We're looking forward to it again: this is how we celebrate King's Day 2026
Long live the king! Once a year the Netherlands turns completely orange again and with a bit of luck the weather will be good this year. We're just looking forward to it again: finally old-fashioned free markets, parties in the street, hanging out in the lanterns and more of that. On to the best of Dutch coziness, your best orange suit and a lot of fun. We definitely won't let King Pils wear his shirt this year! Read here where it will be the most orange this year so you won't forget.
You can find cool festivals in a lot of cities. We’ve highlighted the best ones for you here:
- Happy Feelings King's Night in Groningen
- Happy Feelings King's Day Amsterdam & Utrecht
- The Mega Café (formerly KingSize) in Arnhem
- free your mind in Arnhem
- Free Your Mind X Oranjebloesem in Amsterdam
- Orange fever in The Hague
- KingslandFestival Groningen & Amsterdam
- TICK TAK Kingsnight Rotterdam & Leeuwarden
- Kingdance Festival in Zwolle
- Royal Dutch in Eindhoven
- 538 King's Day in Breda
- Orange fever in Delft
- Dutch Live in The Hague
- Supersized Kingsday in Best
- Dirty King's Day in Den Bosch
- The Heroes of Orange in Groningen
- Orange bitter in Rotterdam
- Kingsday Garden Party in Leeuwarden
The best parties for King's Night in Amsterdam:
- At Skatecafe, there will be again on King's Night Tourist Trap organized from 22:00 to 03:00. Prepare yourself for a whirlwind of indie sleaze, electroclash, dance punk and blog house that is guaranteed to blow you away. Just something a little different again (as you’ve come to expect from Skatecafé) on King's Night.
- At Roest, they certainly know how to throw a party. At Roest van Oranje, you can dance the night, day, and for those who can't get enough, the after-party. Full info to follow.
- On King's Night, Frits and Vooges are rocking the IJ – with a DJ behind the turntables, a view over the water, and dancing until deep into the night from 19:00 to 1:00. Get here your tickets.
- And of course there are plenty of squares in the city where you can enjoy a pleasant atmosphere.
Please note: at some of these places you need to buy a ticket in advance.
The countdown has begun. Willem's Night & Day for the third time!
Get your dancing shoes ready, because the line-up (including Doppelgang and Moody Mehran) is one to get you hot.
So, on April 26 & 27, you celebrate at De Willem under the archway and on the terrace.
Night: from 19:00 you are welcome for a bite, a drink, and a dance. Want to dine beforehand? That is possible on both sides!
Day: From 12:00 you dance under the arch and they provide you with a wine bar (orange wine anyone!?), a beer bar and, of course, the very best tunes.
Admission is free, we obviously don't need to repeat that.
On King's Day, the Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam North is organizing a flea market for and by the neighborhood. And the children's program is jam-packed, making it super fun with kids. There will be dancing, face painting, jewelry making, buying and selling of goods, and much more. Oh, and you can also dance on the stage (or something else; pick a talent). It may be for and by the neighborhood, but everyone is warmly welcome at the Tolhuistuin – the cultural haven of North. With 18.000 square meters of space (for art and culture), it is big enough for everyone. Or well, for many people, at least. Café Restaurant THT (which is normally part of it) is unfortunately closed on King's Day. But actually, that isn't necessary at all, because there will be plenty of snacks and drinks available.
After such a fun King's Eve, we will continue with it on King's Day at these nice places in Amsterdam:
- plek turns orange on King's Day. Free admission and part of NDSM Vrijhaven - so dancing, strolling through the free market and snacking at the food trucks it is.
- Café Thijssen always loves to celebrate the Orange craze exuberantly, and the café prefers to do so at an outdoor stage with an outdoor bar and conga lines (King Loesoe).
- Orange on the IJ at Vooges on King's Day itself - sun on your face, music in your ears and a cold drink in your hand. From 12:00 it starts. Score here your tickets.
