Happy birthday, dear Queen Beatrix! Happy birthday to you
April 3, 2012 9:35 AM Subscribe
We have 24 hours in Amsterdam and are arriving on April 30th, which I have just found out is “Koninginnedag” (Queens day). What should we expect, and is there anything in particular we can take advantage of doing or seeing?
We're landing in Amsterdam at 9 am and will be spending the night there before taking the train to Luxembourg the next day. I just emailed de Kas to try to make a reservation and found that they are closed for the day because of Koninginnedag. So I'm wondering a few things:
1. Is it likely every restaurant/museum/etc is closed down for Koninginnedag?
2. Is it a super crazy/crowded kind of day where we should expect transit to be packed or other logistical problems? Or is this like a bank holiday that folks "observe" privately but don't actually celebrate publicly, other than the day off?
3. Since we are lucky enough to be in Amsterdam for a national holiday, what can we see or do that we should be sure not to miss out on? We generally like to walk around and take in the scenery and eat good food. We are staying at The Convent Hotel.
4. From #3, what is our best option for a good meal or two on Koninginnedag? Doesn't have to be fancy or gourmet like de Kas, but I would really not want to end up at McDonald's or similar.
More information: We're flying direct from SFO to Amsterdam and wanted a place to rest for a day before moving on to the rest of our itinerary, which is driven by a wedding we are attending in Paris on Friday. We have the following two nights in Luxembourg, as we are trying to spend some time near the area where my husband's grandfather spent with the Army Corps of Engineers in WWII. Any recommendations for Luxembourg, especially restaurants, would be appreciated. We are staying at Le Royal.
We're landing in Amsterdam at 9 am and will be spending the night there before taking the train to Luxembourg the next day. I just emailed de Kas to try to make a reservation and found that they are closed for the day because of Koninginnedag. So I'm wondering a few things:
1. Is it likely every restaurant/museum/etc is closed down for Koninginnedag?
2. Is it a super crazy/crowded kind of day where we should expect transit to be packed or other logistical problems? Or is this like a bank holiday that folks "observe" privately but don't actually celebrate publicly, other than the day off?
3. Since we are lucky enough to be in Amsterdam for a national holiday, what can we see or do that we should be sure not to miss out on? We generally like to walk around and take in the scenery and eat good food. We are staying at The Convent Hotel.
4. From #3, what is our best option for a good meal or two on Koninginnedag? Doesn't have to be fancy or gourmet like de Kas, but I would really not want to end up at McDonald's or similar.
More information: We're flying direct from SFO to Amsterdam and wanted a place to rest for a day before moving on to the rest of our itinerary, which is driven by a wedding we are attending in Paris on Friday. We have the following two nights in Luxembourg, as we are trying to spend some time near the area where my husband's grandfather spent with the Army Corps of Engineers in WWII. Any recommendations for Luxembourg, especially restaurants, would be appreciated. We are staying at Le Royal.
I was last there for Koninginnedag when I lived there about ten years ago, and I can't imagine that it's changed too much. I kind of have some bad news for you-- the streets will be utterly packed (and very very orange). The drinking for some will already have begun by the time you arrive. You will be able to take in scenery but much of it will be of the partiers celebrating (the parades in the canals are quite entertaining). Are you flying back out of Amsterdam after the wedding? That would be a better time to see it, and it should even be cleaned up by then.
Also, what brand-gnu said.
posted by mireille at 9:48 AM on April 3, 2012
Also, what brand-gnu said.
posted by mireille at 9:48 AM on April 3, 2012
Never been in A-dam for this day, although I'd love to experience it. I have seen pictures, like this one, which suggest that you might want to rethink any boating plans you might have, involving the canals.
posted by Rash at 9:50 AM on April 3, 2012
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posted by Rash at 9:50 AM on April 3, 2012
Oh wow, you're in for a treat/shock/surprise/trauma. Koninginnedag is pure mayhem. It's basically an excuse to sell things, drink and party wildly, and the streets will be PACKED. The action kicks off the night before.
I live here, so last year we just wandered the streets in a daze. I remember a lot of stalls selling beenham, but not much else as we also kicked off the night before.
Memail me. I'll ask around for you.
posted by nerdfish at 9:51 AM on April 3, 2012
I live here, so last year we just wandered the streets in a daze. I remember a lot of stalls selling beenham, but not much else as we also kicked off the night before.
Memail me. I'll ask around for you.
posted by nerdfish at 9:51 AM on April 3, 2012
Response by poster: Oh dear lord. I had absolutely no idea...this will be interesting! I've spent time in Europe but never gotten to Amsterdam, which is why we set our flights up this way. I guess I'll wear something orange on the flight :)
posted by handful of rain at 9:56 AM on April 3, 2012
posted by handful of rain at 9:56 AM on April 3, 2012
Queen's Day is crazy and crowded. You can see the locations of the official activities here. Mainly, it's a time for drinking, live music, people selling things on the street (the vrijmarkt), and drinking.
