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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | festivalsKing’s DayVrijmarkt, orange outfits, street games, Koningsnacht | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in King’s Day
🏆 Top pickfestival ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Look up at the flagpoles. On King’s Day, Dutch houses fly the national flag with a narrow orange pennant above it, a small signal for the House of Orange that shows the day is a domestic party first and a tourist event second. It falls every April 27 (April 26 if the 27th is a Sunday), nationwide, and this page covers the Zwolle area in Overijssel, where a historic Hanseatic center hosts a free street market and open-air stages without the Amsterdam canal crush. I stepped off the train there and the platform was already a wall of orange, and a stranger pressed a paper crown onto my head before I found the exit. Expect Dutch pop, DJ sets, students and families. The traps are predictable: lodging prices jump, so book months ahead; trains run packed, so leave early and don’t plan on a late connection; stalls often want cash, so carry some.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 The Netherlands Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 festival in The NetherlandsReasons people choose to celebrate the here

Backpackers build April itineraries around this day because the whole country becomes one street party, and almost all of it is free. In the Zwolle area you get the same orange-clad crowds and live music as the big cities, but the scale is walkable. Hostel beds are easier to find than in Amsterdam, and you can talk to locals without shouting over a canal boat speaker.

The second reason is the vrijmarkt. For one day, anyone can sell secondhand goods on the pavement without a permit, so streets turn into a giant flea market run by kids, grandparents and students. It is the cheapest cultural education in the Netherlands. You pay a few euros for a vintage jacket, a stack of Dutch comics or a plate of homemade cake, and you learn how Dutch neighborhoods actually work.

It also fits a longer trip … read more 👉
Backpackers build April itineraries around this day because the whole country becomes one street party, and almost all of it is free. In the Zwolle area you get the same orange-clad crowds and live music as the big cities, but the scale is walkable. Hostel beds are easier to find than in Amsterdam, and you can talk to locals without shouting over a canal boat speaker.

The second reason is the vrijmarkt. For one day, anyone can sell secondhand goods on the pavement without a permit, so streets turn into a giant flea market run by kids, grandparents and students. It is the cheapest cultural education in the Netherlands. You pay a few euros for a vintage jacket, a stack of Dutch comics or a plate of homemade cake, and you learn how Dutch neighborhoods actually work.

It also fits a longer trip well. Late April is tulip season, with the bulb fields blooming around Keukenhof and the Bollenstreek, and the Netherlands’ rail network makes it simple to string Zwolle, Amsterdam and the fields together over four or five days, with Koningsnacht on April 26 as an easy first evening.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while celebrating the King’s Day

  1. The vrijmarkt: The free market is the heart of the day. Pavements, squares and front yards fill with people selling toys, books, clothes and baked goods, and no permit is needed. Arrive by 9 a.m. for the best finds, bring coins and small notes, and haggle gently, since most sellers are happy to part with items for a few euros.
  2. Dressing in orange: Orange is the color of the House of Orange, and almost everyone wears it, from full suits to plastic crowns and sunglasses. Buying a cheap orange shirt, scarf or hat from a supermarket or pop-up stand makes you part of the crowd within minutes and tends to get you more smiles and conversations.
  3. Orange treats and drinks: Bakeries sell the tompouce, a custard pastry, with orange icing instead of the usual pink, and the traditional drink is oranjebitter,
… read more 👉
  1. The vrijmarkt: The free market is the heart of the day. Pavements, squares and front yards fill with people selling toys, books, clothes and baked goods, and no permit is needed. Arrive by 9 a.m. for the best finds, bring coins and small notes, and haggle gently, since most sellers are happy to part with items for a few euros.
  2. Dressing in orange: Orange is the color of the House of Orange, and almost everyone wears it, from full suits to plastic crowns and sunglasses. Buying a cheap orange shirt, scarf or hat from a supermarket or pop-up stand makes you part of the crowd within minutes and tends to get you more smiles and conversations.
  3. Orange treats and drinks: Bakeries sell the tompouce, a custard pastry, with orange icing instead of the usual pink, and the traditional drink is oranjebitter, a bitter orange liqueur. Try both. The pastry is a good value at a couple of euros, and bars often serve the liqueur in small glasses meant for sipping.
  4. Traditional street games: Children and adults play old Dutch games in squares and parks. In koekhappen, you try to bite a gingerbread cake hanging from a string without using your hands. Watching is free, and joining in is welcomed, which is a quick way to meet people.
  5. Koningsnacht and live music: The evening of April 26 starts the party, with open-air stages, DJ sets and Dutch pop in squares and cafe terraces, and the music continues on the day itself. Entry to the street stages is typically free, though some indoor clubs sell tickets. Expect a crowd singing along to well-known Dutch songs, whether or not you know the words.
If time is short, skip following the royal family’s town visit, since streets are barricaded and you will see more on a screen than in person.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of King’s Day?

