Koningsdag is one of the holidays for which the Netherlands is best known.
On this day, the people celebrate their monarchy by congratulating the king and drinking to exhaustion.
Here's everything you need to know about Koningsdag.
Koningsdag: article summary
Koningsdag celebrates the Dutch monarch in power
If you've just moved to the Netherlands, it's good to know that this is a public holiday.
As its subtle name suggests, King's Day is King Willem-Alexander's birthday.
In the past, people celebrated the birthday of the Queen Mother, Beatrix. However, now that she has retired, things have changed and this day of festivities has become King's Day.
After the reign of Queen Juliana, which ended in 1980, whose birthday was April 30, Queen Beatrix decided to keep the celebrations at this time of year. By coincidence, April 27 is in fact King Willem Alexander's birthday.
Before Juliana's reign, Queen's Day was celebrated on Queen Wilhelmina's birthday, August 31, a holiday from her youth, when she was still a princess.
You can celebrate King's Day anywhere in the Netherlands
So, you've got something orange, you've saved up for your beer and you're ready to go all out on this day.
The festivities don't stop in Amsterdam. In fact, if you're in our Dutch city, you can also enjoy the great feast given in honor of the king.
Randstad cities have the biggest celebrations. Amsterdam, for example, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht offer an incredible day of activity. You'll soon discover that every town and village has its own way of celebrating this special day.
The Dutch royal family visits a different city every year
Ever since Beatrix started the tradition, members of the royal family have been going out on the town and celebrating with "the people". So you may also be able to to see the king and queen.
Every year, members of the royal family visit a different region to show just how close they are to the country.
They usually play traditional games, enjoying the old Dutch traditions. involving clogs and re-enactments of swamp monsters.
They also chat with the locals and spend special moments with some lucky ones.
The Dutch have many amusing traditions
It's not King's Day in the Netherlands without a whole host of traditions. The Dutch will be selling old objects, music and entertainment for a little extra money!
It's such a popular activity that young children take part too: many children like to organize fun board games that people can play for a small fee.
Games include Spijkerpoepen, koekhappen and tombola.
Spijkerpoepen
Spijkerpoepen translates as nail poop, which should tell you just how wacky this game is. You tie a long piece of string around your waist, with a nail hanging from the bottom.
Your objective is to try and get the nail into the neck of a beer bottle.
Koekhappen
If you like Dutch snacks, koekhappen are for you.
Someone hangs several pieces of Dutch cookie on a string. Players must try to bite off a piece of cookie as quickly as possible, with their hands tied behind their backs (and sometimes blindfolded).
The first person to removing the piece of cookie from the string wins the game!
Try the Dutch version of bingo
And finally, you'll probably find many Dutch people playing a game of tombola. It's a fun game to play to win prizes. Especially if you want to sit back relax during Koningsdag.
Flea markets dominate Koningsdag
King's Day is also known for the flea markets that spring up in most cities. The ban on free trade is lifted for this holiday.
Kerbs, sidewalks and bridges are filled with street vendors who want to get rid of their old stuff.
Koningsdag is a unique celebration in Amsterdam. This festive day is very important. Most of the city's inhabitants. If you're visiting Amsterdam in spring, chances are you will too, get caught up in the crowds for a day of intense partying.
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