HAPPENING 26 April 2025 | The vibrant spirit of King's Day (Koningsdag) comes to life in Rotterdam. The historic celebration of the Dutch monarch's birthday is marked by a range of exciting events, including a royal walking route, performances, and activities throughout the city.

When is King's Day celebrated?

Since 2014, King's Day has been celebrated on the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, April 27, unless this date falls on a Sunday. In that case, King's Day is moved forward to Saturday, April 26. This is why in 2025, King's Day is celebrated on the 26th April. The evening before King's Day is called King's Night (Koningsnacht) and is generally an opportunity for a good night of clubbing and bar-hopping.

A short history of King's Day

King's Day (Koningsdag) in the Netherlands is a national holiday celebrating the Dutch monarchy and the birthday of the reigning monarch. It originated in 1885 as “Princess's Day,” honouring Princess Wilhelmina's birthday. When she became queen in 1890, it was renamed Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) and celebrated on her birthday, 31 August. Over time, it became a festive occasion with street markets, parades, and public festivities. Queen Juliana moved the date to her birthday, 30 April, in 1949, and Queen Beatrix retained the date to honour her mother, despite her own birthday being in January. When King Willem-Alexander ascended the throne in 2013, the holiday was renamed King's Day and moved to his birthday, 27 April. The day is marked by nationwide celebrations, music festivals, and vibrant orange-themed events, reflecting the royal House of Orange.

Where to party on King's Day

On King's Day, you can party everywhere in the city. Every bar and club will be open and offer a nice day or evening filled with activities and live performances. In other words, you don't need to go to a major festival, as the atmosphere is best experienced in the city streets and its brown bars. Moreover, every town square and shopping street will be transformed into flea markets, where anybody can set up a table with goods for sale. Be sure to arrive early if you want to find vintage gems.

However, if you are looking for a proper, large music / EDM festival with a solid line-up, then look no further. We have listed the most popular events for you right here. 

King's Day festivals taking place: 

Note that the information below is from 2024 and yet to be updated for 2025. However, all the main festivals tend to return every year, so check out their websites for up-to-date information. 

If you're an expat or tourist, these festivals could be more fun, as the artist line-ups and musical genres (EDM, Hip Hop etc.) are more mainstream, rather than the traditional Dutch folk music.

Kralingse Bos Festival (KBF)

Kralingse Bos Festival, now known simply as KBF, is ready to turn heads on King's Day. It promises to be a day of non-stop festivities that are quintessentially Rotterdam—less talk, more celebration. 

The festival's line-up is usually an eclectic mix of genres aimed at energizing and captivating attendees with performances from urban to house music. 

Access to the festival is restricted to those 18 and over, with ID checks at the entrance. KBF is well-connected to public transport, advising against car travel due to safety and parking considerations. It's recommended to use the metro, tram, or e-scooters, with the festival providing clear guidance on the best routes from various starting points, including nearby cities.

Attendees can expect a plethora of food stands and bars catering to various dietary requirements, although personal food and drinks are not permitted on-site. To ensure a smooth experience, the festival is a 'pin only' event, making transactions quicker and more environmentally friendly. For added convenience, lockers will be available to store personal items safely.

For those looking to capture the royal festivities of KBF, you're advised to arrive early, especially if you have an Early Entrance Ticket which requires entry before 15:00 to avoid additional charges. Keep in mind that once you're in, there's no re-entry, so make sure to bring everything you need to enjoy the festival to the fullest​. 

Find more information on the official website.

Oranjebitter Rotterdam

Oranjebitter Rotterdam takes the celebration of King's Day to the next level with an electrifying event set to take place at Roel Langerakpark. The festival offers an immersive experience with three stages delivering a diverse range of electronic music genres. Partygoers can expect a sonic journey through euphoric rave, pounding techno, and high-energy hypersonic house sounds, all under the banner “The Future Is Orange”.

Oranjebitter Festival will feature a diverse lineup across three stages, offering genres such as euphoric rave, techno, and hypersonic house. The 2025 lineup includes artists like Aldonna, Angelboy, Benny Rodrigues, Changi, Daria Kolosova, Kettama, Prunk, and Young Marco.

The festival's ethos is steeped in inclusivity and enjoyment, making it an essential destination for music enthusiasts on this Dutch national holiday. For more information on tickets, the line-up, and general FAQs, visitors can explore Oranjebitter's official website. 