King’s Day is held on April 27 every year, a fixed date that moves to April 26 only when the 27th falls on a Sunday. Zwolle and the surrounding Overijssel towns run it in the old center, with the canal-ringed Grote Markt and the Sassenpoort area filling first.
  • Spring (April): Days run roughly 5°C to 14°C (41°F to 57°F) with a chance of showers, so pack a rain layer under your orange. Daylight lasts about 14 hours, with sunset near 8:45 pm.
  • Crowds: Free markets (vrijmarkt) start around 8 am and peak from noon to 5 pm. Trains into Zwolle are packed by late morning.
  • Prices: Rooms in Zwolle and nearby Kampen or Deventer cost 30 to 60 percent more for that night and sell out weeks ahead.
  • Evening: Street parties and DJ stages in cafés run until about midnight, then trains thin out.
Book your bed by February … read more 👉
King’s Day is held on April 27 every year, a fixed date that moves to April 26 only when the 27th falls on a Sunday. Zwolle and the surrounding Overijssel towns run it in the old center, with the canal-ringed Grote Markt and the Sassenpoort area filling first.
  • Spring (April): Days run roughly 5°C to 14°C (41°F to 57°F) with a chance of showers, so pack a rain layer under your orange. Daylight lasts about 14 hours, with sunset near 8:45 pm.
  • Crowds: Free markets (vrijmarkt) start around 8 am and peak from noon to 5 pm. Trains into Zwolle are packed by late morning.
  • Prices: Rooms in Zwolle and nearby Kampen or Deventer cost 30 to 60 percent more for that night and sell out weeks ahead.
  • Evening: Street parties and DJ stages in cafés run until about midnight, then trains thin out.
Book your bed by February and arrive before 10 am for the best vrijmarkt bargains.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Stay inside Zwolle’s old town, or just across the canal ring, if you want to walk to every stage and flea-market street without touching public transport. The center is compact, flat and well lit, and a night out on foot ends at your bed in ten minutes.
The streets around the Grote Markt and Diezerstraat are the most social. Cafés spill onto the pavement, solo travelers meet people easily, and the party noise stays late. Light sleepers should look one block back toward the Thorbeckegracht, where it is calmer but still on foot from the action.
Around the station (Stationsbuurt) is the practical choice. … read more 👉
Stay inside Zwolle’s old town, or just across the canal ring, if you want to walk to every stage and flea-market street without touching public transport. The center is compact, flat and well lit, and a night out on foot ends at your bed in ten minutes.
The streets around the Grote Markt and Diezerstraat are the most social. Cafés spill onto the pavement, solo travelers meet people easily, and the party noise stays late. Light sleepers should look one block back toward the Thorbeckegracht, where it is calmer but still on foot from the action.
Around the station (Stationsbuurt) is the practical choice. It is a 10 minute walk from the center, has the cheapest rooms and dorm beds in town, and puts you next to the trains for early day trips or late exits. The streets are safe, though quiet after midnight, so walk back in a group.
If Zwolle is full, which it usually is, look at Kampen, Deventer or Zwolle-adjacent Hattem. Each is 10 to 25 minutes by train, has its own small King’s Day celebration and keeps prices lower. Trains run less often late at night, so check the last departure before you commit. Hostel-style and guesthouse beds appear on booking sites first, but private rooms in locals’ homes show up too, usually at a modest premium for the date.
Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

