A true Dutch party - King’s Day in Rotterdam

The one true Dutch national holiday is King’s Day, or Koningsdag, when the Netherlands celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Of course, there are other days that most of the country celebrates, but this one is unique to the Netherlands. This orange-feast is the biggest party of the year, and Rotterdam’s celebrations are second only to Amsterdam.

The celebrations to this big national party start the night before, also known as the Orange Night. It’s a big night for Dutch music, with parties and live shows all over the city. One of the biggest parties is TIKTAK at the Maassilo, where there will be a sea of orange dressed partygoers and many live-performances from some of the Netherlands’ biggest pop and urban artists.

Other not-to-miss parties include SUPER RICH KIDS Kingsnight Special at Munch Rotterdam and Vroeg Pieken (Peak Early) at Annabel. If a big party isn’t really what you are looking for, simply go to Witte de Withstraat where bars and clubs will await you with open doors. We do recommend that you pace yourself on this night, as you don’t want to miss out on the celebrations of the next day.

On King’s Day itself, Rotterdam celebrates all day long, starting early in the morning at 6 and going well into the night. The most important thing for visitors to prepare in advance is their orange coloured outfit. Everyone will wear orange coloured clothing on this day as it is the colour of the Dutch royal family.

The night before might be all about parties and drinking but there is much more to do on the day itself. Flea markets pop up all over town, with the best ones at Liskwartier and on the Coolsingel and Binnenrotte. You’ll find all sorts of items to barter over, including clothing, trinkets, food and drinks. Bring your cash and a bag, just in case something catches your eye.

If you want to celebrate King’s Day with your kids there is plenty of fun to be had as well. At the Lloyd Multiplein there is a funfair with dozens of rides, including Tea Cups, a Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, a maze and many others. Or head to Rotterdam Zoo and find the ruler of Rotterdam’s animal kingdom.

Many Rotterdam attractions will open their doors just as they normally would, though some may have slightly adjusted opening hours. If you want to head out on to the water, the River Cruise, Pancake Cruise and Splashbus are all out there throughout the day. Another place to find a bit of quiet, is at Mini Golf Rotterdam.

For those who didn’t get their fill of music the night before, there are several music festivals to enjoy during King’s Day as well. At the Roel Langerakpark you can attend the Oranjebitter Festival, which has a massive music line-up of Dutch DJs and a funfair. In the city centre you’ll find Sabajo's Kingsday Blockparty with music, a BBQ and great cocktails (ticket required).

In the north-east of the city, the Kralingse Bos Festival has 5 stages with music throughout the day (ticket required). And finally, there is Kingsland Festival for those who like house, techno and hardstyle (ticket required). Truly, there is no party quite like King’s Day any where else in the world!