In this guide
💡 The Short Version: King’s Day is Tuesday 27 April 2027, and Koningsnacht, the evening before, Monday 26 April. Most high-street shops close, trams and buses stop at the edge of the centre, and the centre is shut to cars from 07:30. The Rijksmuseum is open from 9:00 to 17:00; the Anne Frank House closes at 17:00. The street market, the vrijmarkt, runs from 6:00 to 20:00. The tourist board’s 2026 rules allow one can or bottle of alcohol on the street between 6:00 and midnight, and no glass. The 2027 rules and plan are not published yet. Or book a tour indoors: the Rijksmuseum guided tour with entryad (from £63.89, GetYourGuide, 1 October 2026) avoids the crowds.
When it is
King’s Day, Koningsdag, marks the king’s birthday on 27 April. When the 27th is a Sunday it moves to the 26th, as in 2025. In 2026 it was Monday 27 April and in 2027 it is a Tuesday (government.nl, 1 October 2026).
The tourist board calls it the busiest day of the year in Amsterdam (I amsterdam, 28 April 2025). The municipality publishes each year’s rules in spring, on amsterdam.nl, and its information line is 14020. The rules below are from the tourist board’s 2025 and 2026 pages; expect the same pattern in 2027 and check the municipality’s page in April.
What closes and what stays open
| On King’s Day | |
|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | Open 9:00 to 17:00. It opens every day of the year, public holidays included (rijksmuseum.nl) |
| Anne Frank House | Open 9:00 to 17:00, instead of 22:00. Tickets are sold only at annefrank.org (annefrank.org) |
| High-street shops | Allowed to open, but most close; the Kalverstraat usually stays shut |
| Supermarkets | Large ones open for part of the day; small neighbourhood ones are generally open |
| Vondelpark | Closed the night before; opens at 9:00 with a children-only market |
The tourist board’s list of attractions open on King’s Day 2025 also named ARTIS, the Hortus Botanicus, MOCO and the Stedelijk Museum (I amsterdam, 11 December 2025). Anne Frank House tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 Dutch time for a visit six weeks later; what to book before you go in Amsterdam has the rule and the rest of the bookings.
The rules
From the tourist board’s 2025 and 2026 pages:
- The street market. The vrijmarkt lets anyone sell second-hand goods anywhere in the city that does not block an open shop or home entrance, with some restricted areas in Centrum, Zuid and West. It starts early in the morning, officially at 6:00, and finishes at 20:00. Stallholders may not sell alcohol or perishable food such as meat, fish or dairy (I amsterdam, 28 April 2025).
- Alcohol. One can or bottle on the street between 6:00 and midnight; a six-pack or a home tap counts as more than one. Shops sell one can or bottle a person, and glass is banned. Do not bring alcohol to the stations or onto NS trains (I amsterdam, 14 April 2026). The 2025 rules page adds that alcohol is usually not allowed in trains and at stations from 19:00 the evening before to 5:00 the day after.
- Music. Amplified music and live music in public space are not permitted.
- Events. Most events start at midday and nearly all outdoor events finish at 20:00. Paid festivals on the edge of the city may run to 22:00. The big parties, such as Loveland van Oranje and Kingsland Festival, need a ticket in advance; there are free street parties too.
- Children. The tourist board advises parents to avoid the Jordaan and the Westerstraat with children because of the crowds.
- New from 2026. Illegal alcohol sales and illegal parties are checked more thoroughly. The Westerstraat and the Noordermarkt become event grounds from 2027, with private supervisors there already in 2026.
On the water
Boats up to 10 m long may sail the canals on King’s Day. The speed limit is 6 km/h, boats keep to the right, and there is a one-way system on some canals. Amplified music must not be audible 10 m from the boat, the skipper may not drink alcohol, and a vignette must be activated. From 2026 the 12 people plus the skipper limit is enforced with no exceptions (I amsterdam, 14 April 2026). The tourist board names Waternet’s Vaarwater app for the routes, toilets and refuse boats.
Getting around
- Trams and buses run up to the outskirts of the centre, and the Nieuwmarkt and RAI metro stations were closed on King’s Day 2025. Most restrictions are lifted late on the night. Check the GVB planner; Amsterdam public transport has the fares and OVpay.
- Trains run to the Orange timetable, with longer and extra trains; Science Park station was closed in 2026. The board says to plan through 9292.nl or ns.nl. That includes a day trip by train from Centraal, such as Haarlem, where the Frans Hals Museum is closed on 27 April, or Delft and The Hague.
- Payment. In 2026 the board said you check in and out with a bank card or phone on trains, buses, trams and the metro, with no separate ticket.
- Cars. Prins Hendrikkade, the Damrak, the Muntplein and the Rokin are closed to cars from 4:00, and the whole centre from 7:30. Most taxi stands are out of action, and there are no luggage lockers at Amsterdam Centraal.
- From Schiphol. Trains to Schiphol run, but allow more time than usual; the board suggests another station than Centraal. Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal lists the train, bus 397 and the taxi.
- On foot. The tourist board says the best way round is on foot, with signs and coloured pedestrian routes to the main events.
Remembrance Day and Liberation Day
A week after King’s Day come two more dates. On Remembrance Day, 4 May, the whole country observes two minutes’ silence at 20:00, and the national ceremony is at the National Monument on Dam Square (4en5mei.nl). 4 May 2027 is a Tuesday and the Anne Frank House closes at 17:00. Liberation Day, 5 May, is a Wednesday and a public holiday. The tourist board says most museums and attractions close on both days; the Rijksmuseum opens every day. The ceremony details for 2027 are not published yet.
Where to stay
The tourist board advises families to avoid the Jordaan and the Westerstraat on the day, and the Westerstraat and the Noordermarkt are event grounds from 2027. Where to stay in Amsterdam compares the areas, and every hotel adds 12.5% tourist tax on the room price before VAT. For what the rest of the year looks like, see best time to visit Amsterdam; Keukenhof’s peak bloom, 15 to 30 April, includes King’s Day; see tulip season.
Common questions
When is King's Day in Amsterdam in 2027?
Tuesday 27 April 2027. King's Day is held on 27 April, or on the 26th when the 27th is a Sunday. In 2026 it was Monday 27 April. The evening before, Koningsnacht, is Monday 26 April.
What is closed in Amsterdam on King's Day?
Most high-street shops close for the day, and the Kalverstraat usually stays shut. Large supermarkets open for part of the day and small neighbourhood ones are generally open. The Rijksmuseum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and the Anne Frank House from 9:00 to 17:00.
Do trams and buses run on King's Day in Amsterdam?
Only to the edge of the centre. On King's Day 2025 the tourist board said buses and trams ran up to the outskirts, the Nieuwmarkt and RAI metro stations were closed, and NS ran extra trains on an Orange timetable. Check GVB and NS in April 2027.
How much alcohol can you carry on King's Day in Amsterdam?
One can or bottle at a time on the street between 06:00 and 00:00, according to the tourist board's 2026 page. A six-pack counts as more than one, glass is banned, and shops sell one can or bottle a person.
Can I sail my own boat on the canals on King's Day?
Yes, with an activated vignette, at no more than 6 km/h, with boats up to 10 m long and no alcohol for the skipper. From 2026 the limit of 12 people plus the skipper is enforced with no exceptions.