Expect to spend about €60 to 120 per day around King’s Day in Zwolle, with accommodation making up most of the swing. Street celebrations are free, so your spending goes to the bed, trains and drinks.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€0Street markets and open-air stages are free. Some club parties and boat events charge €10 to 35 for entry.
Accommodation€40 to 110 per nightHostel dorms and budget rooms rise sharply on April 26 to 27 and sell out early. Staying in nearby Kampen or Deventer can save €15 to 40.
Local transport€5 to 20Regional train fares between Zwolle and neighboring towns are about €3 to 9 each way. Central Zwolle is walkable, and hiring a bike costs €10 to 15 a day.
Food & drinks€20 to 45Snacks such as kibbeling or stroopwafels cost €3 to 8. A beer costs €3 to
… read more 👉
Expect to spend about €60 to 120 per day around King’s Day in Zwolle, with accommodation making up most of the swing. Street celebrations are free, so your spending goes to the bed, trains and drinks.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€0Street markets and open-air stages are free. Some club parties and boat events charge €10 to 35 for entry.
Accommodation€40 to 110 per nightHostel dorms and budget rooms rise sharply on April 26 to 27 and sell out early. Staying in nearby Kampen or Deventer can save €15 to 40.
Local transport€5 to 20Regional train fares between Zwolle and neighboring towns are about €3 to 9 each way. Central Zwolle is walkable, and hiring a bike costs €10 to 15 a day.
Food & drinks€20 to 45Snacks such as kibbeling or stroopwafels cost €3 to 8. A beer costs €3 to 4.50, and a sit-down meal runs €15 to 25.
Miscellaneous expenses€5 to 25Orange clothing, face paint and flea-market buys add up. Budget a little extra for lockers or luggage storage at the station if you arrive early.
Book accommodation and train tickets as early as possible, since last-minute prices on the festival date climb quickly.


source: holland.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

The street-party menu is built around handheld snacks. Look for stroopwafels baked on the spot, their caramel still soft, and kibbeling, battered cod chunks served with garlic sauce. A paper cone of patat met mayo is the default lunch, and haring (raw herring with onions) is the brave local move.
The orange-colored classic is tompouce, a pastry with pink icing that turns orange for the day. Bakeries sell out by early afternoon, so buy one in the morning. Children’s stalls and vrijmarkt tables also sell homemade cakes and koeken for a euro or two.
On the drinks side, Heineken and Grolsch beer flows from outdoor taps, and jenever shows up in small glasses. Many cafés pour Oranjebitter, a sweet orange-flavored bitter that is a King’s Day tradition. Beer usually costs €3 to 4.50 a glass, and plastic … read more 👉
The street-party menu is built around handheld snacks. Look for stroopwafels baked on the spot, their caramel still soft, and kibbeling, battered cod chunks served with garlic sauce. A paper cone of patat met mayo is the default lunch, and haring (raw herring with onions) is the brave local move.
The orange-colored classic is tompouce, a pastry with pink icing that turns orange for the day. Bakeries sell out by early afternoon, so buy one in the morning. Children’s stalls and vrijmarkt tables also sell homemade cakes and koeken for a euro or two.
On the drinks side, Heineken and Grolsch beer flows from outdoor taps, and jenever shows up in small glasses. Many cafés pour Oranjebitter, a sweet orange-flavored bitter that is a King’s Day tradition. Beer usually costs €3 to 4.50 a glass, and plastic cups are standard outside.
Expect cash and card both to be needed. Stalls run by private sellers often take only cash or Tikkie and Wero payments, while cafés take cards. Lines at popular food trucks can run 15 minutes by noon. Portions are modest, so graze across several stalls rather than sitting down. Bring a small bag for your market finds, as stalls expect you to haggle politely.

FAQFrequently asked questions about King’s Day

King’s Day takes place every year on April 27, or on April 26 when the 27th falls on a Sunday. Koningsnacht, the party the evening before, starts on April 26 and runs late into the night. Most visitors plan a two-night stay, arriving on the 25th or 26th, and leave on the 28th when trains are quieter.
Attending King’s Day is mostly free, since the street market, stages and street parties in towns like Zwolle charge no entry. Budget for lodging, which can double or more compared to normal rates, so expect hostel dorm beds to cost roughly €60 to 150 a night. A meal or drinks run about €10 to 25, and an orange outfit costs €5 to 15, while some clubs and canal boats charge €15 to 50 or more.
Tickets are not needed for the street market, public stages or general celebrations, so you can simply show up. You do need to book ahead for lodging, ideally two to four months in advance, and for any canal boat tours or club nights, which can sell out weeks beforehand. Train tickets or an OV-chipkaart should be sorted before the day, since stations are crowded and queues at machines can take 15 to 30 minutes.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch festivals near King’s Day

Explore more nearby:

  • Amsterdam Dance Event—Club nights, daytime conferences, warehouse parties, canal boats
  • Pride Amsterdam—Canal Parade, Amstel banks, Pride Walk, street parties
  • Lowlands—Campsite community, mixed stages, cabaret, Bravo tent

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

The mistake to avoid is arriving on the day without a bed or a return plan. Lodging prices rise sharply, and trains run packed from the afternoon, so people end up stuck at stations or paying double. Book your bed months ahead, and sort out your exit before you leave the hostel. It is a brilliant day, but only if logistics are settled first.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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