Cities are filling up for King’s Night, tens of thousands are celebrating the King’s birthday today at large parties

In Utrecht it was busy early on King’s Night due to the free market that started at the beginning of Friday evening. By Friday evening 11 p.m., the municipality of Utrecht called on people to stop coming to the city. ‘It is too busy at several events and routes in our city center. Access to the squares is no longer possible. Therefore, don’t come to the city anymore!’, said an appeal on social media.

The Neude in the center of Utrecht was already full earlier on Friday evening. There were events and performances at various places in the city until 1 a.m.

The municipality announced on X just before 11:30 PM that the crowds in the city were decreasing. ‘Would you like to do another dance? For example, go to Vredenburg.’ The message included a map showing other party locations in Utrecht.

The Grote Markt in The Hague, where the music festival The Life I Live took place, was also full. Visitors’ bags were checked as a precaution at the entrances to the site, an ANP reporter reported.

The Hague mayor Jan van Zanen was present at the party early in the evening. He did not say whether there were increased security measures. ‘I’m not going to say anything about that. We are prepared for all scenarios and you can bet that the police, boas and the municipality are prepared.’

The cafes in Amsterdam’s Jordaan were pleasantly busy on Friday evening, but not yet full, according to an ANP reporter on site. It was busiest at the well-known places such as Café Nol and Blaffende Vis, where it was difficult for the public to get through the crowd around 8 p.m.

King celebrates in Drenthe

Together with Queen Máxima, Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, King Willem-Alexander is celebrating his birthday this year in Emmen. As always, the Oranjes have a full King’s Day program in Drenthe. The royal family passes through various squares where they dance and play games. In addition, artists Bouke Scholten and Jannes from Emmen sing to the king. The walk starts at 11 a.m. and will be broadcast live by NOS on NPO 1.

Willem-Alexander, born on April 27, 1967 as the first son of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus, has been king for eleven years this year. This year King’s Day will be celebrated for the tenth time. The festivities were canceled in 2020 due to corona. Last year the royal family was in Rotterdam for King’s Day.

Tens of thousands celebrate King’s Day at large parties

Large parties are traditionally organized in various places in the country on Saturday in honor of King’s Day. Radio 538 is celebrating an anniversary in Breda: the station is celebrating the King’s Day celebration for the thirtieth time.

All 40,000 tickets for the event on the Chasséveld in Breda had already been sold out by mid-March. Partygoers can expect performances by Davina Michelle, Guus Meeuwis, Marco Schuitmaker, Miss Montreal, Snelle and Tino Martin, among others. Chef’Special, DI-RECT, Krezip, Racoon, Son Mieux and Suzan & Freek are also present. In the past, the celebration of 538 took place on the Museumplein in Amsterdam for eleven years.

Kingsland is now taking place in the capital and in Groningen and Rotterdam, which attracted around 100,000 people last year. Big DJ names such as Martin Garrix and Nicky Romero perform in Amsterdam and in Groningen, Kraantje Pappie and Kris Kross Amsterdam, among others, perform. Rotterdam has FLEMMING, Oliver Heldens and Tabitha on the line-up.

50,000 people are expected at the Strandpark Aquabest festival site near Best in Brabant for the Supersized Kingsday Festival. Numerous DJs play here on a total of seven different stages.