King’s Day in Netherlands
King’s Day (or Koningsdag in Dutch) is one of two national holidays in Netherlands (the other being Liberation Day or Bevrijdingsdag). The whole country celebrates the monarch’s birthday. Read on to find out more about King’s Day in Netherlands…
EARLIEST CELEBRATIONS
The first festivities were held on 31 August 1885, but they were not a celebration of the king’s birthday, but rather the 5th birthday of his daughter, Princess Wilhelmina, who was heir-apparent at the time. The observance was referred to as Princess Day (‘Prinsessedag‘).
Five years later 10-year old Princess Wilhelmina ascended to the throne upon the death of her father, King Willem III. The national festivities celebrating her birthday was then renamed Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag).
KING’S DAY vs. QUEEN’S DAY
Most expats in Netherlands are well-acquainted with King’s Day festivities, but in reality, very few of these celebrations have ever been held. The very first observance of King’s Day in Netherlands took place just 10 years ago, a year after King Willem-Alexander‘s coronation in 2013. That makes 2024 the 11th edition of King’s Day.
By comparison, Queen’s Day has been celebrated in the Netherlands 123 times starting in 1890. That covers the reigns of Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Julianna and Queen Beatrix.
Queen’s Day/King’s Day has been celebrated on the actual birthday of the reigning Dutch monarch since its inception, except for the 33 years Queen Beatrix sat on the throne (1980-2013). Her actual birthday is 31st January, a time of the year when the weather is usually not conducive to outdoor festivities. So Beatrix decided while she wore the crown, Queen’s Day would continue to be celebrated on 30th April (her mother, Queen Juliana’s, actual birthday).
When William-Alexander became monarch, the official celebration date was moved to his actual birthday (a difference of just 3 days) … 27th April.
KING’S DAY ACTIVITIES
A tradition introduced by Queen Beatrix, and continued by King Willem-Alexander, is a royal family visit to a Dutch city as part of the day’s festivities. A different location is chosen each year.
The royal family will spend King’s Day 2024 visiting the town of Emmen.
Other cities to have hosted the royal family on King’s Day recently include Rotterdam (2023), Maastricht (2022), Eindhoven (2021), Amersfoort (2019), Groningen (2018) and Tilburg (2017). The 2020 visit was cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic.
In addition to the royal’s family visit (which is a televised event), traditional King’s Day activities include free markets (where people can sell their secondhand items without a permit), fun fairs, outdoor dance parties and concerts. In many cities, festivities begin the evening prior (26 April) which is referred to as King’s Night (or Koningsnacht).
ORANGE ON KING’S DAY
Many people in Netherlands wear orange to celebrate King’s Day. This is because the Dutch monarchy descends from the House of Oranje-Nassau, so orange has unofficially been adopted as the national color.
KING’S DAY FLAG
On King’s Day, the Netherlands tri-color (red/wht/blue) striped flag is flown with an additional orange scarf or pennant to signify a special day of celebration relating to the royal family.
The same orange scarf is also flown in combination with the Netherlands flag on Queen Maxima’s birthday (17 May), former Queen Beatrix’s birthday (31 January) and the Princess of Orange’s birthday (7 December).
Related information…