Busy roads, airports today as start of May vacation coincides with King's Night

The ANWB expects a busy evening rush hour on Friday due to the start of the May holidays. Schiphol and other airports also expect peak crowds as outgoing vacationers meet travelers coming into the Netherlands for the King’s Day festivities.

Friday is officially the last school day before the May holidays. The holiday lasts until May 5, but schools can choose to add another week to the vacation. May is a very popular time for going on holiday among Netherlands residents. This year, the start of the May vacation coincides with the King’s Day festivities. Tonight is King’s Night, and tomorrow the Netherlands celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday.

The ANWB expects Friday afternoon and evening to be especially busy on the roads around the Veluwe and in Noord-Brabant. The traveler’s organization predicts the most delays on the A2 and A27 from Utrecht to the south and on the A12 between Arnhem and the German border.

Abroad, travelers can also expect delays due to road works. The ANWB warns of potential traffic jams on the A3 between Arnhem and Oberhausen in Germany, and in Austria on the A10 between Salzburg and Villach.

Schiphol expects approximately 3.3 million passengers to travel through the airport in the next two weeks - 10 percent more than last year’s May holidays. The Amsterdam Airport says it has enough staff to manage the crowds.

Friday will be a peak travel day at Schiphol, the airport reported. “We expect you will have to wait longer at the check-in desks and security control.” The airport advised travelers to check when their flight’s check-in desk opens and ensure they’re in the departure hall at that time.

Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airports also say they are prepared for the holidaymakers.