Tips for King’s Day

On Saturday, April 26, we celebrate our king turning another year older. Now the king’s birthday is actually April 27. But since 1980, King’s Day (or Queen’s Day) has never been celebrated on a Sunday. That is a royal decree, signed at the time by the then Queen Juliana. So this means that in 2025 King Willem-Alexander’s birthday will be celebrated on Saturday, April 26. This year the royal family will celebrate the big party in Doetinchem. Are you glued to the tube or do you prefer to go out yourself? We have tips for you!

Kingsday in Doetinchem

Koningsdag 2025 will be extra special in Doetinchem, as the city will welcome the Royal Family on April 26. The program is packed with festivities for young and old, with performances by well-known Dutch artists at various locations throughout the city. In addition, the stores in the city center are open, adding to the festive atmosphere and allowing visitors to store during the festivities. Please note that the city center is largely inaccessible to car traffic on Kings Day; there are several parking options outside the city, from where you can take public transportation or walk to the center. Check here for up-to-date information on the program.

Kings Day festivals

Many Kings Day festivals are being organized again. In Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Groningen, fans can go wild at the Kingsland Festival. In Breda you can celebrate Koningsdag at the 538 Koningsdag Festival. Festivals are fun, of course, but you don’t do them with your kids around. That is why we mainly look at outings you can do with the whole family. In Eindhoven you can go to the Royal Dutch Festival on April 26 and 27 for free.

Go out on King’s Day

Looking for a fun outing for the whole family? Feel like royalty as you take a tour of castles in Gelderland by car while puzzling. This puzzle tour by Puzzeluitje.nl. Would you like to be active during King’s Day? Get to know Twente with Expedition Polaroid on King’s Day! This is really an outing for the active puzzler! You go out with an E-Chopper and while touring you have to search for places that are on the polaroids. Quite a challenge? Children up to 11 years old can ride on the back of the E-Chopper. Older children can even ride on the scooter!

Prefer to spend King’s Day on a normal bike? That is possible in Apeldoorn and surroundings! There you can cycle two different Orange Routes. During the bicycle route you will discover a lot about the history of the Oranges.

Royal High Tea

Do you really want to enjoy something special on King’s Day? Then treat yourself to a Royal High Tea on the SS Rotterdam! Imagine yourself 50 years back in time on this beautiful flagship and enjoy various royal teas, sweet and savory snacks. In Delft, enjoy a Royal High Tea at Bakker Suikerbuik. This is how King Willem-Alexander would like it too! At Kasteel Kerckebosch in Zeist they also serve a delicious Royal Tea and at Tea, Cakes & Company in Zeeland you can enjoy a Royal High Tea for as little as 10 people.

Cosiness in the city

In Hengelo they are packing in the big time on King’s Day. There are performances on various stages, there is an Orange Fair and you can shop at one of the cozy stalls. But also in Maastricht they can do something on King’s Day! In the Stadspark there is a nice free market. In addition, there are various performances and festivals in the city. In Amersfoort there is a lot of fun at the annual rug market. There is pleasant music and the atmosphere in the city is nice and relaxed.

Have fun at the fair

Traditional on King’s Day for many people is a visit to the funfair. The Koningskermis is showing off on the Malieveld in The Hague from April 5 to 27. Super fun to visit for the whole family. Whether you like fast-paced exciting attractions or prefer to take it easy, it’s all possible.

Happy King’s Day!

Credits photos: www.canva.com