Koningsdag, widely known as the King’s Day, is a city-wide orange celebration honouring King Willem-Alexander. Every year, on April 27, Amsterdam spreads its orange charm everywhere. It’s considered the national holiday in Netherlands. Here, you will see up to one million visitors for the country’s national celebration.
This festival showcases Dutch pride through “oranjegekte”, which means orange madness, with citizens wearing orange attire. Moreover, the festival also features street markets, music, and parties to unite and experience the cultural heritage. King’s Day is more than just an event; it is a neighbourhood festival that features family day across every corner of the city.
In this guide, we have mentioned all the significant information about King’s Day in Netherlands. Not just that, but here you will also find the right guidance to obtain the Netherlands’ visa without any hassle. So, let’s dive into the following blog.
Amsterdam is proudly recognised as the epicentre for King’s Day celebration. With the central station, the metro streets and canals resemble a sea of orange. So, let’s know why the festival is so popular and how you can get the best out of this festival.
Do you know? According to the recent data, 69% of people in Amsterdam come from outside North Holland to celebrate the festival.
The King’s Day is celebrated to honour the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, the reigning monarch. It was first originated in 1885 as Princess’s Day for Princess Wilhelmina’s fifth birthday. It evolved into Queen’s Day under Queen Juliana (1948, April 30) and Queen Beatrix. In 2013, after Beatrix’s abdication, the holiday was renamed King’s Day and shifted to April 27, which aligns with Willem-Alexander’s birthday.
Eventually, the festival gained popularity and has started attracting over a million visitors now. The royal family visits a chosen city for festivities to reinforce their bond with the public. For this year, Dokkum has been decided by the royal family.
King’s Day (April 27) in the Netherlands is mostly FREE. It features street parties and flea markets. However, paid tickets are required for major events like boat parties and clubs. The popular events and the canal boat slots sell out really quickly. So, it is mandatory to book the tickets via official platforms. Here is further information about the ticket prices:
Feeling sorted about the budget? Well, you may not be if you haven’t applied for the Netherlands visa. If you are a UK resident, then you need to acquire a visa in order to enter and travel in the country. NETHERLANDS VISA is an experienced visa agency based in the UK. The visa experts have helped thousands of UK applicants successfully acquire a Netherlands visa from UK.
As the event is just next month, it is highly recommended to take the right guidance at this peak time. Our experts handle everything smoothly, from visa appointments to providing financial guidance. So, all you have to do is fill out the Netherlands Schengen visa application, and our experts will handle everything.
The entire city of Amsterdam features orange-themed celebrations that include various events that turn the city into a vibrant street party. Here are the top things to do on King’s Day Amsterdam while enjoying the festive events.
Here are the essential tips for visiting Amsterdam during King’s Day.
The most frequent and common reasons for the Netherlands visa refusal include:
However, if you feel overwhelmed with the complex visa process, then worry not! NETHERLANDS VISA not only books the visa appointment slot without any hassle, but also looks after the above-mentioned reasons of visa refusal. Our visa experts make sure that your application is duly filled out with accurate information.
Moreover, here you will also get guidance for successfully qualifying for the interview at the VFS visa centre. So, make sure to get yourself registered by filling out the Schengen visa application form and save your visa application from getting rejected.
Read more: Best Tourist Cities in Netherlands to Visit
In conclusion, Amsterdam in late April is considered the most joyful time of the year. The King’s Day is a combination of day and night pandemonium, where millions of locals and visitors party all around the city. When the bustling city turns into an open-air carnival, this orange festival attracts the majority of people from outside the city.
So, whatever your king’s day looks like, orange coat, vintage find, or grassy afternoon in the Vondelpark, the city has room for everything. So, without delaying your plan anymore, get your travel permit with the NETHERLANDS VISA. Hope to see you all out there.
In 2026, Amsterdam introduced some stricter rules related to crowd management. Please read out the further details about the new rules on the official website.
Generally, it takes around 10 to 15 working days for the processing of a short-stay visa. However, the processing time may extend during the peak time. Some other factors, like common mistakes in the visa application, can also hinder the processing time.
The Netherlands generally maintain a low visa rejection rate for applications submitted from the UK. However, it often boasts a high success rate; still, the overall refusal percentage fluctuates annually.
To secure King’s Day boat party tickets, book online early via official platforms. These tickets often include open bars, DJs, and 1.5 to 4-hour cruises departing near Central Station.
To secure a visa for the Netherlands successfully, here are the documents you need to submit:
Duly filled Netherlands visa application form
A valid passport
UK residence permit (eVisa/ share code, BRP)
Two passport-size photos
A cover letter
Proof of Accommodation
Health Insurance
Travel Itinerary
Financial proof
Beyond these standard documents, the visa centre may demand more documents according to the type of Netherlands visa from UK.
