Everyone loves a good party, but the biggest is King’s Day in Amsterdam! So, what’s happening in the Dutch capital on April 27? 🧡
Amsterdam will have its festivities, so here’s what you should know if you plan to celebrate in the Dutch capital. 👑
What is King’s Day?
King’s Day celebrates the current ruling monarch’s birthday. In this case, the entire Netherlands throws a huge birthday party for King Willem-Alexander, whose birthday is April 27.
Note: While in 2025, King’s Day was celebrated on the 26th, the regular celebration on the 27th returns this year in 2026.
Given the chance to let loose, the Netherlands celebrates like crazy. Even if they aren’t the biggest fans of the monarchy. 🤷🏻
King’s Day in Amsterdam
There will be plenty of music and festivities through the night and into King’s Day. Amsterdam is well known for its open stages throughout all its neighbourhoods. 🎶
There are parties around Amstelveld, Leidseplein, Nieuwmarkt, Rembrandtplein, and the Jordaan, with some featuring live music. 🎤
Spui, Reguliersdwarsstraat, and Marie Heinekenplein are accessible to partygoers from 12 PM to 8 PM and are completely free! 😍
There are also some festivals on the outskirts of Amsterdam:
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Oranjebloesem Festival at the RAI, Amsterdam, from 12 PM to 10 PM
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Loveland at Meerpark, Amsterdam, from 11 AM to 10 PM
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Cartel Kingsday at Westerunie, Amsterdam, from 8 PM to 5 AM
Travelling during King’s Day in Amsterdam
The municipality closes most of Amsterdam’s city centre to traffic on April 27, but you can walk or bike around the city as usual — the only thing that’ll slow you down is the crowds.
You can still access the city by car through a few open roads, and parking is free, but the municipality strongly recommends arriving by train. 🚄
Starting this year (2026), on King’s Day, passengers are not allowed to bring their bikes on NS trains.
READ MORE | 8 things you should know about King’s Day in the Netherlands
The NS runs on a special King’s Day timetable with extra trains: both Amsterdam Science Park and Amsterdam RAI stations are closed all day. Metro stations Nieuwmarkt and RAI are also closed on King’s Day.
Buses, metros, and trams will also be running throughout King’s Day in Amsterdam, some on different routes and timetables, which you can check on the GVB website.
Trams won’t run at night, but there will be night buses, and the ferry between Amsterdam Central Station and NDSM will follow a Sunday timetable. F3 (Central Station to Buiksloterweg) will run more frequently, operating all night.
Flea markets on King’s Day in Amsterdam
The municipality will allow flea markets across the city. Anyone can settle down anywhere in the city and sell unwanted goods from 6 AM to 8 PM, except in Dam Square and some other restricted areas.
You can sell anything except for live animals and alcohol, and you can only sell food if you have a permit.
Let op! You won’t be allowed to purchase more than one serving of alcohol between 6 AM and 12 AM during King’s Day. You are also only allowed to carry a maximum of 1 alcoholic drink on the street. A six-pack, for example, is not allowed.
There are dozens of markets to check out across the city’s many parks and squares. There are even special markets where only children can sell their old things. This list can also be found on the Gemeente Amsterdam’s King’s Day page.
Let’s hope the weather holds up and comes through for the country’s biggest party.
How are you planning on spending King’s Day this year? Tell us in the comments!
Play piano acordeón on the streets in Amsterdam
Makes people happy with my music