Early crowds, clear skies mark start of King’s Day celebrations

After a night of celebration, towns and cities across the Netherlands stirred back to life early Saturday morning, as preparations for King’s Day festivities got underway.

In Doetinchem, where King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Princess Amalia, and Princess Alexia will celebrate the King’s birthday later today, visitors began filling the town center early to secure a good view of the royal family's visit. It is already quite busy, according to an ANP reporter. Along the route, houses are decorated with specially designed flags made for the occasion.

The festivities are set to begin around midday. The royal family will arrive at the square Koperen Kees, where rows of people have been standing behind fences for hours to catch a glimpse.

The KNMI had issued a yellow warning for fog in Gelderland, including Doetinchem, early Saturday morning, but by mid-morning the mist had mostly cleared. Weather conditions were ideal, with early sunshine and little wind—perfect for a day spent outdoors. Meanwhile, the NS reported that the first visitors had started boarding trains to various King’s Day activities across the country around 9:30 a.m. The flow of passengers built up gradually, the rail company said.

The NS is operating a special timetable today, running more and longer trains on busy routes leading to major events. The night and early morning hours passed without major incidents, the company said. However, no NS trains are running directly to Doetinchem today. Travelers can transfer to Arriva services instead.

In Amsterdam, the streets were also waking up early. According to Het Parool, street markets, orange-themed celebrations, and music filled the city. By 7 a.m., the smell of freshly made caramelized popcorn was wafting through Apollolaan, where children and adults had begun setting up their stalls. Friends Oek (12), Skip (12), Boudie (18), and Lux (10), from Oud-Zuid and Amstelveen, were selling popcorn and slush puppies. "We have not sold anything yet. Who eats popcorn this early?" Skip said to Het Parool.

Despite early morning temperatures in the low single digits, vendors braved the chill to claim their spots. Mathieu Hastman (52) and his son Tom Hastman (16) from Aalsmeer had already made their third sale by 7:35 a.m., having arrived at 5:05 a.m. to set up.

"First come, first serve," Mathieu said to Het Parool, explaining they prefer arriving early rather than reserving spaces with chalk as some vendors do. "That bodes well," he added cheerfully as he painted flags on faces and continued selling.

Children Sophie (11), Lara (10), and Benthe (11), from Oud-Zuid and Heemstede, set up a stand offering handmade bandana necklaces, bubble tea, and cotton candy. "We are normally not allowed to drink bubble tea from our parents because it’s so sweet," Lara said to Het Parool. "But today, we are allowed!"

A week of heavy rain across the country, particularly in the east where some areas recorded more than 30 millimeters of rainfall, gave way to stable spring weather just in time for King’s Day, weeronline reports. As the morning progressed, the sun continued breaking through from the northeast, bringing dry, comfortable conditions expected to last throughout the day. Afternoon highs are forecast to reach 15 degrees along the coast and up to 19 degrees near the Belgian border. Health authorities are urging festivalgoers to apply sunscreen, noting that the UV index is expected to reach 5, even under mild temperatures.

While the atmosphere across much of the country was festive and optimistic, authorities in Amsterdam were monitoring the aftermath of an overnight incident. According to Het Parool, a stabbing on the Prinsengracht around 3:20 a.m. left three people seriously injured. A group of about fifteen young men fled the scene toward Elandsgracht. Police deployed a helicopter to aid in the search and have called on witnesses with video footage to come forward.

Elsewhere in Amsterdam, King's Night festivities continued relatively peacefully. A traditional party took place at Het Sluisje along Nieuwendammerdijk in Amsterdam-Noord, while the Nieuwmarkt area remained relatively quiet, despite full terraces and spontaneous balcony parties.

Meanwhile, anticipation was running high in Doetinchem. Nardie Gosselink from Sinderen secured a prime spot along the royal route. Gosselink, who has often been told she resembles Queen Máxima, hopes to meet the queen today and present her with an orange peony, De Gelderlander reports. She and her friend Ingrid Vonk, both 58, received help finding what Johan Vlemmix called "the best viewing spot."

Among the growing crowd was Oscar Meijer from Amersfoort, known as "the licorice man." Meijer, 63, has been offering tubes of licorice to the royal family since 1995. "I heard from her hatmaker that Beatrix loved licorice. That’s how it started," Meijer told De Gelderlander. "They are still enthusiastic about it, so I continue."

Despite the increasing crowds, the atmosphere in Doetinchem remained calm and pleasant, with local police patrolling and inspecting the route. Flea markets were underway, with blankets laid out displaying everything from household items to royal memorabilia.

While excitement filled the air, some tension lingered in Doetinchem following news that protesters had registered plans to demonstrate during the royal visit. According to De Gelderlander, the municipality has not disclosed who filed the protest request. Authorities have designated a specific protest area to contain any demonstrations.