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King's Day; a royal public holiday
Soon it will be King's Day again, one of the most popular national holidays in the Netherlands. Although King Willem Alexander's birthday is 27 April, this year King's Day will be celebrated a day earlier, as the 27th falls on a Sunday. King's Day has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. How did this tradition come about and how is King's Day celebrated today?
The beginnings of royal celebrations
King's Day was first called Queen's Day and was celebrated for the first time on 31 August 1885, in honour of Princess Wilhelmina's fifth birthday. Because it involved a princess, the celebration was called ‘Princess Day’. As there was political tension in the country in the 1880s, Princess Day was created to promote national unity. In 1890, Princess Wilhelmina became Queen, and the national celebration of her birthday was renamed Queen's Day.
The arrival of a new Queen's Day
In 1948, Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana was crowned the new monarch. Since that crowning, Queen's Day had been celebrated on Juliana's birthday on 30 April. At the time, Queen's Day was mainly ceremonial and floral tributes took place at Soestdijk Palace, the Queen's residence. In 1980, the country got a new monarch as Wilhelmina's eldest daughter Beatrix became Queen. Beatrix's birthday is on 31 January, but she kept her mother's birthday as Queen's Day, most likely because the chances of good weather at the end of January are exceptionally slim. On Queen's Day, the colour orange, the national colour, a reference to the House of Orange-Nassau, is dominant. Back in the days, there were free markets and fairs where children especially could participate in all kinds of games. The Queen and her family would also visit a different municipality every year. Queen's Day in the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in particular always attracted many people from out of town and from abroad.
From Queen's Day to King's Day
In 2013 after 65 years of celebrating Queen's Day on 30 April, Queen's Day became King's Day, and the birthday of the monarch was celebrated on a different date, namely, 27 April. Beatrix's eldest son Willem-Alexander became King, and his birthday 27 April became the new national holiday. If this day falls on a Sunday, like this year, the celebration takes place a day earlier.
How do you celebrate Koningsdag?
Free markets still take place all over the Netherlands. These are markets where anyone can sell their stuff on the street without a licence. Everyone is allowed to be a trader for one day. Besides the free markets, there are numerous events, concerts, and festivals in (almost) all cities and villages. For children, there are - still - special activities such as games, face painting, and festivals. Amsterdam's Vondelpark, for instance, is completely reserved for children who set up their market stalls, play music or display other skills.
What does King's Day mean for the Netherlands?
King's Day is still a national celebration of connection. Even people who are not interested in the royal family or even republicans often enjoy a free and festive day. People stroll around a free market, enjoy an orange tompouce* or let themselves go at a dance festival; Koningsdag is a unique and vibrant symbol of Dutch culture and remains one of the most popular days in the year in the Netherlands.
*a typical pastry from the Netherlands and Belgium
King's Day; a royal public holiday
Soon it will be King's Day again, one of the most popular national holidays in the Netherlands. Although King Willem Alexander's birthday is 27 April, this year King's Day will be celebrated a day earlier, as the 27th falls on a Sunday. King's Day has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. How did this tradition come about and how is King's Day celebrated today?
The beginnings of royal celebrations
King's Day was first called Queen's Day and was celebrated for the first time on 31 August 1885, in honour of Princess Wilhelmina's fifth birthday. Because it involved a princess, the celebration was called ‘Princess Day’. As there was political tension in the country in the 1880s, Princess Day was created to promote national unity. In 1890, Princess Wilhelmina became Queen, and the national celebration of her birthday was renamed Queen's Day.
The arrival of a new Queen's Day
In 1948, Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana was crowned the new monarch. Since that crowning, Queen's Day had been celebrated on Juliana's birthday on 30 April. At the time, Queen's Day was mainly ceremonial and floral tributes took place at Soestdijk Palace, the Queen's residence. In 1980, the country got a new monarch as Wilhelmina's eldest daughter Beatrix became Queen. Beatrix's birthday is on 31 January, but she kept her mother's birthday as Queen's Day, most likely because the chances of good weather at the end of January are exceptionally slim. On Queen's Day, the colour orange, the national colour, a reference to the House of Orange-Nassau, is dominant. Back in the days, there were free markets and fairs where children especially could participate in all kinds of games. The Queen and her family would also visit a different municipality every year. Queen's Day in the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in particular always attracted many people from out of town and from abroad.
From Queen's Day to King's Day
In 2013 after 65 years of celebrating Queen's Day on 30 April, Queen's Day became King's Day, and the birthday of the monarch was celebrated on a different date, namely, 27 April. Beatrix's eldest son Willem-Alexander became King, and his birthday 27 April became the new national holiday. If this day falls on a Sunday, like this year, the celebration takes place a day earlier.
How do you celebrate Koningsdag?
Free markets still take place all over the Netherlands. These are markets where anyone can sell their stuff on the street without a licence. Everyone is allowed to be a trader for one day. Besides the free markets, there are numerous events, concerts, and festivals in (almost) all cities and villages. For children, there are - still - special activities such as games, face painting, and festivals. Amsterdam's Vondelpark, for instance, is completely reserved for children who set up their market stalls, play music or display other skills.
What does King's Day mean for the Netherlands?
King's Day is still a national celebration of connection. Even people who are not interested in the royal family or even republicans often enjoy a free and festive day. People stroll around a free market, enjoy an orange tompouce* or let themselves go at a dance festival; Koningsdag is a unique and vibrant symbol of Dutch culture and remains one of the most popular days in the year in the Netherlands.
*a typical pastry from the Netherlands and Belgium