Every year on April 27, Koningsdag, formerly known as Koninginnedag, is celebrated. Since the late 1880s, the celebration has been held in honour of successive monarchs. As a result of the coronation of Willem-Alexander in 2013, the first Dutch monarch since 1890, and the abdication of the queen in 2013, 2014 was the first year to celebrate the national holiday of Koningsdag. On Koningsdag, King Willem-Alexander’s birthday is celebrated. Everything is painted orange on this day in honour of the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
The background of Koningsdag
This day is Willem Alexander’s birthday; he succeeded Queen Beatrix as sovereign of the Netherlands on April 30, 2013. Willem Alexander was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, on April 27, 1967. In 1890, in an effort to unite the Netherlands, a national holiday honouring the reigning monarch was instituted. On August 31, in honour of Princess Wilhelmina, who was four years old at the time, the first Prinsessedag or Princess’ Day was observed.
The 30th of April has been celebrated as Queen Juliana of Wilhelmina’s birthday since 1949. In 1980, when Queen Beatrix succeeded Juliana, the custom of rescheduling the holiday to coincide with the monarch’s birthday was discontinued. Following the abdication of her mother Juliana on April 30, 1980, Queen Beatrix decided to retain April 30 as a memorial to her. Since Beatrix’s actual birthday fell on January 31, it was prudent not to have her participate in traditional outdoor celebrations on that day. Beatrix would travel to two cities each year for the Koninginnedag celebrations instead of staying at the palace and inviting the Dutch people to her.
On April 30, 2013, Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother Beatrix as monarch on Queen’s Day. In 2014, the name of the holiday was altered from Queen’s Day to King’s Day. In addition, the date has been altered from April 30 to April 27, Willem’s birthday.
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KONINGSDAG ACTIVITIES
Attend the local festivals.
The majority of towns and cities have planned fairground attractions and music events, with many commencing on April 26. You can attend the festivals alone or with others.
Attend the festival Amsterdam Kingsland.
Attend the Kingsland Festival in Amsterdam, where some of the finest Dutch and international DJs will perform. These events frequently sell out in advance, so you should buy your tickets in advance.
Explore a modest town
Crowds in prominent metropolitan areas can be excruciating. To circumvent this, plan to visit a small town in advance. This is a wonderful way to experience the cosiness of King’s Day, as each town has a variety of festivities.
5 fascinating facts about the Netherlands.
The Dutch own the greatest number of bicycles on the planet.
About 1,200 bridges exist in Amsterdam.
In over 123 years, King Willem-Alexander is the first male monarch.
Koningsdag in the Netherlands is dominated by barter markets.
Beer imbibing and passing out is one of the most popular activities on this day.
KONINGSDAG DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 27 | Thursday |
| 2024 | April 27 | Saturday |
| 2025 | April 27 | Sunday |
| 2026 | April 27 | Monday |
| 2027 | April 27 | Tuesday |
