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Amsterdam restricts sale of alcohol on Queen’s Day

DutchAmsterdam.nl — The sale of alcohol during this year’s Queen’s Day celebrations in Amsterdam will be further restricted in order to make sure than everyone has a good time.

Supermarkets, shops, other outlets as well as private individuals may sell only one alcoholic consumption per customer. In previous years it was already forbidden to carry more than one alcoholic drink per person — a restriction that will remain in force this year.

In addition the Albert Heijn convenience stores at train stations throughout the Netherlands will not sell any alcohol at all.

Amsterdam Queen's Day traffic jam

Queen’s Day traffic jam at the corner of Singel and Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam
© Copyright DutchAmsterdam.nl. Want to use this photo?

Holland’s National Railway Service NS had asked the city of Amsterdam, police and the justice department for help in preventing a repeat of last year’s problems.

A number of alcohol-fueled Queen’s Day revelers on their way to Amsterdam misbehaved by pulling the emergency brakes, or by peeing and throwing up inside the trains.

Amsterdam top destination on Queen’s Day

While Queen’s Day — easily the world’s biggest street party — is celebrated throughout the Netherlands, for many people Amsterdam is the all-time most-popular destination.

When the weather is good 800.000 to 1 million visitors outnumber Amsterdam’s urban population of 765,00 — leading the city council to declare earlier this year that Amsterdam has reached its full Queen’s Day capacity.

In coming years events to be decentralized

In coming years the municipality plans to spread events over the rest of Amsterdam, whereas currently they are focused mainly in the center of town.

The city is also asking nearby places such as Zaanstad, Purmerend, Alkmaar, Hoorn, Enkhuizen en Haarlem to organize events that would draw people who would otherwise come to Amsterdam.

The big draws in Amsterdam include a variety of top music- and dance events, as well as the ‘free for all’ day-long canal parade.

In recent years an increasing number of tourists have come to Amsterdam specifically to experience Queen’s Day.

What is Queen’s Day?

We explain a lot about Queen’s Day over here, but you may prefer watching this nice girl instead…

Anton and Janet Hein
Publisher at DutchAmsterdam | Website |  + posts

Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.

Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.

Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 42 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.

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Last updated Sunday, September 11, 2011 CET (Central European Time)

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