Press release NedMalta: King's Day in Malta

04/12/2023

Malta are you ready for Koningsdag or King's Day?

King's Day is one of the biggest and most colorful festivities in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Celebrated on 27 April (26 April if the 27th is a Sunday), the date marks the birth of King Willem-Alexander and is a national holiday in the Netherlands.

The Dutch royal family bears the name: Huis van Oranje (House of Orange-if interested here an explanation about their name https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Orange-Nassau) This literally means the colour orange. As a result, it has become Holland's national colour. On King's Day people wear orange clothes, often even donning orange wigs or make-up and is the reason you see the Dutch wearing orange with all events like the world cup and the F1.

2023 will be King Willem-Alexander's tenth anniversary on the throne since his mother Beatrix's abdication in 2013. King's Day was previously Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) in honour of the successive female monarchs since the national holiday began in the late 1880's. However, 2014 was the first year to celebrate the famous national holiday as King's Day, following the coronation of Willem-Alexander in 2013, the first Dutch king since 1890.

Most towns and cities in the Netherlands have fairground activities and music events lined up, with many kicking off on King's Day eve, or King's Night (Koningsnacht), on 26 April. In addition, you will find an array of DJ events and parties held around the Netherlands. Kingsland Festival Amsterdam and Kingsland Festival 538 will feature some top Dutch and international DJ's.

King's Day is also the one day that singers and bands are actively encouraged to set up on each street corner to give the public their all by singing 'traditional' Dutch ballads.

King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, king of the Netherlands, Prins of Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer of Amsberg

King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, king of the Netherlands, Prins of Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer of Amsberg

Not in the Netherlands this year?

It doesn't t matter if you are not in the Netherlands this year, this Dutch national holiday is celebrated worldwide by Dutch expats and friends, also in Malta. Do you know any Dutch, you have been to the Netherlands, or you just want to get to know the Dutch community in Malta! You are welcome to join us with Dutch King's Day, the Malta edition!

The best to describe King's Day is: The product of a dirty threesome between Carnival, a Maltese Festa and St Patrick's day. This events is one you will be talking about for years to come and might be the reason to plan your next holiday to the Netherlands during King's Day.

The biggest festival in the Netherlands is organized by Radio 538 and will be visited by 40.000 people. Artists like 2 Brothers On The 4th Floor, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, Davina Michelle, Paul Elstak and many more will perform. During Dutch King's Day, the Malta edition, we will be able to see and hear them all, via direct livestream! Be ready to be on Dutch national TV as we will also be streaming to the Netherlands and worldwide from this event in Malta.

NedMalta, the Dutch expat organization, invites you to join this colorful event on the 27th of April in MedAsia Playa. As we will be expecting close to 1000 guests it is wise to buy your ticket beforehand.

Find out more: www.nedmalta.com/king/

Tips for Kingsday:

Wear anything and everything orange that you own.
Get in the Dutch spirit with a kroket, a deep-fried Dutch snack filled with beef. (they are available in Malta and during King's Day)
If you loose your friends, just make new ones. Way easier!