New King's Day strategy: Amsterdam cracks down on illegal street parties, alcohol sales

Mayor Femke Halsema announced several measures on Wednesday to make the celebration of King’s Day in Amsterdam safer and more enjoyable. For years, Amsterdam has faced massive crowds and hard-to-control festivities during King’s Day, particularly in the city center. Last year, the city even advised visitors to steer clear of the center because emergency services were stretched too thin and access in urgent situations was problematic.

Starting this year, the police will crack down more firmly on the illegal sale of alcohol and unpermitted street parties. According to Halsema, this is “a key first step in challenging the ‘anything-goes’ reputation that some people associate with King’s Day in the city center.”

Paid large-scale events on the city’s outskirts will have adjusted closing times, extended to 10:00 p.m. where feasible, to better distribute visitors throughout the city. Additionally, more mobile first-aid teams will be deployed, using bicycles to move swiftly through busy areas, reducing the need for unnecessary ambulance calls.

In certain areas of the city center, boats with more than 12 passengers plus a captain will no longer receive exemptions. Halsema explains that while this was previously allowed, the heavy traffic on the water during King’s Day makes it unfeasible.

An extra measure is planned for next year: a designated event area will be established on the Westerstraat and Noordermarkt to keep crowds under control. These zones will also have strict monitoring of inappropriate behavior and illegal alcohol sales. Halsema notes that this strategy was successful during the Pride celebrations, and in the coming years, similar event areas could be introduced at other locations across the city for King’s Day.

Halsema stressed in December that tackling the issue successfully will take a long-term strategy. She also said that elements of the new plan have already been trialed at past events, like the Pride celebrations, showing encouraging results in managing crowds and improving safety.