7 Do's and Don'ts for Kingsday in Amsterdam

Kingsday is around the corner, and the streets of Amsterdam are going to turn bright orange! Crowds are going to fill up the streets, flea markets are set up, music is blasting from every corner, and the whole city becomes a massive party. We know the city like no other, so here are our seven do’s and seven don’ts for Kingsday 2025.

Seven Do's:

1. Arrive on the right day

This year, Kingsday is on the 26th of April instead of the 27th. This is because the 27th is a Sunday, so the royal family decided to celebrate it a day earlier. Kingsday, and formerly Queensday, is a celebration of the king’s birthday, and the most festive national holiday in the country. The first one was celebrated in 1885, in honour of princess Wilhelmina, who then became queen, and then got succeeded by her daughter Juliana and granddaughter Beatrix. Since king Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne in 2013, the holiday is called Kingsday, and celebrated on his birthday. Except on Sundays of course.

2. Wear Orange

Wear something orange! The brighter the better!  Or combine it with a Dutch flag, or a few of those, feel free to go all out. Wear hats, scarves, flags, sunglasses, face paint, everything is allowed. Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands, because of the last name of the founder of the nation, William of Orange. The royal family still carries this name, so on Kingsday we celebrate in style! A lot of shops sell merchandise weeks in advance, so you can start the day prepared. Or just grab that orange top you never wear from the bottom of your closet. We won’t tell.

3. Cycle or walk into town

There won’t be a lot of public transport during Kingsday, and there are no trams or buses in the city centre at all, so keep that in mind. Trains to Central Station are running, but from there you have to walk. Or if you can, cycle to your destination. Not all streets are accessible by bike, but it’s still the best way to get close to the parties.

4. Join the street parties

The entire city centre will be filled with street parties. The biggest ones will be on Amstelveld, Reguliersdwarsstraat and spread around the Jordaan neighbourhood, but many street corners will have stages or DJ booths, bars and -if you’re lucky- public toilets. Entry is always free, and music varies from traditional Dutch singalong to EDM and more. It will be crowded, so don’t get upset if you can’t get through, just start a party where you are!

5. Visit flea markets

An important nationwide tradition is the Kingsday flea markets. Stalls are usually run by children, who ‘reserve’ their spot on the street days in advance by writing on the pavement. They sell their old toys and clothes and whatever objects they can sell of their parents’ possessions. However, also plenty of adults clear up their basements and attics and sell stuff, and both kids and adults sell baked goods, drinks and whatever else they can. The best known and busiest spot is Vondelpark, but all over the city there are streets filled with flea markets full of fun stuff.

6. Party Responsibly

Whether you go party on the streets, go to a festival or just wander around flea markets, make sure you do it responsibly. Stay hydrated, don’t drink too much and be prepared for the weather. And be careful not to fall into a canal of course.

Bringing a bottle of water is recommended. Most supermarkets will be open as well, so you can pick one up on the way. Food is also available around town, so no need to starve. There are also public toilets at most busy areas, but lines might be long, so make sure you don’t go at the last moment.

7. Plan your route

Like mentioned before, there is very little public transport on Kingsday. Many streets are blocked for cars and bikes as well, and a lot of areas will be crowded. If there are specific areas you want to go, make sure you know how to get there. You can find maps of the parties and roadblocks online, check those out before you start walking and get stuck in a massive crowd.

No route planned? Just go into town and see where you end up. Or start the day with a canal cruise, so you can see everything being set up in the morning. They only run until noon, but they go past most areas where festivities take place, so you can start the celebrations prepared!

Seven Don’ts

1. Don’t party too hard on Kingsnight

The night before Kingsday is called Kingsnight, and especially in Amsterdam it is also a night of celebration. Most nightclubs organise special Kingsnight parties, bars are full and a few spots already host street parties. However, while parties can last all night, we recommend saving a little energy for the next day. Festivities on Kingsday start on time, so don’t sleep in!

Looking for something to do? Just going into town and see what is open is not a bad idea, but for bigger parties it's smart to buy tickets in advance. An easy way to do so is the Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket, which grants entry to many clubs, and has a few nice perks as well. Looking for a truly unique Kingsnight experience? Come to the Amsterdam IceBar, and say cheers to the king at -10 degrees Celsius!

2. Don’t drive into town

We already said that a lot of the city centre is closed off, but you can still reach a few areas by tram or metro. However, driving is definitely going to be worse, if not impossible. Parking garages in the inner city are closed, and most roads as well. Also, most parking spots will be taken by people working in town, who arrive early. We recommend parking your car further away and taking a train or metro to Amsterdam Central Station. There are extra trains to Amsterdam all day, so this is probably your easiest option.

3. Don’t drink on public transport

On all the stations and trains alcohol is not allowed on Kingsday, and on the trams and buses drinking any liquid is forbidden. Though it is considered part of the festivities to wander around with a beer in hand, finish it before you get on the tram, to avoid spilling or getting fined. We generally encourage you to get your drinks at the bars of the street parties. With the money they make from drink sales, they can throw a new free party next year!

4. Don’t make a mess

Things can get a little messy on Kingsday, but that does not mean anyone should litter or make an actual mess. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, and looks even nicer when it’s clean. There are bins for all kinds of trash spread around the city, and public toilets are available everywhere, so you don’t have to carry your trash around for long. Small tip: almost all cans and plastic buttons have a deposit (statiegeld) of fifteen cents on them, which you get back when you return them at the supermarket. If you don’t feel like carrying them around, put these cans and bottles next to trash cans, so someone else can pick them up.

5. Don’t feel pressure to party all day

Kingsday in Amsterdam is very busy, and lasts from early afternoon to late at night. This might be quite a lot, so we understand if you don’t want to do it all. Luckily, most parties are only downtown and a few other areas, so aside from the flea markets Amsterdam is somewhat safe. It’s perfectly fine to go into town and head back on time, and to decide to go back again later.

Several museums and attractions downtown are also open, for a nice break from the chaos. Visit Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! for an adventure between the curiosities, or get carried away by the lights and art at Van Gogh & Rembrandt in Amsterdam. Want to get out of town completely and just enjoy some flowers? Go to Keukenhof, which is probably less busy than on a regular day, so this is the perfect chance.

6. Don’t fall into a canal

This should be obvious, but it still happens a lot on Kingsday. Watch out!

7. Don’t forget to have fun

There is a lot to do in town, and many options to choose from. It might seem a bit overwhelming when you look up information online, and you might get FOMO from all the options, but no need to worry. Our advice would be to take it easy, and just go where the day takes you. Pick out a few things you want to do, but don’t get upset if you cannot see everything. Or just stuff your backpack with a water bottle and an umbrella and see where the day takes you. Don’t stress, just celebrate!