About Netherlands King's Day (Koningsdag)
King's Day — Koningsdag — is the national holiday of the Netherlands, celebrating the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, born on April 27, 1967. It is the biggest and most exuberant party of the Dutch year, when the entire country dresses in orange — the colour of the royal House of Orange-Nassau — for a day of street parties, music and festivities. This live King's Day countdown shows exactly how many days, hours and minutes remain in your timezone.
Cities across the Netherlands fill with revellers, but Amsterdam is the epicentre, its canals jammed with decorated boats and crowds dressed head to toe in orange. A beloved tradition is the vrijmarkt, a nationwide "free market" where anyone can sell second-hand goods on the street without a permit, turning pavements into a giant flea market. The King and royal family also tour a different Dutch town each year, meeting the public in a televised celebration.
King's Day is held on April 27 each year, unless that date falls on a Sunday, in which case it moves to April 26. The holiday took its current form in 2014, after Willem-Alexander succeeded Queen Beatrix — before that it was Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) on April 30. Once the day passes, this page rolls over to next year — bookmark the countdown or add King's Day to your own page.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Tuesday, April 27, 2027next |
| 2028 | Thursday, April 27, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, April 27, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, April 27, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, April 27, 2031 |
FAQ
When is King's Day?
King's Day (Koningsdag) is held on April 27 each year, or April 26 if the 27th falls on a Sunday. The countdown above shows the exact time remaining in your timezone.
Why is King's Day celebrated?
It marks the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, born April 27, 1967, and serves as the national day of the Netherlands.
How is King's Day celebrated?
With nationwide orange-themed street parties, canal boat parades in Amsterdam, live music and the vrijmarkt free market where people sell second-hand goods in the streets.
Why does everyone wear orange on King's Day?
Orange is the colour of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, so revellers wear it to celebrate the monarchy — a custom nicknamed "oranjegekte", orange madness.