Schiphol airport expects a busy day on Monday due to spillover from a power outage on Sunday, people leaving on May vacation, and travelers returning from a long King's Day weekend. This will mean long lines at check-ins and passport controls. The airport calls on travelers to check in online and arrive at the airport earlier.
King's Day
Apr 30 '18 07:26
Apr 27 '18 17:50
The city of Amsterdam's enforcement and supervision team broke up three illegal parties in the Dutch capital on Thursday night, the municipality said in a press release on Friday.
Enforces found an illegal party starting on Buikslotermeerdijk and broke it up with the help of the police before it turned into an actual party. On Toetsenbordweg an illegal party with around 100 attendees was discovered. Enforcers put an end to it.
An illegal party with between 300 and 400 attendees was found on Amerikahavenweg. The riot police were called in and cleared the area.
Apr 27 '18 14:31
"It is a fantastic party and I find Groningen a fantastic city", King Willem-Alexander said to NOS during the King's Day festivities in Groningen on Thursday. "Much thanks to Groningen, it is really a cool city", Queen Maxima added.
The Royal Family spent King Willem-Alexander's 51st birthday in Groningen. Thousands of people gathered in the city to see the Royals and enjoy the festivities Groningen arranged.
Apr 27 '18 13:10
Amsterdam always goes big for King's Day, and today is no exception with five big parties, a number of smaller events and flea markets across the city.
Below see a compilation of photos of the goings on in the Dutch capital on King's Day 2018.
Apr 27 '18 11:02
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and princesses Amalia, Alexia and Ariane are on their way to celebrate King's Day in Groningen.
"On our way to a sunny King's Day in Groningen. We are looking forward to it", the King said with a photo released on Twitter.
King Willem-Alexander turns 51 years old today.
Apr 27 '18 10:53
Excitement is mounting in Groningen as people line the streets, waiting for the Royal Family to arrive.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and their three daughters are set to arrive at 11:00 a.m. Other members of the Royal Family attending the festivities in Groningen include Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, the King's cousins Princes Maurits, Bernhard, Pieter-Christiaan and Floris, and their wives. Princes Anita, Prince Pieter-Christiaan's wife, will not be there because she is sick, according to NOS.
Apr 27 '18 09:10
Cafe Blaffende Vis recreated a giant version of a photo showing King Willem-Alexander and deceased Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan walking together on its facade for King's Day. The image was given the caption "What a King!"
The Blaffende Vis on Westestraat in Amsterdam has been decorating its facade in honor of Queen's Day and King's Day since 1997, according to Het Parool. It is now a tradition in the Jordaan area. Last year it was a picture of King Willem-Alexander dabbing. The year before the picture showed crown princess Amalia as snow white.
Apr 27 '18 07:34
The Red Cross advices King's Day celebrators drinking alcohol to remember to also eat well. Every year Red Cross first aid workers treat many people who get into trouble due to alcohol consumption in combination with little food and fatigue, the Telegraaf reports.
The aid organization also advises partiers to wear comfortable shoes on King's Day to prevent blisters.
There will be first aid posts at most events throughout the Netherlands, for people who do need help. The Red Cross is present in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Den Bosch, among others.
Apr 27 '18 07:18
While King's Day will not be sunny and warm, the weather won't be too bad either. Cloudy and cool with light rain in some places during the afternoon is what Buienradar expects.
"The day start's nice", Maarten Stam of Buienradar said to RTL Nieuws. "It will stay dry until the afternoon with an orange sun every now and then. But from noon onwards it will start raining lightly from the southwest."
The Royal family will be spending the day in Groningen. A good choice, according to Stam. Groningen will stay mostly dry.
Apr 26 '18 16:20
"Weather or no weather, King's Day in Amsterdam will again be a big party for young and old this year with flea markets throughout the city, live music on smaller venues and big parties on the outskirts of the city", the city of Amsterdam said in a press release on Thursday. The municipality released some advice, tips and warnings, to make sure everyone celebrating King's Day in the Dutch capital will have an enjoyable day.
Apr 26 '18 13:40
King's Day celebrations don't only attract thousands of party goers to Amsterdam, but also pickpockets, the Amsterdam police warns. Stay aware of your surroundings and where your personal belongings are.
"Pickpockets often make use of crowds and festivities in the city to work as unobtrusively as possible", the police said. "Yet they also sometimes opt for a different method: distraction."
In a video released on Wednesday, the police show footage of a pickpocket distracting a victim by showing him a football trick, and stealing his possessions while he was at it.
Apr 26 '18 13:00
Dutch roads will be extremely busy on Thursday afternoon, ANWB expects. Not only are many Dutch going away for the May vacation, but with King's Day on Friday, many people are also going away for the long weekend, RTL Nieuws reports.
