Your Essential Guide to Celebrating King's Day in the Netherlands

With revelry, performances and partying through the night, King's Day is one of the Netherlands' biggest occasions. But how did it come about? King’s Day has its roots in the late 19th century. It was first celebrated as Princess Day on 31 August, 1885 in honour of Princess Wilhelmina’s 5th birthday. When Princess Wilhelmina ascended to the throne in 1891, the celebration evolved into Queen’s Day. It quickly became popular with children because it coincided with the last day of the school summer holidays. By 1902, Queen’s Day had become an established national festival and there was an outpouring of emotion to celebrate Queen Wilhelmina’s recovery from illness.

By the middle of the 20th century, Queen Juliana succeeded her mother and continued the tradition of celebrating Queen’s Day, but she moved the date to coincide with her own birthday on 30 April. Under her reign, the event became more widespread, with the royal family receiving floral tributes and the public participating in the festivities. When Queen Beatrix came to the throne in 1980, she chose to keep the celebrations on the last day in April in honour of her mother. She also introduced the practice of visiting different towns and villages to celebrate with local communities.

In 2013, Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne and her son, Willem-Alexander, became the new king. The celebration was promptly renamed King’s Day and moved to his birthday on 27 April. This change marked a new era in the tradition but the essence of the celebration remained the same: a joyous expression of national unity and solidarity.

The streets of the Netherlands come alive with music and dance on King’s Day. In cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, massive outdoor celebrations feature live music, street performers, parades and parties. These events attract thousands of people, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. One of the most distinctive aspects of King’s Day is the vrijmarkt, a flea market where anyone can set up a stall to sell goods. With everything from second-hand trinkets to homemade crafts and food on offer, this tradition encourages entrepreneurship and fosters community spirit.

The colour orange is synonymous with King’s Day because it symbolises the House of Orange-Nassau and the royal family. People of all ages don orange outfits, from hats and scarves to entire suits, a tradition that creates an extraordinary visual display.

While King's Day is celebrated across the Netherlands, the major cities tend to offer visitors a unique experience. Amsterdam is perhaps the focal point for King’s Day celebrations. The city’s population doubles as thousands of party-goers descend upon its canals, streets and parks. Museumplein, NDSM-Werf and Waterlooplein are hotspots for massive outdoor celebrations, and almost every neighbourhood hosts its own market. The city’s historic canals come alive with boat parties and take the festive atmosphere to new heights. If you're looking to stay in Amsterdam to enjoy the celebrations, there are hotels for all tastes and budgets, from the delightful Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam to the peaceful ibis Amsterdam Centre Stopera close to the Canal Ring in the city centre.

Locals and visitors combine to make the festivities in Utrecht equally memorable. The city’s canals and urban parks are the focal points, with venues like Jaarbeurs and Soia Beach hosting events. For those hoping to find a quieter spot, Europalaan has a more laid-back vibe while still managing to add to the atmosphere of the events. Rotterdam attracts revellers by the thousand to Coolsingel Street, where you can browse what’s on offer at the enormous vrijmarkt. There are also outdoor celebrations and music festivals such as Code Oranje on Stadhuisplein and Oranjebitter in het Park. Remember to book your tickets well in advance because these events tend to sell out quickly. If you're hoping to stay in Utrecht, ibis Utrecht is perfectly placed in the Old Town, or, if you're heading to Rotterdam, the elegant Le Marin Hotel Rotterdam City - Handwritten Collection is a short walk from the city's main train station.

To make the most of your King’s Day experience, it’s worth planning your travel arrangements in advance. The major cities attract tens of thousands of visitors and many roads will be closed to cars, so use public transport, walk or cycle whenever possible. In Amsterdam, the city puts on special event buses and trains to handle the increased footfall.

Dress in orange to blend in with the locals and feel part of the festivities. Do make sure that your clothes and footwear are comfortable, however, because there’s usually a lot of walking or standing involved. Don’t forget to bring a couple of extra layers as the weather can be unpredictable in April. A small backpack with essentials like water, snacks and a portable charger/battery pack for your phone is also useful.

The day can sometimes be as much about drinking as it is about celebrating the monarchy, so remember to designate a driver or plan a safe route back to your accommodation on foot. It's also worth familiarising yourself with some of the phrases you're likely to hear:

• Lang leve de koning! Hoera, hoera, hoera! – "Long live the king! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"
  
• Wat kost dat? – "How much does that cost?" This is usually aimed at the sellers in the flea markets whose goods appear to be overpriced.
• Herstelbiertje – "Recovery beer." When the locals surface the morning after King's Day, they are usually feeling a little worse for wear. The braver – or perhaps more foolhardy – often choose to have a herstelbiertje to take the edge off their hangover. In the UK, it's known as hair of the dog.
  

King’s Day attracts massive crowds so arrive early at popular spots to secure a good position. If you want to enjoy the day on a smaller scale with fewer crowds, you could consider visiting the outlying towns or villages. Each year, the royal family visits a different municipality to celebrate King’s Day. If you’re lucky enough to be in the chosen town, it’s a unique opportunity to see the royals and experience the festivities in a more intimate setting.

King’s Day is more than just a celebration of the Dutch monarchy, it’s a testament to the nation’s unity, community spirit and love of life. Whether you’re dancing in the streets of Amsterdam, browsing the vrijmarkt in Utrecht or enjoying the festivities in Rotterdam, King’s Day will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.