King’s Day celebration returns to take place in Maastricht
Story by Charéll de Koster, USAG Benelux Public Affairs
BRUNSSUM, Netherlands – On King’s Day (or as the Dutch call it, “Koningsdag”), the Netherlands celebrates the birthday of the King. If the holiday falls on a Sunday it will be held the day beforehand.
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. This means that since 1814, the King is the president of the Council of State, a historical role which is purely symbolic in nature. At the time the monarchy was looked upon unfavorably. The liberals in the Dutch government sought to change this, and proposed to thrive on the popularity of Princess Wilhelmina, daughter of King William III.
On Aug. 31, 1885 the holiday was first observed as Prinsessedag or Princess's Day, the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, then heir presumptive to the Dutch throne. On her accession in November 1890 the holiday acquired the name Koninginnedag, first celebrated on 31 August 1891. In September 1948, Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana ascended to the throne and the holiday was moved to her birthday, April 30. The holiday was celebrated on this date from 1949.
Juliana's daughter, Beatrix, retained the celebration on April 30 after she ascended the throne in 1980, though her birthday was Jan. 31. Beatrix altered her mother's custom of receiving a floral parade at Soestdijk Palace, instead choosing to visit different Dutch towns each year and join in the festivities with her children.
On April 30, 2013, Queen's Day, Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother Beatrix and became the first King of the Netherlands in 123 years. Consequently, from 2014 onwards the name has been changed from Queen's Day to King's Day. The date has also changed from April 30 to 27, which is the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. For this reason you might still see some tourists dressed in Orange on the April 30 as they have read outdated information. The reason that the entire nation colors orange is to honor the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
In 2020, King’s Day was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2022, however, it is celebrated once more at the same city where it would have taken place two year prior: Maastricht. On Wednesday April 27, 2022, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, Her Majesty Queen Máxima and members of the Royal Family will celebrate King's Day in Maastricht.
This day is filled with activities for young and old including festivals, music bands playing, fairs, children’s activities, parties and so on.