King's Day in Amsterdam means celebrations everywhere. There is plenty to do on the streets, but there are also a number of parties and festivals you can go to (many are already sold out, but Ticketswap is your great friend!):
- Big favorite Oranjebloesem is back in collaboration with Free Your Mind. So double the fun this year at RAI Amsterdam from 12:00 to 22:00. Buy here tickets.
- Kingsland celebrates again this year at the Olympic Stadium with big names like Roxy Dekker, Ronnie Flex, and the Bankzitters – from EDM to hip hop.
- First Loveland van Oranje, but nowadays with a new twist: BURST in the Meerpark. One stage, full of energy, but just a bit more intimate. Think: house and techno from Benwall, Funk Tribu, Chris Stussy, and Sally C, among others.
- Cartel Kingsday: At WestWeelde (formerly Westerunie) you can party indoors and outdoors to the best house and techno.
So there is plenty to do in the city, but also plenty for free; for instance, you can visit the NDSM Wharf from 11:00 to 16:00 for NDSM Freeport. You will find live music, food trucks, and a flea market there, of course. In the East, it is once again the Bredewegfestival where there are performances and food trucks. One big party.
On the Amstelveld It happens every year on King's Day, but this year it's just a little bit more. Meyer en Arie (both from 3WO) are really going all out. Café restaurant Meyer has only just opened its doors, but is absolutely going to make new friends with this. This spot, right in the city center, is open seven days a week from breakfast to dinner – should you want to take a look in advance (do so) or return for a nostalgic visit after King's Day. Lovely terrace, good food, and friendly staff. Café, bistro, and bar Arie has been a favorite for a while and is a go-to for a fun afternoon or evening of drinks in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
Back to King's Day: this year, the square at Meyer is getting its own pop stage where you can dance all day long (yes!). It still feels like the Amstelveld you know, but with an extra dose of energy and party spirit. Need to recharge? A cold drink is never far away. Isn't this everything you want on King's Day?
A King's Day isn't a King's Day without a tompouce of course! But scoring the best is still quite difficult, you can quickly get a good deal at the bakery, of course, but where do you get the tastiest? Read and learn about the best tompouces from Amsterdam.
Patisserie Holtkamp, duh. That is no surprise, because people, really, under the motto 'you have to hang the streamers yourself', you will look more than imperial with the orange tompouces from Patisserie Holtkamp.
Pastry from Avezaath-Beune has been a household name for many Amsterdam residents for more than a hundred years and for good reason.
It really is true – one tompouce is tastier than the other, but every pastry chef knows something about it. Hop to the local bakery on time and stock up on those tompouces, don't be too frugal either.
Not such a tompouce fan? But do you feel like baking something? Then look here Bart's Recipes for a dose of inspiration.
Kudos to the tompouce: did you know that...: sales of tompouces increase by 600% during King's Day, compared to any other day?
The baking enthusiasts among us can of course also make a tompouce themselves. Not the easiest thing, but fun and delicious! It will take you about 40 minutes.
Ingredients:
- puff pastry
- Pastry cream (500 ml milk, 1 vanilla pod, 100 g sugar, 2 egg yolks, 45 g cornflour)
- 400 ml cream
- 45 gr sugar
- 1 bag of whipped cream stiffener
- 125 gr icing sugar
- orange food coloring
- 2 tbsp hot water
- Roll out the puff pastry and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper
- Cut the puff pastry in half lengthwise so that you have two long strips and poke holes so that the dough does not bulge
- Bake the puff pastry for 15 to 20 minutes at 200 degrees.
- Beat the pastry cream and spread it (with a piping bag) over one of the puff pastry slices.
- Next up: is to whip the whipped cream and add the sugar and the whipped cream stiffener, divide this over the pastry cream
- Place the other layer of puff pastry over this and press gently
- Mix the icing sugar with the water and a few drops of food coloring and spread this over the top of the puff pastry
- After this, the tompouces can be placed in the refrigerator for at least half an hour to set
- Once they have set, you can start cutting. This is best done with a sharp and serrated knife
- Extra: if you still have some whipped cream left, you can spread it over the top of the tompouces, and voila, you have made your own tompouces!
