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King's Day2027 Countdown
Tuesday, April 27, 2027
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About King's Day
King's Day, known in Dutch as Koningsdag, turns the entire Netherlands orange every year on April 27 in honor of the reigning monarch's birthday. It is the country's biggest national party, part street festival, part giant flea market, and part affectionate tribute to the royal family.
The color orange comes from the royal House of Orange-Nassau, and on the day it is everywhere: clothing, wigs, banners, and even the whipped cream on tompouce pastries. Cities host open-air concerts, canals fill with boats blaring music, and children stake out street corners to sell toys, bake cookies, and perform in the famous vrijmarkt free-market, where anyone may trade without a permit.
The king and the royal family traditionally visit one or two selected towns each year to join local games and festivities. Whether you celebrate in Amsterdam's canals or a village square, the atmosphere is warm, loud, and unmistakably Dutch.
History of King's Day
The holiday's roots lie in the late nineteenth century as a celebration of the House of Orange. Princess Wilhelmina's birthday became Queen's Day in 1885, and successive monarchs kept the tradition, with Queen Juliana moving it to April 30 and Queen Beatrix preserving the date out of respect for her mother's birthday. When Willem-Alexander became the first Dutch king in more than a century in 2013, the holiday shifted to his own birthday on April 27 and became King's Day. Only when April 27 falls on a Sunday does the celebration move to the previous day, so the royal party never clashes with quiet Sunday observance.
2027 vs 2028 dates
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is King's Day?
- King's Day falls every year on April 27, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. When the date lands on a Sunday, the Netherlands moves the celebration to April 26.
- Is King's Day a public holiday?
- Yes. King's Day is a national public holiday in the Netherlands, and most people have the day off for street parties, flea markets, and concerts.
- How do people celebrate King's Day?
- People celebrate by wearing orange, browsing flea markets, dancing at open-air concerts, and boating along crowded canals. Children sell old toys and perform music on street corners, and cities host games for all ages.