King’s Day Amsterdam 2026: What It Is, When It Happens, and What to Expect
✨ Key Points
- King’s Day 2026 takes over Amsterdam with orange crowds, street markets, and canal parties—planning ahead makes it far more fun.
- The vrijmarkt turns the city into a giant open-air market, but there are clear rules visitors should know in advance.
- Transport, crowds, and timing matter—knowing what happens where helps you enjoy the chaos without stress.
King’s Day (Koningsdag) is the Netherlands’ biggest national celebration, and there’s nowhere it hits harder than in Amsterdam.
✨For one full day, the city transforms completely: almost everyone wears orange, residential streets turn into open-air markets, music spills out of every neighbourhood, and the canals become packed with party boats from morning until night.
It’s festive, loud, crowded, and unlike anything else in Europe—but it can also feel overwhelming if you arrive unprepared.
Transport changes, shops close, streets are blocked, and popular areas fill up early.
Knowing where to go, when to move around, and what to avoid makes the difference between a stressful day and an unforgettable one.
This guide walks you through what actually happens on King’s Day in Amsterdam in 2026, with clear advice on crowds, public transport, street markets, and celebrating on the water—so you can enjoy the energy without getting caught out by the chaos.
When is King’s Day 2026?
In 2026, King’s Day is on Monday, 27 April 2026.
The night before is commonly called King’s Night (Koningsnacht), with parties starting the evening before the holiday.
It is an official public holiday in the Netherlands, but it is useful to know that there is no law that guarantees employees a day off on public holidays (it depends on employer and agreements).
Why everything is orange
Orange is tied to the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, and it has become the color of national celebration.
On King’s Day, orange clothing is not “theme dressing”, it is simply what people do.
What actually happens in Amsterdam on King’s Day
- The vrijmarkt: Amsterdam’s giant street market. The daytime heart of King’s Day is the vrijmarkt, a city-wide street market where people sell second-hand items from blankets and tables, plus homemade snacks and small crafts. Official visitor guidance notes that the markets come with rules, including restrictions on what can be sold and where you can set up. For example, I amsterdam explicitly notes you may not sell alcohol at the street markets and you may not sell certain perishable foods unless you are licensed.
- A very practical detail: Vondelpark traditionally closes the night before and opens at 09:00 on King’s Day, and it is known for a children-focused market atmosphere.
- Street parties and ticketed events. Alongside the markets, you will find pop-up DJs, neighborhood parties, and larger ticketed events. The biggest difference between “a fun day” and “an exhausting day” is usually how you manage your movement through the city.
Crowds and transport: what to expect and how to plan
Amsterdam is busy year-round, but King’s Day is in a different category.
The official visitor guidance is very direct: public transport in the city center is affected by restrictions, and routes are adapted so trams and buses only run up to the outskirts of the centre.
A few key planning points from the same source:
- Expect modified public transport and closures of certain metro stations on the day.
- Traffic in the city centre is severely restricted, with the centre closed off to cars from 07:30 onwards.
Practical advice that works every year:
- Pick a “base area” for a few hours rather than trying to criss-cross the centre repeatedly.
- Agree on a meeting point with your group (mobile networks can feel overloaded in dense crowds).
- If you are coming from outside Amsterdam, allow extra time and check train and city transport updates close to the date.
Alcohol rules that catch visitors off guard
Amsterdam’s official visitor guidance highlights that alcohol rules tighten on King’s Day.
For example, it notes you are typically not allowed to have more than one alcoholic drink in your possession at a time in public spaces, and it also notes restrictions around alcohol on trains and at train stations during a specific window around King’s Day.
It also clearly states that drinking alcohol while in control of a boat is not permitted.
King’s Day on the canals: the iconic way to celebrate
If you have seen King’s Day photos of Amsterdam, a lot of them are taken on bridges looking down at boats packed with people in orange.
The canals are one of the reasons King’s Day here feels so unique.
At the same time, boating on King’s Day is not a “normal canal cruise day”. There are additional rules in place. Official visitor guidance states, among other points:
- Boats up to 10 metres long may sail through the canals on King’s Day (with additional regulations in force).
