/a> On April 26, you can board trains from Arnhem Central, Utrecht Central, or Den Haag Central. On King’s Day, you can board from Alkmaar, Utrecht Central, Breda, Eindhoven, Amsterdam Central, Amsterdam Zuid, Arnhem Central, Groningen and Zwolle. Check the website for the train schedule. <\/p>\n

By Public Transport:<\/h3>\n

Amsterdam’s public transport by GVB<\/a> (metro, tram, bus, ferry) runs on a limited schedule on King’s Day. <\/p>\n