Queen's Day in a nutshell
Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) is a Dutch national holiday to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. To be precise: it's the late Queen Juliana's birthday. It’s a unique night and day carnival-like event. On 30 April it will be one big party in the streets of Rotterdam and the Netherlands! No doubt, Queen's Day is by far the Netherlands' biggest event with its huge orange coloured crowds. Don’t forget to dress up in orange on Queen’s Day, do as the Dutch do! Orange will be all around you: from orange food and drinks to orange clothing and even the fountain at the Hofplein roundabout will be filled with orange water! Wear orange, breathe orange, think orange...

Clubbing at Queen's Night in Rotterdam
Queen’s Day actually kicks off the night before with Queen’s Night (Koninginnenacht in Dutch) on 29 April. Most bars in Rotterdam organize special parties with live music that last all night long. Dance clubs Maassilo, Thalia Lounge, VIP Room, Off_Corso and Club Vie host big house music parties with famous DJ’s. Also on 30 April, clubs in Rotterdam will be packed! Also, a big folk music concert takes place at the indoor concert hall Ahoy Rotterdam. On 29 April, the Netherlands’ greatest artists perform at Nacht van Oranje (Night of Orange).

PARTIES AT QUEEN'S DAY ROTTERDAM 2012

Queen's Day Festival Rotterdam
At the Plein 1940 square at the Maritime Museum, dj's Secret Cinema, Remy and SQL from Rotterdam will bring the best beats during the Koninginnedag Festival. Between 2pm and 8pm they will turn the square into a big party with the latest techno and house music. The minimum age for this festival is 16 years. Online ticket sale at €10,00 via the Koninginnedag Festival Rotterdam website. Another party called Queen’s Dance, near the Feyenoord Soccer Stadium in the South of Rotterdam has been suspended since 2010.

Oranjebitter Rotterdam
At this alternative festival there will be a a lot of live acts, DJ's Dandy Dave and St Paul and a food court. Expect about 4500 visitors! Oranjebitter Rotterdam takes place at Parklaan near the park in Rotterdam. The minimum age for this festival is 18 years. Oranjebitter Rotterdam takes place from 1pm till 10:30pm and the admission will be €20,00.

Queen's Day Stadhuisplein Rotterdam
At Stadhuisplein in front of the Rotterdam City Hall, there will be huge party at the Baja Beach Club and Apres-Skihut.

Free market in Rotterdam
At Queen’s Day, in many streets the vrijmarkt (free market place) takes place (30 April from 9am till 5pm). The Dutch build up stalls or simply lay down blankets on the pavement to sell all sorts of articles. You can buy lots of second hand rubbish, used toys and clothes but also home-made food and drinks and any imaginable junk. This kind of street sales is only allowed at Queen’s Day. Between the stalls kids play traditional children's games in small competitions and many people will be a DJ for one day by playing loud disco music on the streets. The biggest vrijmarkt can be found in the centre of Rotterdam at Coolsingel, Hofplein, Hoogstraat and Blaak.

Free market for kids and fireworks
A free market especially for kids is held at Witte de Withstraat and Nieuwe Binnenweg from 11am, furthermore children will love the big Rotterdam Fun Fair at Schiehaven with many attractions such as small roller coasters for kids and families. On 30 April between 10pm and 11pm, spectacular fireworks on a floating pontoon on the river Maas will close Queen’s Day.

Queens Day on board the SS Rotterdam
At the SS Rotterdam the guided Royal Tour takes place and visitors will for once be able to admire the Royal Cabin, whe the Dutch Queen Beatrix has slept in the past. Expect many stories about the Dutch Royal family and a drink on the SS Rotterdam Bridge.