Buses and trams won't run in the city centre, but trains and the metro (probably) will still run.
The official activities end at 20:00, although parties at clubs go on all night.
I think upscale restaurants tend to close, but there should be plenty of cafés open.
posted by neushoorn at 10:41 AM on April 3, 2012
Buses and trams won't run in the city centre, but trains and the metro (probably) will still run.
The official activities end at 20:00, although parties at clubs go on all night.
I think upscale restaurants tend to close, but there should be plenty of cafés open.
posted by neushoorn at 10:41 AM on April 3, 2012
It's bonkers. I flew into Amsterdam on the evening of Queen's Day about six years ago, as most of the tired and emotional crowds were heading out, and it was still bonkers.
It will be difficult to treat it as a rest day without locking yourself up in your hotel room, which would be something of a pity. I'd suggest catching your breath when you get into town -- the hotel's about five minutes' walk from Centraal -- donning orange, and joining in as best you can, avoiding the really crowded bits.
posted by holgate at 12:18 PM on April 3, 2012
It will be difficult to treat it as a rest day without locking yourself up in your hotel room, which would be something of a pity. I'd suggest catching your breath when you get into town -- the hotel's about five minutes' walk from Centraal -- donning orange, and joining in as best you can, avoiding the really crowded bits.
posted by holgate at 12:18 PM on April 3, 2012
The hotel is on the main street that leads people into the city from the train station. Just resign yourself to the fact that Queensday will dominate your entire day, and that it's impossible to escape from it, even if you want to.
Just go with it. Your first Queensday is always a complete blast.
posted by daveje at 1:14 PM on April 3, 2012
Just go with it. Your first Queensday is always a complete blast.
posted by daveje at 1:14 PM on April 3, 2012
This video is a brilliant expression of an outsider's experience of 'Koninginnedag', by an English comedian.
Keep in mind that getting anywhere will be slow and that public transport won't run as it normally does (so take plenty of time to get back to Schiphol in time!). But other than that: just enjoy the festivities, have fun!
A good restaurant that's open on April 30th might be a challenge, but the hotel should be able to help you with that.
posted by Ms. Next at 1:29 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Keep in mind that getting anywhere will be slow and that public transport won't run as it normally does (so take plenty of time to get back to Schiphol in time!). But other than that: just enjoy the festivities, have fun!
A good restaurant that's open on April 30th might be a challenge, but the hotel should be able to help you with that.
posted by Ms. Next at 1:29 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Something I wasn't pre-warned of was that Queen's Day is treated as a kind of national garage sale. There will be lots of regular people selling random stuff on the side streets, which is a great opportunity to pick up a truly unique souvenir. This is also why you might see taped off sections on the sidewalk- people put dibs on particular spots ahead of time. And yes, it is a huge party.
posted by Concordia at 1:51 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by Concordia at 1:51 PM on April 3, 2012
I think you are lucky coming to Amsterdam randomly on Queen's Day.
Really this is one of a kind experience, forget about treating it as a rest day and just get lost in the streets and enjoy it.
I would stay away from the big squares (you'll lose hours just moving a few meters) and it is not worth it.
Best experience? Get on a boat (you'll have to find something beforehand, maybe call the hotel) and you will see all the city, without getting lost or extremely tired. Make sure the boat has drinks and food.
Enjoy !! It's one of the best parties on Earth!
posted by madeinitaly at 7:50 AM on April 5, 2012
Really this is one of a kind experience, forget about treating it as a rest day and just get lost in the streets and enjoy it.
I would stay away from the big squares (you'll lose hours just moving a few meters) and it is not worth it.
Best experience? Get on a boat (you'll have to find something beforehand, maybe call the hotel) and you will see all the city, without getting lost or extremely tired. Make sure the boat has drinks and food.
Enjoy !! It's one of the best parties on Earth!
posted by madeinitaly at 7:50 AM on April 5, 2012
It's mental. And brilliant. It's like a carnival mixed with a car boot sale where wearing orange is compulsory.
posted by gonzo_ID at 4:30 AM on April 6, 2012
posted by gonzo_ID at 4:30 AM on April 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
1. No. It's a big day, most restaurants/bars will be cashing in.
2. Yes. There are parades, and people dressed in orange drinking in the street everywhere you go.
3. Enjoy the festivities!
4. Go to a traditional Dutch Pannenkoekenhuis for starters.
posted by brand-gnu at 9:43 AM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]