Koningsdag (King’s Day), Amsterdam, Netherlands

Koningsdag (King’s Day) is a national holiday in the Netherlands, celebrated on 27 April, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander; when that date falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Saturday 26 April. The next one is on Tuesday 27 April 2027, and the party already starts on Koningsnacht, the evening before. It is one of the most vibrant and widely attended public events in the country, attracting both locals and international visitors. The entire nation turns into a festive landscape dominated by the color orange, symbolizing the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.

In Amsterdam, the celebration reaches its peak. The historic city center, canals, and major squares transform into open-air venues filled with music, street performances, and markets. One of the most distinctive features is the vrijmarkt (free market): from 6:00 to 20:00 anyone may sell second-hand goods, toys and clothes on the street without a permit, although alcohol, live animals and perishable food are not allowed. Popular areas for visitors include Vondelpark, where many children sell toys and perform, the Jordaan and Museumplein, each offering a slightly different atmosphere—from family-friendly activities to lively party zones.

Throughout Amsterdam, Koningsdag features a wide range of events, including live concerts, DJ performances, and large-scale outdoor festivals; the ticketed festivals on the edges of the city may run until 22:00. Another highlight is the celebration on the canals, where thousands of boats fill the waterways, each decorated and playing music. This floating party is a unique way to experience the city, but it gets extremely crowded: some canals become one-way, and a boat may carry no more than 12 passengers plus the skipper (in 2026 skippers faced fines from €160).

Museumplein and Getting Around

Museumplein, the large square in front of the Rijksmuseum, is one of the busiest spots of the day, with stages, food stalls and huge crowds dressed in orange, especially between 11:00 and 16:00. In 2026 the city made it one of three crowd-control zones, together with Dam Square and Rembrandtplein, with stricter enforcement in and around them. Central streets are closed to traffic, fewer trams and buses run in the inner city, and alcohol is banned on trains from the evening before until the following morning, so it is best to arrive early, walk or cycle, and check 9292.nl or NS before travelling.