King’s Day – Amsterdam’s Biggest Street Party

This end of April celebration is a splash of vivid orange across Holland and makes for quite the spectacle. If you’re intending to visit the beautifully rich cosmopolitan that is Amsterdam, and can only do it just the once, this is the time to go and experience it. Visiting when the street party is in full swing is guaranteed to be one of the best experiences you’ll ever have. There are no end of great packages to look at if you’re keen to stay during the festivities, but if you don’t want to stay in a hotel and are looking for something a little bit different, HouseTrip offer you the ability to rent apartments in the city.

Many destinations around the world have special celebrations that are unique to them, for example, the Carnival of Venice is one such event that gets residents and travellers alike gossiping about the festivities. As does the hype surrounding Oktoberfest that is renowned for being one of the largest funfair events in the world. However, it is arguable that they are nothing when compared to Amsterdam’s King’s Day (formally known as Queen’s Day before Queen Beatrix abdicated).

So, what makes this the biggest and best party to attend? Well, for starters it is a cultural overload with an overwhelming mix of music, parties in and around the centre, and the all-important traditional Flea Market, a popular favourite for lovers of antiques and bargains. There really is a little bit of something for everyone.

To ensure you don’t miss out on a moment of fun, it’s best to be in Amsterdam from the 25^th/26^th until the 30^th April, that way you’ll be sure to get in on all the action. Queen’s Day used to be on the 30^th, and with the King’s birthday falling on the 27^th (which is a Monday), the celebrations are officially on Sunday 26^th this year. Traditionally the partying begins from midnight on the 26^th, although it doesn’t ‘officially’ start until around 6am the next morning when the street markets begin opening and anything and everything is for sale. Whether you want to have a wild night prior to the event, or simply start in the morning, you’ll be more than busy enough.

If you’re eager to take part in the official ceremonies, such as the Royal Family’s Tour, then your best bet is to be in Dordrecht as that’s where the King will be visiting this year. That being said, you don’t need to attend the ceremony to get the ultimate experience as the parties and dancing in the streets really won’t stop for the entire weekend. Regardless of whether you’re the life and soul of the party, or whether you and the kids want a browse around the stalls of the market, you’ll be glad you visited Amsterdam at this time of year.