Code Orange: King’s Day Celebration
By Samir Mammadov
A few days ago, the Netherlands was covered in orange – the people, buildings, and everything else! It’s because the entire country was celebrating the most important and fun day – King’s Day. What is King’s Day exactly, and how do you celebrate it? Let’s find out!
What is King’s Day?
King’s Day (Koningsdag) is celebrated in the Netherlands to honour the birthday of the ruling monarch, currently Willem-Alexander, who was born on April 27. The celebration became symbolic, which shows the unity and pride of the Netherlands. This tradition dates back to the 19th century, and over time, it became a nationwide party. King’s Day shows the connection between the people nd the king, so it’s an expression of Dutch identity.
Fun fact: King’s Day used to be Queen’s Day on April 30 for Queen Juliana. It only switched to April 27 and became King’s Day when Willem-Alexander became king in 2013.
Why Orange?
Even though the flag of the Netherlands is red, white, and blue, the country’s national colour is actually orange. That comes from the House of Orange, named after William of Orange (William of Orange) who became a key figure in Dutch history in the 1500s. Since then, orange has become a symbol of national pride, so Dutch sports teams wear it, and on King’s Day, the whole country goes all in on orange outfits, decorations and celebrations. 🧡
How is King’s Day Celebrated
King’s Day is basically the one day a year when the entire Netherlands turns into a giant outdoor party. From early morning, sidewalks fill with vrijmarkten, where people sell old stuff or homemade snacks, or play music for fun. As the day goes on, things get louder and livelier! parks, canals, and city centres (especially in Amsterdam) are busy. It’s packed with people dancing, drinking, and hopping between street parties and live music stages. Boats turn into floating parties, strangers chat as if they knew each other, and the whole country feels relaxed and social. It’s messy, crowded, and quite chaotic, but that’s exactly what makes King’s Day so fun and uniquely Dutch.
Highlights from 2026
These are some of the highlights from cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam and Arnhem! Millions of people in the Netherlands were partying and enjoying this festivity!
Students’ Experience
Heyyy, Zlati here! With Devi and some friends, we celebrated together in Amsterdam. I’ve always wondered what it is like to be in Amsterdam, in the middle of everything. So, we went all in and experienced it all!
As you can see, it is definitely an experience! The streets are full, people are in a cheerful mood, music is playing, and everyone is having fun. From colour everywhere you look to funny costumes, vibes are full on! It’s beautiful and blastful, but also chaotic in some areas. So, even if crowds are not your cup of tea, you need to experience it at least once in your life!
Tip: If you are with a (big) group of people in the big cities, be prepared for an extra challenge. If you go into the big crowds, it is hard to stay together, so hold on to each other and have your phone with you.
Fun fact: ABBA is played when crowds get crazy, and people can get stuck! The energetic music makes everyone want to dance or jump, creating a movement for the people who want to pass.
Tips on Celebration
King’s Day, perhaps, is the most eventful day in the Netherlands. So if you want to celebrate it properly, you will need some preparations. Here are tips from personal experience!
- Inform yourself – You need to know what you’re going into, so making sure you are up to date with the rules and necessities is key! Luckily, WUR makes an annual King’s Day video, where you can see the preparation essentials.
- Decide where you are celebrating in advance – If you want a crowded and busy celebration, then big cities are for you. But be aware that cities like Amsterdam get super crowded, so the government sometimes puts restrictions. Ideally, it’s best to celebrate in the region where you live, but you are free to do it anywhere!
- Wear orange – you cannot celebrate King’s Day without having something orange on you! Check your wardrobe, look for things on Vinted, or if you feel like dressing properly, go to the stores. Weeks before this holiday, stores sell a lot of hats and other accessories in orange
- Stock up on supplies – If you want to enjoy a couple of drinks while celebrating, then make sure to buy them in advance! Sometimes stores run out of beverages, so better to be safe than sorry!
- Bring a group of friends – King’s Day is the most fun when it’s enjoyed with a big group of friends. If you celebrate outside of where you live, then you can get a group ticket on NS for cheaper train prices.
- Explore as much as possible – The best part about this day is that there’s so much going on! You can have a walk and get second-hand stuff or join one of the hundreds of outdoor parties. You can dance in the park, on the streets by the canals, and people will join you too! The way you can celebrate and have fun is unlimited (as long as you stay safe)! So, quest around however you can.
Are you joining the King’s Day next year?
Cheers,
Samir
