How to Celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam

How to Celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam

Planning on coming to Amsterdam for King’s Day and being part of the biggest party of the year? Be sure to read our guide on How to Celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam.

King’s Day is a holiday in The Netherlands on the 27th of April, marking King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Celebrations start the night before as people deck themselves out in orange and hit the streets and canals. Even the royal family comes out to celebrate with Dutch citizens!

So what can you expect? 阿姆斯特丹 turns into a giant open air party, and includes markets, live music, canal boat parades, street parties, and more. Want to join in on the fun? Here’s our tips on How to Celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam!

Be Sure to Wear Orange

The first tip on how to celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam is to wear orange! This bright, cheery colour is the national colour of both The Netherlands and the Dutch Royal Family, and not wearing it will definitely make you feel like an outsider. If you find yourself in Amsterdam without anything orange, don’t worry. Shops all over the country are stocked full of orange attire and accessories, so you can blend in with the locals!

Check the Weather

Dutch weather is unpredictable, and Amsterdam has a reputation for being wet so make sure you check the weather forecast before you arrive! AccuWeather is a great app for hourly weather predictions, and is a bit more accurate than your phone’s built in weather app. Since King’s Day happens in the middle of spring, it’s quite likely you won’t be in for a sunny day. If you end of celebrating King’s Day in Amsterdam in the rain, may we suggest picking up an orange umbrella?

Plan Your Day

Even though King’s Day in Amsterdam doesn’t really need a lot of planning, it doesn’t hurt to check out where you want to go beforehand! And please be aware that on King’s Day, public transport is typically busier, runs on different timetables, and many routes have detours in order to avoid the festivities. Planning your time will make the celebrations more enjoyable and less stressful!

Have Cash on You

While most of Europe is moving towards digital payment methods, there are still some cases where only cash is accepted. And King’s Day in Amsterdam kind of falls into that category, so it’s important you bring enough cash, especially if you’re planning to visit the flea markets. Additionally, the food and drink markets only accept cash, and with long line ups at ATM’s in the cities, it’s better to have cash on you before you start paryting!

When Nature Calls

When you gotta go, you gotta go. There’ll be lots of extra public toilets on the streets, but if you can’t find one and it’s a matter of urgency, head to a restaurant or a bar. You might be lucky and find a local who will offer up their bathrooms for some coin. Because the lineups can be crazy, take any opportunity you can to use the toilet as you don’t want to find yourself waiting when it’s too late!

Buy Drinks Beforehand

No matter what your drink of choice is on King’s Day in Amsterdam, be sure to buy your stock in advance! While there’s tons of places to buy drinks during the celebrations, it’s much cheaper if you bring your own. By bringing your own, you’ll also reduce your plastic waste and make the post King’s Day cleanup easier and greener! And you can imagine the city has a big clean up job ahead of them year after year when the celebrations finally wrap up.

Where to Stay in Amsterdam

Our recommendation for the top hostel in Amsterdam is the famous 飞猪上城. Located near Vondelpark and the Van Gogh Museum, this hostel is the perfect place to rest your head. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, party, or simply chill out, you’ll be satisfied staying with Flying Pig Uptown. And don’t leave booking to the last minute: this hostel is one of the most popular in Amsterdam, so be sure to book in lots of time!

How to Celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam

King’s Day is the biggest party in Amsterdam and we hope your guide has given you plenty of helpful insight on how to join in on the celebrations! And if you’re looking to celebrate elsewhere, click here for our guide to King’s Day in Rotterdam! If you need more information to help you plan your adventure, click 这里 for a range of helpful tips, city guides, food guides, and more. For all the latest news at Famous Hostels, follow us or subscribe on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Youtube.