If you walk into Amsterdam on April 27th wearing a suit, you've messed up. Honestly, you've probably ruined your day before it even started. King's Day in the Netherlands is less of a formal holiday and more of a country-wide explosion of orange, cheap beer, and secondhand junk. It is loud. It is messy. It is, quite frankly, the best day to be in the Low Countries if you can handle the crowds.
But here is the thing. People get the date wrong. Every single year, a handful of tourists show up on April 30th—the old date for Queen's Day—wearing orange hats and looking confused in a sea of people just going to work. King Willem-Alexander took the throne in 2013, and the party moved to his birthday, April 27th. If that falls on a Sunday, the party actually happens on Saturday the 26th because of old-school religious "rest day" rules. Don't be that person at the train station three days late.
The Orange Madness Explained
Why orange? It’s the House of Orange-Nassau. Simple as that. But the Dutch take Oranjegekte (orange craze) to a level that feels slightly clinical. You will see orange wigs, orange face paint, orange jumpsuits, and even orange-dyed dogs.
The festivities usually kick off the night before, known as Koningsnacht (King’s Night). In cities like The Hague, this is actually the main event. They host massive free festivals like The Life I Live, where local bands take over the squares. If you’re in Utrecht, the "vrijmarkt" or flea market actually starts on King's Night at 6:00 PM. While the rest of the country is sleeping or clubbing, people in Utrecht are already out on the pavement marking their territory with chalk to sell their old IKEA lamps and baby clothes.
Getting Around Without Losing Your Mind
Forget cars. Just forget they exist.
The NS (Dutch Railways) runs a special "Orange Timetable." Trains are packed. They’re sweaty. Everyone is drinking Heineken or Amstel at 10:00 AM. If you are coming from Schiphol Airport, expect delays. Pro tip: buy your train ticket in advance or just use your contactless debit card to tap in and out. If you wait to use a ticket machine on the day of, you’ll be in line for forty minutes.
📖 Related: TSA PreCheck Look Up Number: What Most People Get Wrong
Amsterdam is the epicenter, but it's also a logistical nightmare. The city usually sees about 600,000 to a million visitors. Given that the local population is only around 800,000, the math is terrifying. The canals get so clogged with boats that you could practically walk across the water by stepping from deck to deck. If you have claustrophobia, maybe skip the Damrak and head to the Jordaan district instead. It’s slightly more "local" and the music is better.
The Economics of the Vrijmarkt
King's Day in the Netherlands is the only day of the year the government allows people to sell stuff on the street without a permit or paying VAT. It’s a national flea market.
You’ll see kids playing out-of-tune violins for 50 cents. You’ll see people selling "homemade" sandwiches that you definitely shouldn't eat if you have a sensitive stomach. But the real treasure is in the bric-a-brac. The Dutch are famously thrifty. This is the day they clear out their attics. You can find vintage Delfts Blauw, weird 1970s kitchen appliances, and stacks of Dutch language books no one wants.
- Bring Cash. While the Netherlands is almost entirely cashless now, the flea market still runs on small coins and five-euro notes.
- Haggle. It's expected. If someone wants three euros for a mug, offer one. They’ll say two. You pay two. Everyone wins.
- The "Grabbelton". Usually for kids. They pay a euro to reach into a box of sawdust and pull out a random toy. It’s a rite of passage.
What to Eat and Drink
You need a Tompouce. Specifically, an orange one. Usually, this pastry has pink icing, but for King's Day, HEMA and every local bakery switch to orange. It’s a mille-feuille filled with custard that is impossible to eat gracefully. Don't try to use a fork; you'll just squirt the cream onto your neighbor. Just bite into it and accept the mess.
Bitterballen are the unofficial fuel of the day. They are deep-fried gravy balls. Sounds weird? They are incredible. Dip them in mustard. Wash them down with an Oranjebitter, a bright orange liqueur that dates back to the 1600s. It was originally created to celebrate Dutch victories, but now it’s mostly used to toast the King. Warning: it’s an acquired taste. It’s a bit like drinking orange-scented cleaning fluid, but it’s tradition.
👉 See also: Historic Sears Building LA: What Really Happened to This Boyle Heights Icon
Beyond Amsterdam: Where to Actually Go
Look, Amsterdam is iconic, but it’s a lot. If you want a slightly more authentic experience, try these:
- Eindhoven: They turn the whole city center into a massive outdoor rave. It's much more focused on electronic music than the kitschy Dutch folk songs you'll hear in Amsterdam.
- Arnhem: Great for families. The parks are beautiful and the vibe is a bit more laid back.
- Willemstad (The one in the Caribbean): Yes, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten celebrate too! It’s the same orange vibe but with 30-degree weather and Caribbean beats.
The Royal Family themselves usually visits one or two specific cities each year. They walk through the crowd, play traditional Dutch games like koekhappen (trying to bite a spice cake dangling from a string), and talk to locals. If you want to see the King in person, check the Royal House website a few months early to see where they’re heading.
A Note on "The Rules"
The Dutch are pretty relaxed, but King's Day isn't a total free-for-all. Public urination is a huge "no" and the police will fine you. Use the "Plaskruis" (urinal crosses) or pay a euro to use a "plasbus."
Also, the "one drink" rule. Technically, you’re only supposed to carry one alcoholic beverage in public. In reality, as long as you aren't acting like a complete idiot or carrying a 24-pack of beer on your shoulder, the police usually look the other way. Just don't be the person they decide to make an example of.
Survival Checklist for Your First King's Day
If you're actually going to do this, you need a plan. Most people wing it and end up stranded at a closed tram stop.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Nutty Putty Cave Seal is Permanent: What Most People Get Wrong About the John Jones Site
First, wear comfortable shoes. You will walk miles. The trams in the center of Amsterdam don't run because the streets are literally full of people. You’re on foot. Period. Second, check the weather. April in the Netherlands is a coin flip. It could be 20 degrees and sunny, or it could be a hail storm. "King's Weather" is a specific term for those rare years where it doesn't rain.
Essential Gear:
- An Orange Shirt: Anything will do. A cheap 5-euro shirt from a souvenir shop makes you part of the "we."
- A Power Bank: Your phone battery will die from taking videos of boat parties.
- Tissues: Public toilets run out of paper by noon.
- A Map (Offline): Cell towers often get overloaded in the city center. Don't rely on 5G to find your friends.
The Morning After
On April 28th, the country looks like a disaster zone. There are crushed cans and orange feathers everywhere. But the Dutch cleaning crews are legendary. By midday, the streets are usually spotless. It’s like the whole thing was a fever dream.
King's Day in the Netherlands is essentially a pressure valve for a society that is usually very orderly and "normal." For 24 hours, the "doe maar gewoon" (just act normal) rule is suspended. It’s loud, it’s orange, and it’s genuinely one of the most welcoming atmospheres in Europe if you go in with the right mindset.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Book accommodation now. If you're reading this in January or February, you're already late. Hotels in the Randstad area (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague) spike in price by 300% for this weekend.
- Check the NS website. Look for the "Orange Ticket" deals that usually go on sale in early April for discounted travel.
- Download the "Buienradar" app. It’s the only weather app the Dutch trust to tell them exactly when the rain will start, down to the minute.
- Pick your city. Decide if you want the chaos of Amsterdam, the music of Eindhoven, or the tradition of Utrecht. Each offers a completely different flavor of the same orange madness.