We visited Amsterdam during King’s Day a few years ago when my husband’s friend was studying and living there for a year or so.
I’d been to Amsterdam on a family holiday a while before, but, as with many holidays when you’re younger you tend to do different things and misremember places too.
On this trip to Amsterdam during King’s Day, we were able to combine some sightseeing across the city of Amsterdam with partying at King’s Day!
If you’re from the UK, or somewhere else in Western Europe, then Amsterdam is a popular Europe city break destination. It’s easy to get to thanks to cheap flights and even cheaper Megabus and other bus tickets.
But, have you ever been to Amsterdam during King’s Day? Well, after reading this guide to King’s Day in Amsterdam you’re going to want to!
What is King’s Day in Amsterdam?
Formerly known as Queen’s Day, King’s Day is a day of celebration for the King. Celebrations have taken place in cities all over with music, markets and great food. In Amsterdam King’s Day is the biggest street party of the year and probably one of the biggest you’ll ever attend. It’s great fun!
When is King’s Day in Amsterdam?
King’s Day is usually held on 27th April. In 2024, King’s Day will be on Saturday 27th April.
What to pack for King’s Day
Whatever you take on your trip to Amsterdam during King’s Day, make sure you pack lots of orange clothing and accessories.
Wigs, clothes, sunglasses; you get the idea! The streets will be full of people wearing orange and you won’t want to be the odd one out.
Also, make sure to pack comfortable shoes for walking around the city and soaking up the atmosphere. You’ll also want to take plenty of layers with you.
Whilst it was warm the year I attended King’s Day, it’s not unusual for it to still be a bit chilly.
What happens during Kings Day?
On King’s Day in Amsterdam over 700,000 visitors combine to turn the city into a massive carnival. In fact, that’s enough visitors to double Amsterdam’s usual population. So yes, it’s busy, but it’s fun for sure!
You can expect open-air parties, concerts and markets. There are sound stages, zip lines across the canal and plenty to entertain everyone.
** More awesome things to do in Amsterdam on a budget **
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Hotels in Amsterdam tend to book up super quickly for King’s Day. Make sure you book well in advance or try and find an Airbnb (just be aware of inflated prices).
Here are some hotels I’d recommend:
- Via Amsterdam: Stay just 10 minutes from the centre of Amsterdam at this design-led hybrid hostel and hotel, with a range of amenities including a spacious shared kitchen, city-view rooms, a restaurant serving International cuisine, bike rental, a cinema room, and relaxing area
- Jaz Amsterdam: Based in the vibrant Zuidoost district of Amsterdam you’ll get spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms with free toiletries.
- Hotel2Stay: Studio-style rooms with kitchens, and private bathrooms. There’s also a sauna, fitness centre, bike hire, and a 24-hour reception. This hotel is a short train ride from Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central Station.
Best Amsterdam hostels:
- MEININGER Amsterdam City West: A comfortable and affordable place to stay in Amsterdam near Sloterdijk train station. Enjoy a fully-equipped guest kitchen, a bar with local beers, game zones, and free WiFi and cosy rooms with TVs, en suite bathrooms, and friendly 24/7 reception staff.
- CityHub Amsterdam: Get a unique blend of communal feel and privacy at CityHub Amsterdam, where private cabins called Hubs feature giant double beds, app-controlled lighting, personal audio streaming systems, and WiFi.
How to get to Amsterdam from the UK
The choice is yours when it comes to getting to Amsterdam. You could take the bus, train or plane.
London to Amsterdam by Bus
Bus tickets are usually super, super cheap but you’ll travel overnight and probably not get much sleep.
We took This option and then had a nap at our friend’s house before beginning the King’s Day celebrations!
Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!
Flights to Amsterdam
You could also fly to Amsterdam from London and other UK airports from around £70 return. Airlines include EasyJet, British Airways and KLM and flights take about 1.5 hours.
Other UK cities with flights to Amsterdam include Bristol, Southampton, London City and Leeds Bradford. Exeter, Edinburgh and London Stansted also offer flights direct to Amsterdam.
Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.
Trains to Amsterdam from the UK
Another option is to take the train which takes a lot less time than the bus but they are more expensive.
In my experience, you can find cheap train tickets to Amsterdam through Omio sif you book several months in advance. Weekend tickets will always be more expensive than those during the week and the same with summer vs winter tickets.
You can also find tickets through TheTrainline.com.
The train takes about 4 hours so it’s pretty quick and you’ll travel by Eurostar.
Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!
6 Things to do during Kings Day Amsterdam
Attend Kingsland Festival!
Join the ultimate celebration of King’s Day in the Netherlands by attending the Kingsland Festival on April 27th! Get ready to dance the day away to the electrifying beats of AfroJack, Kris Kross Amsterdam, and Lucas & Steve.
Don’t forget to deck yourself out in orange and join the sea of revellers at the Amsterdam RAI. You’ll be surrounded by thousands of partygoers who share your love for music, dance, and a good time.
With multiple stages featuring the best artists and DJs in the country, the Kingsland Festival is the place to be on King’s Day. So don’t miss out on the largest one-day dance event in the Netherlands, and bust out your best orange digs for a day of non-stop fun and excitement!
Party with others!
Don’t miss out on the party because you’ve no one to go with. Check out this awesome King’s Day tour in Amsterdam and you’ll make new friends AND have a great time!
Attend a King’s Night party
Bars and clubs hold King’s Night parties on the evening before King’s Day. They often continue into the morning, and day of, King’s Day too and are usually super busy.
The best way to plan your King’s Night is to check social media and websites beforehand. You may have to purchase a ticket in advance.
Party in the streets of Amsterdam
Pretty much every road in central Amsterdam will be packed with people on King’s Day. April 27th is a national holiday in Amsterdam and so the majority of people are able to dedicate the day to partying.
There are stages throughout the city with live music but even without that, you’ll find people to party with!
Find someone with a boat and join a canal parade
During King’s Day in Amsterdam, there’s a constant stream of boats all over the canal network. They’re not an organised parade, more just a mass group. If you know someone with a boat then it’s definitely worth jumping on board for a bit! The largest concentration of boats usually channels along Prinsengracht.
OR, if you don’t know someone with a boat, check out this Canal Cruise tour!
Shop the markets (Vrijmarkt)
King’s Day is the only time when street vending in Amsterdam without a license is allowed. Locals take advantage of this to sell off old and unwanted possessions outside their homes.
This pretty much turns Amsterdam into one enormous flea market: “de Vrijmarkt”. You never know what gems you might find!
Looking for more things to do in Amsterdam? Check out this guide to Amsterdam on a budget!
Try a tompouce
If you’re in Amsterdam for King’s Day then you’ll have to try tompouce. This cream-filled cake is coated with an orange layer of icing and is sold throughout the city.
Apparently, there’s a huge increase in the number of tompouce consumed on this day compared to usual.
Final thoughts on King’s Day Amsterdam
Amsterdam Kings Days parties are pretty legendary. This city knows how to party and they go all out for Kings Day.
If you’ll looking for a unique European festival to attend then be sure to plan an Amsterdam King’s Day trip as it’s so much fun.
This was my first experience of Kings Day in Amstedam and though I was super tired having not slept much on the bus. on the way to Amsterdam, we still had a tonne of fun.
You don’t have to party late into the night to experience it, since the festivities take place throughout the day.
I also highly recommend extending your trip so that you can check out some of the other best things to do in Amsterdam!
Last Updated on June 9, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.