King’s Day, a national holiday marked annually in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is celebrated on April 27, unless that date falls on a Sunday, in which case it is observed the following day. The purpose of this day is to commemorate the birth of the reigning monarch or heir to the throne or, if they were born in another month, to select a day close to their birth date.
The first King’s Day was celebrated on August 31, 1885, to honor the birthday of Queen Wilhelmina, who was born on that day in 1880. In 1949, the date was changed to April 30, the birthday of Queen Juliana, Wilhelmina’s daughter. In 2014, the date was changed again to April 27, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, the current reigning monarch. This is the date that King’s Day will be celebrated on in 2025, and in all subsequent years unless a change is made.
