Welcome to King’s Day in Amsterdam – April 26, 2025 (it’s really the 27th, but drinking on a Sunday and work the next day?) – the one day a year where the Dutch collectively lose their minds in the most organized, orange-covered, bicycle-dodging way possible. If you’ve never experienced this glorious sea of orange chaos, you’re in for a treat. And if you have — well, you’re probably still recovering from last time.
To help you navigate this monarchic madness with style, grace, and a functioning bladder, here are 10 highly unofficial, slightly ridiculous, but painfully accurate tips for the best King’s Day ever.
- Wear Orange. No, More Orange. No, EVEN MORE ORANGE.
If you’re not wearing orange, are you even celebrating? Go full Dutch with a crown, face paint, orange feather boa, orange socks, and maybe even orange underwear (not that anyone needs to see it — unless it’s that kind of party). Bonus points if you dress like an orange lion. Extra bonus if you roar. It’s not cultural appropriation: the Dutch didn’t invite orange, they only took it to another level. - Start Early. Like, Before the Sun Realizes It’s Morning.
Come early. Even with extra and longer trains, Centraal is a zoo, The real MVPs are up at 6 AM setting up their kleedjes (little sidewalk sales) to sell their old stuff, childhood toys, and that one Justin Bieber CD they swear is “vintage.” Early birds get the weirdest bargains — like a slightly used toaster or a half-functional lava lamp. You’ll love it. Trust us. - Embrace the Canal Chaos (But Not Too Literally)
Boats. Everywhere. Loud music. DJ decks powered by questionable extension cords. It’s like Burning Man on water, except everyone is better dressed and mildly tipsy. If you’re not on a boat, find a bridge, bring a drink, and wave like royalty at every passing party barge. Avoid falling in and/or getting peed on: you will inevitably see someone peeing into the canal. That’s not fun for anyone. Especially not your dignity. - Toilets: The Real MVPs of King’s Day
This is not a drill: public toilets are scarce, and lines are longer than the Dutch royal family’s ancestry. Pro tip: Pee when you don’t have to. Use cafes, bars (buy a drink if you’re feeling generous – and even then understand getting a drink is a chance to pee), and friends’ apartments if you’ve got the connections. Carry coinsIn desperate moments, port-a-potties become thrones of hope. They’re free from the city – don’t be fooled into paying by some clever person who has set up shop as port-a-pottie master. Bring tissues. Bring hand sanitizer. Bring emotional support. - Pack Snacks Like a Dutch Parent at a Playground
You might think you’ll just grab a stroopwafel or fries later, but when you’re ten beers deep, surrounded by 40,000 people, and the only thing nearby is a questionable hot dog cart from 1992, you’ll wish you brought snacks. Cheese cubes. Bitterballen. A sandwich in cling wrap like a true Dutch person. Your future self will thank you. - Avoid Leidsplein After 6 PM/18:00 Unless You’re into Human Sardines
Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are chaos in square form after dark. Bodies pressed together. Music thumping. Beer flying. Great if you’re into it — hell if you’re not. Want a chill vibe? Wander into the Jordaan or hit up a neighborhood party in De Pijp. There are parties, some organized and some impromptu, everywhere. It’s more gezellig (Dutch for “cozy chaos”) and less Lord of the Flies. - Drink Like a Pro (aka: Hydrate, Rookie)
Beer is flowing like the Amstel, but water is your lifeline. Pace yourself. Alternate drinks. Carry a water bottle. Don’t be the tourist passed out in a bush wearing a crown and one shoe. Unless you want to go viral on Dutch TikTok. In that case — carry on. You will see people gone by 11 AM. It’s a marathon, not a drinking competition. - Don’t Forget the Kids (Or Use Them as an Excuse)
Morning and midday are packed with cute kids doing talent shows, selling cupcakes, playing violins off-key, and trying to juggle for spare change. Adorable. Family-friendly. Also a great time to start drinking subtly if you’re a parent who calls it “juice.” If you have kids — enjoy. If you don’t — enjoy it anyway. - Cash is King (But Tikkie is the Prince)
Old-school flea markets often want cold, hard euros — coins, especially. Hoard them like a dragon with a parking meter fetish. But many vendors also accept Tikkie, the Dutch instant payment app, which makes transactions dangerously easy after three drinks and a strong desire for vintage sunglasses. - Surrender to the Madness and Dance Like Nobody’s Watching (Even Though Everyone Is)
At some point, you will end up in a street party surrounded by strangers, arms in the air, singing along to Dutch folk music you don’t understand. Lean into it. Dance. Laugh. Be weird. That’s the real King’s Day spirit.
Final Thoughts:
For one blessed day, bikes are more or less banned in the center (nearly impossible to get through, anyway). Enjoy walking in the bikes lanes. You might lose your voice, your dignity, and possibly a shoe — but you’ll gain a story, some strange second-hand treasures, and at least five new friends named Sander. Happy King’s Day, Amsterdam. Long live the King!
And remember — what happens in orange… stays in orange.