Anyone who likes to open a beer on King's Day is welcome Van Vollenhoven brewery at the right place. Their 'Princesse' wheat beer was already made in 1734 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Willem IV. Romantic much. Delicious fresh flavors with a champagne-like bubble. There is also a hint of orange. Orange party it is.
From rugs to classics, from kids to bargain hunters – these are the best flea markets on King's Day 2025 in Amsterdam:
- Vondelpark: The ultimate children's flea market - green, cozy and full of cookies, toys and mini performances. Perfect for families.
- Bredewegfestival (East):Free market meets culture meets food trucks. Think: live music, theatre and a touch of flair.
- The Jordan: The cosiest of them all. Blankets, live music from windows and drinks everywhere. This is where you want to be – with or without the urge to buy.
- Beethoven Street & Van Eeghen Street: For the early birds with an eye for beauty: designer, vintage and luxury finds at reasonable prices.
- NDSM shipyard: Industrial and creative – with alternative vibes, music and the city's largest children's flea market. Plus: food trucks!
- Sarphatipark (The Pipe): Neighborhood vibes, spontaneous performances and lots of fun for little. Nice to wander between rugs and bargains.
- And further…From the Erasmuspark (with live music) to Amstelveld, Rembrandtplein and even Artisplein – free markets are popping up everywhere. Just grab your change and go.
Please note: there are several special children's flea markets for children up to 16 years old.
How orange do you want it? A Aperol Spritz may be a typical Italian aperitif – we simply adapt the recipe for King's Day:
Dutch Spritz:
- Wine glass full of ice
- 35 Willems Wermoed (so it is not from King Willem, but from another Willem, also counts)
- Then you pour it all off with a bubble of course (not a... black, extra fun)
- Garnish: orange slice, for the color of course.
Do you still have a big sip left of that Willems Wermoed? look here for many more delicious recipes.
In Italian:
- 25 ml of Aperol
- 10 ml vermouth
- 150 ml prosecco
- A 'dash' of sparkling water or (tonic for a little more bite)
- Garnish: orange
Mental!
Really people, this is fun for young and old… One good old game is still the most fun home entertainment.
- Nail pooping
- Cookie bites
- Shuffleboard
- Donkey prick
- Sack racing
- Throwing a can
- Egg walking
- grab bag
Pregnant? Is it possible, or is it one? dry whatever month, antibiotics, just don't feel like it for a while or never feel like it... Sometimes the alcohol is left aside and that's a good thing. However, we often find the soft drink alternatives too sweet or not versatile enough and, let's be honest, a... Wine or beer glass is often just pleasant, even alcohol-free. Read here all non-alcoholic drinks.
Also tasty and very orange - a festive juice from the juicer for breakfast. Four carrots and a small pinch of ginger are taken. Hop, the juicer in it, top it up with fresh orange juice and your day couldn't start healthier.
Drink time it is, all day long. Bottle open, music on and cheers! That moment should definitely include something tasty to snack on. Very honest: this is of course not about a portion of chips. We want better, different and tastier. Those chips, sausage and cheese can certainly remain there, but the table will simply be expanded with better things on the side. So visit your favorite caterer and make a good impression on your friends!
Although it is a big celebration throughout the country, there are a number of rules that you must adhere to:
- In Amsterdam, you are not allowed to walk with more than one alcoholic drink in your hand, and you are not allowed to take it on the train.
- All that drinking makes you need to go to the toilet, we understand that and that can be quite difficult sometimes. However, public urination is still not allowed and fines are issued if you do so. There are toilets spread throughout the city of Amsterdam (350 in total) where you can quickly pee.
- Aid stations can be found in several places in the city, an overview of which can be found on the website from the Municipality of Amsterdam.
- Sailing is certainly allowed, but make sure you make arrangements in advance vignette en check where you can and cannot sail.
Have fun!
