King’s Day: the best places in Holland

Even the Dutch royal family goes on tour to be received by one or more Dutch towns for en entertainment-filled day. Amsterdam is transformed into the nation’s biggest orange party town. The Hague has Koningsnach or King’s Night with dozens of music performances in the city centre, and Utrecht boasts the biggest flea market in Holland. So mark 27 April in your agenda since we are sure you wouldn’t want to miss out on the biggest Orange fest of the year.

Every year on 27 April, all of Holland is a party! From the biggest cities down to the smallest hamlets, the entire country celebrates King's Day. There are street markets everywhere, where people sell all kinds of miscellany and (home-made) treats. Bands are playing on every street corner, every pub is serving beer outside and all around, people are dancing in their orange outfits. Tradition dictates that the Royal family visits one or two municipalities in Holland on this day, so with any luck, you might see them yourself!

King’s Day is certainly celebrated with tremendous exuberance in the capital of Holland Amsterdam. Activities abound throughout the city; there is a huge street market of rugs and stalls where people sell all kinds of items and others show off artistic skills. The canals are thronged with boats with partying people, and for those who like a good dance, there are plenty large parties with famous DJs.

In the city of The Hague, centre of the courts of Holland, King’s Day is celebrated as it should be celebrated, too. Street markets abound here too, of course, and the hustle and bustle is especially spirited around the canals, Statenkwartier and Noordeinde. What The Hague is most known for, however, is King’s Night, the night before King’s Day, when its various squares – Kerkplein, Grote Markt and Plaats, among others – play host to well-known bands and DJs.

In Utrecht, the street markets are open for you to enjoy starting the evening before King’s Day, 26 April, from 18:00 on. On the 27th there is, of course, a deeply convivial atmosphere to be enjoyed, with a myriad decorated boats on the canals and fun parties and gigs on squares such as Domplein, Lucasbolwerk, Mariaplaats, Neude and Janskerkhof.

In addition to the street markets and music, King’s Day tradition also calls for funfairs. Every year, therefore, there are funfairs to be found in a great many municipalities. The best-known funfairs are those at Dam Square in Amsterdam, Grote Markt square in Haarlem, Schiehaven harbour in Rotterdam and around Lange Voorhout in The Hague.

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