Dutch Quirk #126: Play weird street games on King’s Day

If there’s something Dutchies enjoy, it’s celebrating their (usually) beloved King on King’s Day. And part of the festivities includes a series of weird and wacky street games.

They already have weird sports and questionable habits regarding fire safety, so what’s another quirk on the list? 🤷🏻

What is it?

Most people know about King’s Day in the Netherlands, but may not know how many street games people love to play. 🎯

If you’re planning on celebrating King’s Day in Amsterdam or another Dutch city, you might spot a few of these games, including:

Koekhappen: Someone hangs cookies on a string in a line, and everyone participating has to bite off pieces and finish their cookie to win. With their hands tied to their back, too, of course.

Sjoelen: Think shuffleboard, but shrink it and put it on a table! Players push plastic or metal pucks into the scoring zone using their hands instead of shuffleboard sticks.

Spijkerpoepen: Perhaps the most bizarre one — you tie a piece of string around your waist, and a nail is at the end of the string. Now, you’re supposed to get the nail inside a beer bottle or another small opening.

Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Well there are even more street games to play! You have to keep an eye out when you’re making your way around the city. 👀

Why do they do it?

Plenty of Dutch kids are trying to make a little extra cash. Many kids like participating in flea markets and selling their old clothes and toys. 🧸

However, some Dutchies like to set up these games for others to play for a small fee.

And even without kids, it’s hilarious to see (drunk) adults play these games and have the time of their lives.

While no official sources say where these games came from, it’s likely they were passed down through Dutchie generations. 🧓🏻

Why is it quirky?

These games are uniquely Dutch. Such activities go hand-in-hand with King’s Day, even if they aren’t just for the royal celebrations. 👑

READ MORE | What’s happening in the Netherlands on King’s Day 2025?

And almost every Dutchie has played them at some point. Whether as a kid at a friend’s birthday party or a King’s Day celebration with your friends and family, most natives have tried a game or two.

Should you join in? 

Absolutely! You may find them chaotic and maybe a bit embarrassing if you’re a street game newbie (unless you’re on the sauce), but it’s all in good spirit. 🤗

These street games certainly made the childhoods of Dutch children, and we’re sure they’d make adulthood a blast too.

Have you ever tried playing one of these games? Tell us in the comments below!

Image: Bernd Schwabe in Hannover/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0