Quick Answer
King's Day 2027 falls on Tuesday, April 27, marking King Willem-Alexander's birthday with a nationwide public holiday. Amsterdam is the epicenter — canals packed with decorated party boats, a citywide free market (vrijmarkt) where anyone can sell secondhand goods on the street, and orange worn everywhere as the national color.
When
Tue, Apr 27, 2027
Where
Nationwide in the Netherlands; Amsterdam's canals and city center are the biggest single gathering point
Est. Daily Budget
€180–€320 (mid-range)
When to Book
Amsterdam hotels sell out and prices spike well ahead of King's Day — it's one of the city's busiest tourism dates of the year. Canal boat tours and party-boat charters for the day itself are typically booked out months in advance.
King's Day — Koningsdag — is the Netherlands' biggest national holiday, held every year on King Willem-Alexander's birthday. In 2027 that falls on Tuesday, April 27, when the entire country turns orange, cities close their streets to traffic, and Amsterdam's canals fill with the largest open-air party in Europe.
The holiday's date has moved with the monarch. It was celebrated as Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) on April 30 for over a century, honoring Queen Wilhelmina's birthday after she chose that date in 1949 to mark her mother Queen Emma's birthday rather than her own. When Willem-Alexander became king in 2013, the holiday shifted to his actual birthday, April 27, and was renamed King's Day. If April 27 falls on a Sunday, as it does in 2025, the celebration moves to April 26 instead — a rule carried over from the Queen's Day era to avoid clashing with the Christian day of rest.
Orange is worn nationwide as a tribute to the Dutch royal House of Orange-Nassau, tracing back to William of Orange, the 16th-century figure regarded as the founder of the modern Netherlands. The color has become so central to the holiday that Dutch fans wear it at international sporting events year-round, but King's Day is where the tradition is most visible — orange clothing, hats, face paint and canal-boat decorations across every city.
What Actually Happens
The vrijmarkt (free market)
For one day, anyone in the Netherlands can legally sell secondhand goods on the street without a permit — a tradition dating back centuries. Amsterdam's streets, especially around Vondelpark and the Jordaan, fill with locals selling clothes, books, toys and furniture from blankets on the pavement, alongside children's stalls selling homemade lemonade and cupcakes.
The canal parade
Amsterdam's canals become a slow-moving, densely packed flotilla of party boats — rented, decorated and often carrying sound systems — moving through the main canal ring from morning until evening. Watching from a canal-side bar or bridge is free; being on the water requires a boat booking made well ahead.
King's Night (Koningsnacht)
The evening before, April 26, is King's Night — a citywide night of concerts, DJ sets and club events across Amsterdam's squares and venues, effectively starting the celebration a full day early.
How Much Does a Trip Cost?
The street party itself is free — the cost driver is Amsterdam's hotel and boat-rental pricing, both of which spike sharply for one of the city's single busiest dates.
| Budget Tier | Daily Cost (EUR) | Accommodation | Canal Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | €70 – €130 | Hostel/budget hotel at holiday rates | Free canal-side viewing |
| Mid-Range | €180 – €320 | Mid-range hotel | Shared/small-group boat rental |
| Luxury | €450 – €900+ | Premium canal-view hotel | Private chartered boat with catering |
Getting There & Around
Logistics
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is the main international gateway, roughly 20 minutes from the city center by train.
- Much of central Amsterdam closes to cars for the day — walking, bike or public transit (which runs, though with adjusted routes around closures) are the only practical ways to get around.
- Book any canal boat well in advance; walk-up rentals are effectively unavailable on the day itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is King's Day 2027?
Tuesday, April 27, 2027 — King Willem-Alexander's actual birthday. King's Night celebrations begin the evening before, April 26.
Do I need a ticket to join the celebration?
No — the vrijmarkt, canal-side viewing and street celebrations are entirely free and open to everyone. Only specific extras, like a canal boat rental or a ticketed club event, require advance booking and payment.
Why does everyone wear orange?
Orange is the color of the Dutch royal House of Orange-Nassau, tracing back to William of Orange. It's worn as a nationwide show of support for the monarchy and Dutch national pride, most visibly on King's Day itself.
Fact-Checking & Sources
Status: CONFIRMED · Last verified against the sources below on 2026-09-20. Event dates, venues, and pricing can change — always confirm critical details on the official event website before booking non-refundable travel.
- Official SourceAmsterdam.nl — King's Day Official Guide
- Authoritative SourceWorld Calendar — King's Day 2027, Netherlands
