King’s Day kicks off with King’s Night festivities across the Netherlands

In various places in the country, King’s Day is already busy and festively kicked off with King’s Night. In Utrecht, the crowds were even so great that the municipality called around 10:30 p.m. to stop coming to the King’s Night events because of the large crowds.

“It is very busy. I think I even have to say: ‘don’t come anymore’, because it is really super-super busy. It is still very nice, but we would like to keep it that way,” said Mayor Dijksma at Op1. “The event squares that we have set up are gradually filling up and at a certain point we want to have some control over how many people come, and that they also give each other some space.”

The Grote Markt in Almere was also so full last night that no new audience was allowed. “To keep it cozy, we have decided to stop the influx to Grote Markt,” said the municipality.

In The Hague, too, the city center was already full in the evening with people with orange flags, hats and horns. On Lange Voorhout, among others, many people gathered at the main stage of music festival The Life I Live, where singer Merol performed, reports Broadcasting West. There were also performances at Noordeinde. Because of the crowds, the organization called on people not to come there anymore.

In Amsterdam, it was a busy place in the Jordaan, where café De Blaffende Vis officially unveiled the ‘King’s Night artwork’ – a statement of support for Princess Amalia – at midnight. “She’s had a tough time, and we really hope she gets into calmer waters,” the pub owner said earlier to NH Newsreferring to the threats against the princess.

For the time being, the celebrations in the various cities across the country seem to have gone without major incidents. There was, however, a stabbing in a park near a fair in Zaandam. The victim was rushed to hospital, reports said NH News. One person has been arrested.

It was also a party in Arnhem. The police there were satisfied with how people celebrated King’s Night, but saw “young people who were too drunk”.

All partygoers have been advised to dress warmly, because King’s Night is colder than usual.