King's Day in Brief
King's Day (Koningsdag) is the Netherlands' national celebration of the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, held on 27 April each year, or on 26 April when the 27th falls on a Sunday. In 2026 it falls on Monday 27 April. People dress in orange, the colour of the House of Orange-Nassau, towns fill with street markets and music, and it is one of the busiest days of the year in Dutch city centres.
Utrecht is known for one feature in particular: its vrijmarkt (free market) starts the evening before and runs for a full 24 hours.
The Utrecht Vrijmarkt
A vrijmarkt is a street-wide second-hand market where anyone can lay out a blanket and sell their own used goods without a permit. In Utrecht the market opens on King's Night (Koningsnacht), the evening before King's Day. For 2026, the city's official schedule runs from Sunday 26 April at 18:00 to Monday 27 April at 18:00.
That means the market is at its most atmospheric after dark on King's Night and early on King's Day morning, when sellers are still setting out and the streets fill quickly. Some neighbourhood and children's markets that run only on 27 April start at 08:00.
Selling rules are simple: the market is for private individuals selling second-hand items. It is not for businesses; officials check for signs of commercial trading, such as many identical products or advertising for a shop or webshop.
The Oudegracht
The Oudegracht runs about 2 km through Utrecht's centre and is unusual among Dutch canals: its wharves sit at water level, well below the street, with old cellars beneath the street opening onto them. The canal dates in part from around 1000 and was extended from 1122, and the stable water level after the city's locks were completed in the 13th century made these dry wharf cellars possible.
On King's Day the streets along the Oudegracht and the surrounding centre are at the heart of the celebrations. The narrow quays and steps down to the wharves get very crowded, so watch your footing near the water's edge, which has no railings in many places.
Music and Events
The city permits music events in the centre from 18:00 on 26 April to 01:00 on 27 April, and again from 13:00 to 20:00 on King's Day itself. Between 01:00 and 11:00 on 27 April amplified music is not allowed, so the morning belongs to the market rather than the stages. Expect the largest crowds in the afternoon, when the stages start again and day visitors arrive by train from other cities. If you prefer a calmer visit, the early morning of 27 April is the best time to walk the market.
Traditional street games with an audience are permitted at a handful of designated spots. Bigger programmes and line-ups are published on the city's King's Day information site in the weeks before.
Getting There and Around
Much of the centre is closed to traffic on 26 and 27 April, and parking is not allowed in the market area. The city advises arriving by bike or public transport, or using a park-and-ride site. Utrecht Centraal is the busiest station in the country and has direct trains from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and many other cities, but trains are very full on King's Day, especially in the evening.
Bike parking near the centre fills up early. Use the large bike garages around Utrecht Centraal rather than leaving a bike along the canals.
Tips for Visitors
- Wear orange: almost everyone does; a T-shirt, scarf or hat is enough.
- Bring cash: many vrijmarkt sellers prefer cash, though some accept payment requests by phone.
- Go early for bargains: the best items go on King's Night and early on 27 April.
- Watch the crowd near the water: quays and stairs to the wharves get congested.
- Expect closures: some museums and shops keep normal hours, others close or change times. Check before you go.
- Leave no rubbish: the city carries out a large clean-up afterwards, but take unsold items home if you are selling.
Where to Check the Details
Times and rules can change from year to year, and older articles online often give dates for previous years. For current information, use the City of Utrecht's King's Day page and the official King's Day in Utrecht website, which publish the year's schedule, closures and transport advice.
