Queensday / Koninginnedag Amsterdam 2014

Queensday & Royal Inauguration Amsterdam 2013

Queensday is one of the highlights of the gay festival season as the Dutch celebrate our Queens birthday. It attracts many (gay) tourists from all over the world to ebjoy the flee markets and street parties all over town.

This year on popular Queensday, the Dutch will celebrate a very special occasion. On 30 April, Willem-Alexander and Maxima will be inaugurated as the new King and Queen of The Netherlands.

The official ceremonies and Sail Tour

The official ceremonies will take place around the Dam Square. At 10 AM, the current Queen Beatrix will sign a document of resignation at the Royal Palace. With this, Willem-Alexander is the new King. Shortly after this (around 10.30 AM), the new King and his family will address the crowds on the Dam Square from the balcony of the Royal Palace.

Around 2 PM, the new King and Queen will proceed to the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) for the official inauguration ceremony. You can either watch this on tv or ar one of the many big screens around the Dam Square or at the Museumplein. The ceremony should end around 3.30 PM.

The day will be concluded by a sail tour by the King and Queen through the harbor of Amsterdam. The royal couple will sail at 7 PM from the Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam-Noord. It is expected that many ships will give a salute to the new King, so this will be quite a spectacle. You can best view the event from the riverside in Noord or from the Java Eiland. The ship will end its tour around 8.30 at the Muziekgebouw Aan 'T IJ.

What about the streetparties and flee markets?

Despite all the official stuff, the traditional (gay) street parties and the flee markets around the city will run as on a normal Queensday. So just strawl around the Jordaan neighborhoods or view all the little boats at the canals. Check out the Reguliersdwarstraat or the Amstel for a drink and a dance. Or head to the Museumplein for a big outdoor music show, the King's Ball.

Only small parts of the city center will be closed off for the Royal ceremonies.

The Amsterdam Mayor declared that after the ceremonies, the city should celebrate and party. This means all outdoor parties and events will run deep into the night, to celebrate Kingsnight. So be sure you'll be in town today. And wear someting Orange (the royal colour)!

Is it Queensday or Kingsday?

Traditionally Queensday is held on 30 April, but this will be the last year it is celebrated on this date. And Queensday will be renamed to Kingsday. As from 2014, Kingsday will be celebrated on the 27th of April (however, in 2014, it will be celebrated on Saturday 26 April). Make a note in your agenda...

Make a Royal Amsterdam weekend and have a sleep over!

This historical day will attract a massive crowd of spectators, international head of states and press. It will be busy, very busy.... Hotel prices have gone through the roofs for this, with rates up to 300 euro per night.

Don't wanna miss anything? When you come from out of the city, just book an Amsterdam hotel for the weekend. Here's a selection of fine hotels.