Kingsland Festival - Large-scale and urban, Europaplein (South)
Europaplein 22, South
On April 27, the Olympic Stadium will be transformed into a festival site with four stages. On stage will be, among others, Bankzitters, Bilal Wahib, Boef, Frenna, Idaly, Jonna Fraser, Lil' Kleine, Ronnie Flex, Roxy Dekker and SFB. Kingsland is the largest one-day music festival in the Netherlands and attracts tens of thousands of visitors. Tickets are available through the official Kingsland website; 18+.
BURST (Loveland) - One stage, one sound, Meerpark (East)
Radio Road 64, East
Loveland is going all-in on a new concept this King's Day: one stage, one stage experience, no distractions. The confirmed names for 2026 are Marlon Hoffstadt and Chris Stussy; the full lineup will be announced closer to April. Meerpark offers more space and a smaller festival feel than Kingsland - those who prefer house and techno to urban pop are in the right place. Tickets via loveland.nl; 18+.
Cartel Kingsday - 5 p.m. nonstop, WestWeelde (West)
Klönne Square 4-6, West
Cartel Kingsday is the longest running Kingsday event in the Netherlands: from 12:00 to 05:00, indoor and outdoor, on the industrial WestWeelde grounds at the Westergas. The program revolves around house, hard house, hard groove, techno and disco, spread across multiple stages. Confirmed acts include De Sluwe Vos, DIVASI, Gyatso and Oguz. Day and night tickets available separately via cartel-amsterdam.nl; 18+.
Rapido - The King Edition - King's Night at Paradiso, Leidseplein (Centrum)
Weteringschans 6, Center
Rapido The King Edition will take place on Sunday, April 26 from 15:00 to 02:00 in Paradiso. Rapido is one of Amsterdam's longest-running gay party series and draws a full house every King's weekend. Paradiso has a 1,500-person main room and a smaller venue - the combination of the venue and the party makes this one of the most distinctly King's Night options in town. Tickets via clubrapido.com; 18+.
Further Kingsnight - Techno at Radion, Louwesweg (West)
Louwesweg 1, West
FURTHER returns for Kingsnight 2026 at Radion on Sunday, April 26, with DJ Bone as the confirmed name. Further is one of Amsterdam's most serious club night series - the focus is on techno, the community is central and the atmosphere is a lot less commercial than the big city festivals. Tickets via ra.co; 18+.
Jordaan Free Market - Street party and bargains, Jordaan (Center)
Westerstraat e.o., Center
The Jordaan free market is the city's most popular: streets full of stalls, music from every café and refreshments on every corner. The free market runs from 06:00 to 20:00 throughout the city, but the Jordaan is the epicenter - especially around Westerstraat and Nine Streets. Free admission; just walk in.
Free Market Vondelpark - Children's free market and performances, Oud-Zuid
Vondelpark, Old South
The Vondelpark hosts a kid-friendly free market with performances and games, best visited between 09:00 and 14:00. Children sell toys and clothes, there are small stage performances and the park quickly turns orange. Free admission; the park can get quite crowded in the afternoon.
Museumplein - Outdoor stages and crowds, Old South
Museumplein, Old South
Museumplein functions as one of the major gathering points on King's Day, with outdoor stages, food stalls and massive crowds against the Rijksmuseum. Note: Museumplein is one of the designated crowding zones in 2026, which means stricter enforcement of behavior in and around the square. Free and unrestricted access; most crowds between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
NDSM Vrijhaven - Largest children's free market in Amsterdam, North
NDSM Wharf, North
On the NDSM wharf you'll find Vrijhaven, Amsterdam's largest children's free market, with musical performances at Pllek and on Load Out, and food trucks on the grounds. The NDSM Wharf works best for families - more space than Vondelpark, in an industrial setting. Free admission; accessible by ferry from Central Station.
Amsterdam has hundreds of events on Kings Day, but the above places are worth planning specifically for. Paid festivals like Kingsland and Cartel sell out fast-get your tickets in time. For the free markets, the earlier, the more there is to find. And if you want to avoid downtown at the busiest time of day, North or West is a smart choice.