King's Birthday in the Netherlands

The Day: King's Birthday, known as Koningsdag in Dutch, is celebrated on April 27th and marks the birth of King Willem-Alexander. It is a national holiday throughout the Netherlands.

History: The tradition began with Princess's Day in 1885 to celebrate the birth of Princess Wilhelmina. As she became queen, it transitioned to Queen's Day, first on August 31st and later on April 30th to honor Queen Juliana and then Queen Beatrix. When King Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne in 2013, the holiday was changed to King's Day and the date set to his actual birthday.

Traditions: - Orange Everything: The Dutch national color orange (referring to the name of the Dutch royal family: House of Orange) floods streets as people don festive attire. - Vrijmarkt: Nationwide flea markets where people sell second-hand items. - Festivities: Parades, music concerts, and various street performances are held across cities and towns. - Royal Activities: The royal family visits one or multiple municipalities and partakes in the celebrations.

What People Do:

• Dress up in orange clothes and accessories
• Enjoy outdoor concerts and DJ performances
• Partake in local activities such as traditional games
• Children sell toys or perform on the streets for pocket money
• Attend or participate in boat parades along canals (especially in Amsterdam)