Our Amsterdam Holidays

So Queens Day is quickly approaching and many of the party goers already have hotels booked, apartments sorted and airline tickets in their hands.  Are you one of them? Are you going to be suffering with Orange fever?

For anybody who wonders what Queens day is, well here’s a brief intro into one of the craziest days your ever likely to see, even by Amsterdam standards.

Queens Day is traditionally held on the 30th of each month, unless then 30th falls on a Sunday in which case the festivities will be held on the 29th.

Created to celebrate the Queens birthday, Queens day is now a yearly event where the queen of the times (Queen Beatrix currently) celebrates her birthday, and this celebrating is done in style across the entire city.

Known locally as Koninginnedag, Queens day or Orange day to the rest of the world. The event turns the city crazy and almost everything in sight turns a shade of orange, sometimes it seems as though it happened overnight catching visitors to the city unaware. Shops,people and even beer turn orange in order to celebrate and everyone on the streetrs can’t help but join in, it’s almost as if the orange fever is contagious!

If your lucky enough to be in Amsterdam during the Queens day activities, then be prepared for ….. well just about anything orange to happen. With millions of people turning up to celebrate in Amsterdam’s cramped city centre, your sure to bump into someone covered head toe in orange. (They are known to have the orange fever.)

Wearing at least one item of orange clothing is recommended on Queens day, everyone else will be wearing orange, and the shops will be covered in orange, wouldn’t you just hate to be the odd one out?

Although people may be dressed in orange and everything else will appear orange, people are very friendly and always up for chatting with others.  Join in the celebrations and mention the following to one of your new orange buddies :

Hey! I’ve got :

Oranjegekte – Orange Madness
Oranjekoorts – Orange Fever
Oranjestemming – Orange Mood
Oranjeeuforie – Orange Euphoria
Oranjesfeer – Orange Atmosphere
Oranjemania – Orange Mania

Of course their likely reply will be “You’ve really got the oranjeziekte (Orange Sickness)”. 

You’ll find plenty of things to do in Amsterdam, and if possible the canal tours will still be available (the canals get so crazy with party goers, the city almost stands still).