King's Day is around the corner! Every year, the Netherlands turns orange on April 27. In 2026, that means a long weekend vibe with King’s Day falling on a Monday. Discover everything about this festive day in this guide.

What is King’s Day?

King’s Day, or Koningsdag, celebrates the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. It is one of the biggest national holidays in the Netherlands, and yes, basically one giant birthday party. On this day, people across the country take over the streets. In 2026, King’s Day falls on Monday, April 27. That means an official day off and a perfect excuse to extend your weekend.

What you can expect: 

• Massive outdoor festivals
• Flea markets, known as vrijmarkten
• Street parties in every city
• Boats packed with people in cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht
  
  

You will feel underdressed without at least a touch of orange, as everything turns orange. Clothes, decorations, food... Bakeries go all in. Think orange tompouces, cream puffs, petit fours, Bossche bollen, and ‘oranjekoeken’. Dutch flags are everywhere, usually topped with an orange pennant.

Every year, we take King’s Day to the next level with our very own King’s Day Bingo for residents. Safe to say, we go all in every year! 

King’s Day or Queen’s Day?

King’s Day started in 1885 as ‘Prinsessedag’ (Princesses Day). When Wilhelmina became queen in 1891, the festive day changed into ‘Koninginnedag’ (Queen’s Day). Koninginnedag took place on April 30, the birthday of Queen Juliana, the grandmother of our current King Willem-Alexander. It stayed that way until Queen Beatrix abdicated in 2013. Since King Willem-Alexander is on the throne, Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) has changed into King’s Day (Koningsdag). Fun fact: many tourists still show up in Amsterdam dressed in orange on April 30, while King’s Day is actually celebrated three days earlier. Still happens every year. 

What's on the agenda of our royal family during King's Day? Visiting a Dutch city to get into the local culture! © RVD

The royal visit

Every year, the royal family visits a different Dutch city. It is broadcast live on national TV, and the whole city goes all in. In 2025, they visited Doetinchem. This year, they will visit Dokkum. The visit includes:

• Local performances
• Games and cultural showcases
• Interviews and interactions with residents
  
  

The royals visited Doetinchem in 2025. © RVD

What to do on King’s Day

Go big at King’s Day festivals
You have lots of options to spend your King's Day. If you are into music and big crowds, festivals are the place to be. Events like 538 Koningsdag in Breda, Supersized Kingsday Festival in Best, and Kralingse Bos Festival in Rotterdam attract tens of thousands of visitors every year. Think big stages, well-known DJs, and a full day of dancing. Tickets usually sell out fast, so planning ahead is key.

538 Koningsdag in Breda. © Radio 538.

The ultimate Dutch flea market experience
Not into massive crowds? Then the vrijmarkt might be more your vibe. On King’s Day, anyone can sell their stuff on the streets without needing a permit. Entire cities turn into open-air markets. You will find everything from vintage clothes and books to toys and random hidden gems. Kids often set up their own stalls too, selling homemade snacks or organizing small games to earn a few euros. It is chaotic, but in a fun way, and you never really know what you will come across.

Where the party takes over the streets
If you just want to wander and see where the day takes you, street parties are everywhere. Cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen fill up quickly, and every square or street corner seems to have its own mini party. Music is playing from speakers, bars set up outdoor taps, and people dance pretty much anywhere there is space. You do not need a plan. Just walk around and join whatever looks fun. 

In cities with canals, the water becomes part of the party too. Especially in Amsterdam and Utrecht, boats take over the canals from early morning until late at night. Many of them turn into floating parties, with music, drinks, and groups of friends celebrating together. Even if you are not on a boat yourself, it is worth checking out the canals just to see the atmosphere.

King's Day preparations

To make the most of your day, a bit of preparation helps. Here are some tips:

• Wear something orange, even if it is just a small accessory. It instantly makes you part of the celebration.
• Try to arrive early, especially if you are heading into a big city, since it gets crowded before noon.
• Bringing some cash is still useful, especially for flea markets or smaller vendors.
• Trains can be up to 2x busier than normal on King’s Day, so plan your trip and expect some delays.
  
  

King’s Day is not about doing one specific thing. It is about being outside, joining the crowd, and going with whatever the day brings. Wishing you lots of fun!