Revellers dressed in orange in Amsterdam, Koninginnedag 2007 Photo by DirkvdM Wikimedia

Top 10  Interesting  Facts About King’s Day Festivals Amsterdam


 

King’s Day is a National holiday celebrated in Amsterdam. It is the king’s Willem- Alexander birthday, held each year in April in the Netherlands.  Amsterdam celebrations are the biggest and the most attractive. Million people all over the world arrive in the city to celebrate this day. 

King’s Day was earlier known as Queens Day when the Netherlands had generations of only female monarchs ruling.  However, in 2013, Queen Beatrix’s Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has been enthroned as the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and since then it has become King’s Days. People celebrate through open-air free markets and in boats. The day is declared a public holiday, and the celebration starts the night before the actual day.

1. It’s the Dutch Monarch’s Birthday

King’s Day is the birthday of Dutch King Willem -Alexander. On the 27th of April, everybody in the Netherlands gets a day off work and the entire country parties in honour of the birth of the King. In Amsterdam, this day, King’s Day is a special experience and over 1 million people are turning the Treets and Canals into an orange blaze of colours.

2. The Party Starts the Day Before, on King’s Night

The celebration of the King’s birthday starts the day before the actual day. Amsterdam value this day and everybody celebrate this big day. In case you are visiting Amsterdam for King’s Day, make sure you arrive the day before on Kings Night.

Since this is the actual time when the party starts and young people gather in bars, clubs, and Pubs to have fun and enjoy the special day. On this day, the Dutch holiday, many shops remain closed to make room for the partying crowds.

It is good to note that if the King’s birthday falls on a Sunday, then the King’s Day celebration takes place a day earlier, on Saturday.

3. The Party Takes Place in the Streets and on Boats

Photo of a Boat Photo by Olga Guryanova Unsplash

The celebration takes place on the Streets and boats. The streets of the city centre turn into a big party and it is always Crowded. The climax and the coolest part of the celebration place on the boats in the canals of Amsterdam but celebrators maintain the cleanest in the canals.

More than 100 boats move through the canal with partying folks and loud music booming out of speakers and many people on the having have. Indeed this is one of the most amazing days and anybody in Amsterdam should not miss it. I recommend any visitor to visit on this day and get to see the fun am talking about.

4. People From all over the World Come to Celebrate

The King’s day is not only made for Amsterdam. Many people from all over the world visit Amsterdam on this day to celebrate. 600,000 to a million people visit the city, especially for the celebration. About 250,000 people arrive in Amsterdam via train on King’s Day and it gets quite busy in the capital. The population on King’s Days in Amsterdam is twice that of any other day.

5. Hotels are Booked Out

One of the most interesting facts is that the hotel owners get to enjoy it since the hotels are booked out enabling them to make capital. Some hotel owners even tend to raise the prices of the rooms since the demand is high on King’s day. 

Thousands of visitors from the Netherlands and all over the globe flock to the Dutch capital to experience the festive celebration. It is advisable to plan your trip and make your booking as early as possible.

6. It’s all About Unity

It might be King’s birthday celebration but this day brings unity among the people. The wonderful part of this day is the celebration of the people themselves. There is no better event to experience the meaning of I AM AMSTERDAM than on this day. Unity is seen and practised on this day fulfilling the purpose of the party taking place all over the Netherland.

7. Street is Turned into a Big Market

Vrijmarkt, Koninginnedag 2011 Photo by Apdency Wikimedia

king’s Day starts early in the morning with people selling second-hand items on the streets. People use this opportunity to make great bargains for unique items or clothes. The rules on this day are very simple, first come first served, for both seller and buyers.

 It is advisable to go early for the sellers so that your goods can be the first to be bought and for the buyer to get quality items and get served early before people crowd. The children under the age of 16 go to children’s Vrijmarkt at Vondelpark, where they sell toys, homemade cakes, and lemonade, among others under the supervision of parents.

8. It Used to be Called Queen’s Day

Queen’s Day Photo by Carmelrmd Wikimedia

The first royal birthday took place back on August, 31,1885. The country was celebrating Queen’s Day, the birthday of Queen Wilhelmina, and since then Queen’s Day became an annual tradition.

After Queen Wilhelmina, two more Queen Succeded the throne and the Queen’s Day was retained and celebrated annually. However, in 2013, King Willem Alexander has Crowned the King of Amsterdam and the name changed from Queen’s Day to Kings Day.

9. Everybody Dressed in Orange

Revellers dressed in orange in Amsterdam, Koninginnedag 2007 Photo by DirkvdM Wikimedia

On this day people dressed in Orange, however, it is not compulsory but if you want to fit in then you will want to have some orange on you. The orange colour signifies national pride throughout The Netherlands, as the Dutch Royal Family has links to the House of Orange -Nassau dynasty.

10. You Can Still Visit A Museum On King’s Day

What many people don’t know is that some of Amsterdam’s museums remain open on King’s Day. If you are parting and you get bored at some point you can visit one of the city’s famous museums for a little peace of mind. Some of the museums that remain open on King’s Day are Rijksmuseam, Anne Frank House, and Van Gogh Museum among others.

 

 

 

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