On King’s Day Amsterdam puts on the world’s largest street party. Previously known as Queen’s Day, 2023 will mark the tenth edition of King’s Day in honor of King Willem-Alexander.
It’s actually a nationwide party, but Amsterdam definitely is the place to be.
Queen Beatrix is abdicating in favor of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. That means this April will be the last Queen’s Day for a while. Starting next year we’ll be celebrating King’s Day instead.
What else will change? And with the inauguration taking place in Amsterdam, what will this year’s celebration look like?
Amsterdam’s efforts to somewhat curtail the ever growing flow of visitors during the annual Queen’s Day celebrations have paid off, the city says.
An estimated 700.000 people partied in the nation’s capital — down from 800.000 last year.
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.
Downtown Amsterdam has reached its full capacity with 800.000 people visiting the annual Queen’s Day celebrations.
Visitors remain welcome but the city is looking into the possibility of spreading events throughout the city and beyond.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy in a well-meant embrace with Italy’s president Silvio Berlusconi. Barack Obama and Vladimir Poutin walking side by side, both wearing T-shirts saying, “Kiss me, I’m drunk.” Or Hillary Clinton with a well-filled bikini and wearing an orange wig.
That’s the new poster campaign with which Amsterdam Partners, charged with promoting the Capital of the Netherlands, hopes to inspire more foreigners to visit the city for this year’s Queen’s Day celebration (a.k.a World’s Best Party).
Queen’s Day is Amsterdam’s alternative to carnival. Here are some tips on how and where to celebrate it.