King's Day (Koningsdag) in Amsterdam: 2027 date, programme and tips

Updated on October 1, 2026

King's Day (Koningsdag) celebrates King Willem-Alexander's birthday every 27 April; when the 27th falls on a Sunday, it moves to Saturday the 26th. In 2027 it takes place on Tuesday 27 April, the King's 60th birthday, and the evening before, Monday 26 April, is King's Night (Koningsnacht). The public holiday turns Amsterdam into a huge open-air flea market, the vrijmarkt, while hundreds of boats crowd the canals and the whole city dresses in orange. The Jordaan, the Vondelpark and the canal ring are where most of the action happens. The royal family celebrates King's Day 2027 in Lelystad, in the province of Flevoland, not in Amsterdam.

Highlights

The vrijmarkt

From 6am to 8pm, anyone can sell second-hand goods on the pavement without a permit: clothes, books, toys, records. Jordaan streets such as the Westerstraat and its side alleys are among the busiest, and the Vondelpark hosts a children's market where kids sell their toys. Come early for the best finds.

Boats on the canals

Private boats, sloops and barges crawl along the Prinsengracht and the other canals, often with music on board, watched by crowds packed on the bridges. The rules have become stricter: in 2026 the city limited boats in the centre to 10 m in length, 6 km/h and 12 passengers plus the skipper, who must not drink alcohol.

The orange tide

Orange, the colour of the House of Orange-Nassau, is a must: T-shirts, wigs, crowns and flags. Neighbourhood stages and street parties pop up all over the city, and parks such as the Vondelpark or the Erasmuspark turn into giant picnics.

Infos pratiques

Tips

The streets and the vrijmarkt are free to enter. To sell, simply mark your spot in chalk (no tape), without blocking building entrances, bridges or fire hydrants; selling alcohol and live animals is banned and, apart from small dry snacks, selling food is reserved for vendors registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). In 2026 the city banned glass in public space in the centre and limited the alcohol you could carry or buy in a shop to one can or bottle per person between 6am and midnight; the 2027 rules have not been published yet, so check the city website (amsterdam.nl) before the day. Book your accommodation several months ahead: it is one of the most sought-after nights of the year. Crowds are very dense in the centre in the afternoon: agree on a meeting point, as the mobile network sometimes gets saturated.

How to get there

Throughout the centre, the Jordaan and the parks; recommended starting point: Amsterdam Centraal station, Stationsplein, 1012 AB Amsterdam. The centre is closed to car traffic that day (from 7:30am to midnight in 2026): come by train to Amsterdam Centraal, then walk (about 15 minutes to the Jordaan). GVB trams, metros and buses run on adjusted routes and NS operates a special timetable: check the GVB app or the 9292 journey planner on the day. Cycling is not recommended in the centre, which is packed with pedestrians.