- The maximum permitted speed is 6 km/h, with instructions to reduce speed further if you cause excessive wash.
- Amplified music is not permitted if it is audible 10 metres away from the boat, and enforcement is mentioned.
This is why many visitors prefer booking with an operator for King’s Day: you get a clear plan, a captain who understands the rules, and you spend less time figuring out logistics in the busiest conditions of the year.
If you are searching for a boat party, start here
A lot of visitors search the exact phrase Amsterdam King’s Day Boat Party when planning because it is one of the easiest ways to lock in a memorable few hours without battling the densest streets all day.
Starboard describes shared and private party-cruise formats for 2026 (including different durations) and notes high demand and booking in advance.
The best “day after” plan: a calmer canal cruise to reset
Let’s be honest: for most people, the best part of King’s Day is also why the next day can feel rough.
The streets are packed, you walk for hours, queues are long, and it is easy to go harder than you planned.
That is why a “recovery day” plan is underrated.
On the day after King’s Day, Amsterdam often feels noticeably calmer.
You still see bits of orange and the odd leftover decoration, but the city starts to return to normal.
It is a great moment to do the kind of sightseeing that feels impossible on the holiday itself.
If you want something easy, relaxed, and very Amsterdam, a canal cruise is one of the simplest ways to see the city while you recover.
Cloud Boat: a relaxed smoke-friendly cruise for the day after
If your group wants a laid-back option to decompress and see the canal belt at a slower pace, you can have a look at the smoke friendly cruise:
The Cloud Boat is a smoke-friendly canal cruise with a skipper and host, positioned as a comfortable sightseeing experience.
Traveling from Seattle to Amsterdam for King’s Day: Flights, Timing, and Where to Stay
If you’re traveling from Seattle to experience King’s Day in Amsterdam, a bit of planning goes a long way—especially for such a busy event.
Flights from Seattle to Amsterdam Schiphol
The easiest option is a nonstop flight from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol.
In 2026, the most reliable nonstop routes are typically operated by:
KLM – direct flights, strong Amsterdam hub connections;
Delta Air Lines – often codeshared with KLM, similar schedules;
Flight time is usually around 9–10 hours nonstop. Aim to arrive at least 2–3 days before King’s Day (27 April) to adjust to jet lag and settle in before crowds peak.
✨When to Book: For late-April travel tied to a major national holiday, booking 3–5 months in advance usually gives better prices and more seat options.
Flights fill quickly as King’s Day is popular with both international visitors and Europeans traveling into Amsterdam.
✨Where to Stay: Accommodation sells out fast for King’s Day, so location matters as much as price:
City Centre / Jordaan – walkable, festive, but loud and crowded;
De Pijp or Amsterdam East – lively, well-connected by tram and metro, slightly calmer;
Amsterdam Noord – quieter, often better value, easy ferry access to the centre.
If you prefer sleep over street parties, choose a neighborhood just outside the historic core and rely on public transport or walking during the day.
✨Practical Tip : On King’s Day itself, public transport runs on special schedules and some streets are closed.
Staying within walking distance of your planned activities—or near a major tram or metro line—makes the day far easier to manage, especially when you already know how to avoid roaming charges when travel by relying less on constant map checks and mobile data.
Planning flights early and choosing the right neighborhood can turn a long journey from Seattle into a smooth arrival for one of Europe’s most unforgettable celebrations.
To warp it up
King’s Day in Amsterdam is at its best when you accept that you cannot do everything.
Start earlier than you think, choose one main area for a few hours, and plan around transport restrictions.
If the canals are your priority, booking ahead gives you a clear plan in the busiest conditions of the year.
Then, do yourself a favour: plan something calm for the day after.
Whether that is a slow walk, a museum, or a relaxed cruise like the Cloud Boat, it is the easiest way to see Amsterdam “wiped clear” and still feel like you got the full experience, not just the crowds.
If you’re looking for more information, have a look here.
If you’re traveling from Seattle to experience King’s Day in Amsterdam, a bit of planning goes a long way—especially for such a busy event.