Evening rush hour will also start earlier than normal, the ANWB warns. The roads towards the coast and to Den Helder, for the ferry service to Texel, will be particularly busy.
Apr 26 '18 10:08
King Willem-Alexander and his family will spend King's Day in Groningen on Friday. The weather is expected to be largely cloudy and relatively cold with afternoon temperatures around 15 to 16 degrees. No rain is expected, but a jacket is advised, according to Weeronline.
Apr 26 '18 08:38
Anti-terrorism unit DSI performed a major drill at Rotterdam subway station Blaak during the early hours of Thursday morning. They practiced a scenario involving a terrorist attack happening on King's Day, NOS reports.
Dozens of extras decked out in orange clothing took part in the drill, to make the exercise as realistic as possible. Multiple volunteers played injured people. During the exercise, members of the DSI had to disable the "terrorists" and evacuate the wounded, according to the broadcaster. Dozens of DSI members took part in the drill.
Apr 23 '18 16:30
Traffic information service ANWB warns that Thursday's evening rush hour will be extremely busy. Friday is King's Day, and the service expects that many people will go away for the long weekend.
The ANWB also expects that many Dutch will leave for their May vacation on Thursday already. There will therefore by a lot of traffic towards the coast and Den Helder for the ferry to Texel.
The roads will be relatively quiet on King's Day itself, with the exception of popular cities and Groningen, where the royal family will spend the day.
Feb 8 '18 16:00
Ticket sales for the five big events in Amsterdam on King's Day kicked off on Thursday. In addition to the five big parties, there will also be numerous flea markets and smaller parties spread throughout the city on Kings Day, April 27th, the city announced.
The five big parties are Loveland van Oranje in Meerpark, Oranjebloesem on Pampuslaan, Kingsland Festival in the RAI, Apenkooi Koninginnedag in Olympisch Gebied and Urban Music Festival on Turbinestraat.
May 1 '17 10:49
Dutch citizens have grown more worried about war and terrorism since last year, but feel less concerned about incoming refugees. People also feel most solidarity towards one another during May 4th’s Remembrance Day and May 5th’s World War II Liberation Day celebrations, according to a survey of 900 people released this week.
Apr 28 '17 08:07
King Willem-Alexander is continuing celebrating his 50th birthday with a special dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam tonight. 150 Dutch whose birthdays are also on April 27th will be dining with the King and Queen, ANP reports.
Apr 28 '17 07:46
King's Day was celebrated throughout the Netherlands without any major incidents on Thursday. The authorities in most major Dutch municipalities are pleased with how the day went. The day was celebrated "as you would like it to be", a spokesperson for Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan said, NU.nl reports.
Apr 27 '17 15:05
The chilly, sometimes rainy weather is not scaring Dutch away from participating in King's Day activities. Photos on social media show crowded flea markets and events and streets across the Netherlands.
Apr 27 '17 14:30
Dutch King Willem-Alexander turns 50 years old today. A number of political party leaders took a moment to wish him a happy birthday. "It only gets better [after 50]", CDA leader Sybrand Buma said to RTL Nieuws.
"I would like to congratulate him on his 50th birthday. And everyone around him too, of course", SGP leader Kees van der Staaij said to the broadcaster. "I want to wish him a lot of wisdom. For what can a king use better than wisdom? I especially hope that he stays who he is."
Apr 27 '17 13:08
King Willem-Alexander and his family spent King's Day in Tilburg today. The city organized a number of activities, including performances and artworks, to celebrate the Dutch King's 50th birthday.
Apr 27 '17 09:55
The Dutch police are calling on all King's Day celebrators to turn on the "Find My Phone" app on their smart phones, to make it easier for the police to track down pickpockets should a phone be stolen. Also make sure that you know the login details for the app, the police said in a statement.
As at previous large events, the Amsterdam police deployed a special team specifically for tracking down pickpockets. Should you fall victim to a pickpocket in Amsterdam and Amstelland today, the team is ready to help you track down and retrieve your phone.
Apr 27 '17 09:07
For the first time since 1996 frost blanketed De Bilt on Kings Night, according to weather agency Weeronline. And with minimum temperatures of -2 degrees measured at De Bit, this was the second coldest King's Night measured since 1949.
King's night was dry, fairly clear and really cold in most places. Only the coastal provinces saw some rain. Frost blanketed most of the country. The lowest temperature was measured at the Twenthe weather station, where it dropped to -3.4 degrees, a new record. That is the lowest temperature ever measured in the Netherlands on April 27th.
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