Do you already have an idea of what King’s Day (or Koning´s Day) is and what locals do during this holiday that makes it so special for them? In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know to celebrate King´s Day in the best way you can.
The history of King´s Day started as Princess Day in 1885 to celebrate Princess Wilhelmina’s fifth birthday. It was an idea of the non-confessional liberal party to emphasize national unity. However, when the Princess became a Queen, her birthday continued to be celebrated every 31st of August and, in 1902, Queen’s Day became a national festival as the Dutch people celebrated the Queen’s recovery from an illness. Nowadays, King Willem Alexandre’s birthday is one of the biggest events in The Netherlands. So, every April 27th, everyone dresses orange and goes to the streets to congratulate the King on his birthday. Such a nice birthday party, right?
However, if you are not Dutch, everything can seem very new to you, and you may feel a bit lost with such a Dutch tradition. But believe me! This is something worth it in the best way to celebrate King’s Day in the Netherlands! In this article, we will tell you all the best ways to celebrate King’s Day in The Netherlands in 2022.
1. Dress in orange
No wonder now why orange is the national color of The Netherlands. It represents the founder of The Netherlands, Willem De Orange, as well as the entire royal family. But it also represents national unity and that is why LITERALLY EVERYONE will dress in orange during King’s Day. So, if you don’t want to be the weird one in the crowd, now you know the dress code!
2. Buy, trade, and sell in the street markets
During King’s Day, the government allows everyone to sell their old stuff on the streets. They are called ´Flea Markets´ and you will find a good amount of them on any Dutch streets during King’s Day. There, children (and not so children) sell their old furniture, or even prepare little food and drink stands, where you can buy fresh lemonade, ice cream, candies, etc. And of course, if you have old stuff that you want to get rid of, this is your opportunity!
3. Buy a bottle of Orange Bitter and then toast to the King
Is there an orange alcoholic drink? Then of course we need to toast with it during the national Dutch holiday! Just buy a bottle of Orange Bitter and then toast to the King with everyone you come across! During this holiday, everyone becomes extremely friendly and happy and you will probably meet a lot of new friends.
4. Don’t miss out on the King’s Day festivals
Last but not at least, the festivals during King’s Day are not only abundant but also amazing! A lot of famous Dutch artists, such as Martin Garrix, will be celebrating the King´s Birthday with their music. And there are not only electronic festivals. You can find all types of music festivals all around the country that are held outside and are perfect to get to know the youngest part of this popular Dutch tradition. So, don’t miss out on the festivals!
At last, are you excited for your next King´s Day? Let us know in the comments how you will celebrate it and, of course, let us know if you found this article useful!
We wish you a very happy King’s Day (or een gezellig Koning´s Dag)!
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