Koningsdag (King’s day): King ascended the throne in 2014
Country: The Netherlands
When: 27th April every year
On Koningsdag or King’s Day (formerly Queen’s Day) the city of Amsterdam is awash with orange, the national colour of the Netherlands. The celebrations are in honour of the Dutch Royal family and the recent ascension of Prince Willem-Alexander to the throne has necessitated the change of name from Queen’s Day to King’s Day.
The festival was first held in 1885 to celebrate the 5th birthday of Princess Wilhelmina. Since that day, Koninginnen has become a celebration of Dutch national pride and offers a party atmosphere like no other. The festivities run day and night and include music, food and drinks as well as offering family-friendly moments and children’s activities.
Amsterdam’s canals, always a feature, take on life of their own during the festival. The canals right around the city are jam-packed with canal boats and other watercraft all elaborately decorated in orange and proudly flying Dutch national flags. The atmosphere at many local parks and squares is also very festive with many showcasing local talent and entertainment for the crowds.
Festival Videos
Key highlights
- Numerous street parties. Wandering around the bridges and waterways is a great way to take in all the action,
- Dress in Orange; the essential festival colour.
- King’s Day on the Canals. This is by far the biggest party on water. Check it out from the bridges or the walkways around the canals.
- Vrijmarkt, the city-wide free markets at which all manner of (mostly) secondhand item are on offer.
- The open-air concert at the Museumplein. 800,000 take in some of the world’s top DJs and other musical acts.
Where is it
Amsterdam is located in The Netherlands
How to get there
Amsterdam is well connected to Europe. Low cost European and International carriers fly into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, which is a 20-minute trip from Amsterdam Central railway station.
While Amsterdam is the best place to experience Koninginnen, it is celebrated all over the Netherlands so the entire country will be very congested in the lead-up to and during the festival. Travelling by car or train is not recommended during festival time.
Where to stay
There is high demand for accommodation in Amsterdam during the King’s Day festivities. If you do opt to stay in the heart of the city, you will most certainly pay a premium. You will be better off remaining in the inner canal belt, which is walking distance from all the action and main tourist attractions of the city.
The famous Red Light District has many backpacker hostels and small B&B’s on offer, however availability will be tricky. Booking early is very important.
Dam Square is well known as a tourist trap and prices here are generally higher; not only for accommodation, but also for the cafes and restaurants. It is best to try and find accommodation away from the main areas of the city.
For hostel accommodation in many places you should expect to pay close to 40 or 50 euros for a one-night stay over the festival period.
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The party atmosphere lasts all night, so many travellers party until dawn before catching a morning train from Amsterdam to a place like Rotterdam and recovering there. This will be much a cheaper and much less congested alternative to finding a place to stay in Amsterdam.
More information on Koninginnen: