Hotels in Amsterdam

Queen's Day celebrations in Amsterdam

If you happen to be in Amsterdam on April 30, you get to witness one of the experiences of your lifetime as this day is Queen’s Day- the annual Dutch national holiday in honor of the late Queen Juliana’s birthday. Queen Beatrix, who succeeded her mother in 1980, decided to keep the holiday on April 30 as the weather on her own birthday, January 31, tends to prohibit outdoor festivities.

Though entire Netherlands celebrates this day, the greatest celebration is at Amsterdam (the Jordaan and Nieuwmarkt areas being among the most popular spots) where up to one million visitors join the 750.000 locals in the world’s largest street party. The festivities start around midnight and last throughout the night. Just a simple walk around the city will give you a feel of party time.

On April 30, 6:00 AM marks the start of the ‘free market’ – a street market where half the population sells their bric-a-brac, used clothes, and crafts for next to nothing. And what is the stuff sold- broken toys, last year’s Queen’s Day purchases, used bras, musical instruments, electronics, software and everything else under the sun. There are professional street performers everywhere- pick-up bands, aspiring opera singers, teenage rappers and street discos. Huge outdoor concerts are organized at various locations, such as Dam square and Museumplein. The throngs lining the streets and canals wear orange, the national color, as the Queen hails from the House of Orange. Take ‘throngs’ literally – particularly in the city’s center where you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with other revelers.

A word of advice- For most of the day, there is no public transport in the center of town. If you are coming to Amsterdam from out of town, take the train. Also, keep your bookings much in advance for all the hotels are overbooked in this part of the year.