Throngs of revelers dressed in orange will flood streets across the Netherlands this Friday in celebration of King’s Day (or Koningsdag, as its known locally). The holiday commemorates the birthday of Dutch monarch King Willem-Alexander, so partiers wear orange in honour of the royal family, who come from the House of Orange.
Heineken flows freely and street parties take place across the country. Amsterdam is the centre of the action, with the canals often becoming so jammed with party boats that you can cross over the water by walking from deck to deck, but you can also head to smaller cities and towns to participate in less congested pockets of the party.
Along with drinking and dancing, King’s Day also sees the streets transformed into a massive flea market, with locals grabbing spots along pedestrianised roads to sell second-hand goods, busk or offer services like make-up application or massage.