Other (smaller) King's Day festivals usually taking place in Rotterdam:

A triple threat of indie parties at Rotown

If you’re looking for an alternative to the orange-filled festival fields, Rotown has you covered with a three-part celebration that spans King’s Night (25th) and King’s Day (26th). Nestled near Eendrachtsplein, this intimate live music venue and club turns into a haven for indie lovers, electronica die-hards, and anyone who prefers a bit of grit with their glitter.

It all kicks off on Friday 25 April with Not Another Kingsnight Party—a genre-defying club night where indie anthems, electronic gems, post-punk stompers, and even the odd ‘80s singalong get their moment in the spotlight. 

On Saturday 26 April, Rotown opens its doors early for Off the Wall, a free daytime event from 17:00 to 22:00, serving up a carefully curated mix of nostalgic indie, high-energy punk, and danceable alternative pop. It’s a King’s Day special for those who want to celebrate without setting foot in a festival crowd.

Still standing? Good. Because the final act comes later that night with Kingsday Bangers—a no-rules club night from 22:00 until 04:00. DJ GIF takes over the decks, spinning wall-to-wall bangers for everyone who refuses to call it a night. It’s loud, loose, and very, very Rotown.

De Oranjetuin 

This block party, or mini-festival, kicks off the opening of De Kerktuin, a pop-up terrace next to the Arminius Church. Expect a casual vibe with dancing, beer, and good company. The deejay line-up is unique as it is always exclusively women behind the decks. In 2025, the deejays are Doris Bae, Sadgurl Riri, Noraly Sousa, Estelliciousz and Meers.

Royal Republic

Royal Republic offers a free celebration at Garden of Bird, a King’s Day celebration featuring DJs from BIRD’s regular club nights, including Heat and Stir It Up. From 14:00, visitors can enjoy an open-air mix of hip-hop, R&B, Afro, dancehall and future beats, with cocktails, beach chairs and wood-fired pizzas setting the tone for a relaxed afternoon.

The music spans across genres and generations, offering both dancefloor energy and laid-back vibes. Entry is free, and the festivities continue indoors from 22:00 with Stir It Up – Koningsnacht.

Radio Tornado

In 2025, Yardbird and Radio Tornado are teaming up for a royal XL block party in and around MONO. From 14:00 to 23:00, two outdoor stages will deliver a lively mix of disco, house, Afro and hip-hop.

After 23:00, the party continues indoors with the official afterparty, taking the celebration all the way to 02:00. Two of Rotterdam’s favourites under one roof — it’s double trouble in the best way.

Kroonjuweel

Kroonjuweel Festival at the Merwe-Vierhavens invites you to celebrate King's Day with a mix of techno, uplifting house, and blazing hard-techno rave. In 2025, they're doing it a bit differently, with one stage featuring 7 hard hitting deejays. 

Koningsdag op het Stadhuisplein

Stadhuisplein, popular with younger crowds, is usually always decking out in orange for King's Day. However, there's a lot of construction going on this year with various café's being closed, so it's not clear what the plan is. 

Koningsdag festival Baroeg (cancelled in 2025)

As Baroeg is currently undergoing renovations, we believe this event is cancelled. The annual (and totally free) King's Day festival at Baroeg usually features various energetic bands ready to rock through the national holiday. 

Sweet Kingsday Festival

The Sweet Kingsday Festival in Lombardijen is a family affair, offering a full day of bands, live acts, and DJs in the Spinozapark. Children can enjoy playground amenities, and with plenty of food and drink options, you can settle in for the long haul. The festivities run from 10:00 to 22:30.

Kingsland Festival (cancelled in 2025)

Unfortunately, this year's Kingsland festival will take place exclusively in Amsterdam and Groningen. The Rotterdam edition has been cancelled, citing “current market conditions and inflation”, organiser 4PM Entertainment announced.

Kingsland Festival in Rotterdam is usually a spectacular celebration of Koningsdag, the national holiday in honor of the King's birthday. Held in the expansive greenery of Het Zuiderpark, this festival is renowned as the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, drawing massive crowds and featuring some of the country's most prominent artists.

Festival-goers have various ticket options to choose from, with prices ranging depending on the time of purchase—Early Bird tickets start at around €50, Regular tickets at around €55, and Late Bird options go up to around €60. Group tickets are also available for those attending in parties of five or more. Adding to the convenience, Kingsland Rotterdam operates with e-lockers, which use a digital code eliminating the need for keys or a deposit.

Transportation to the festival is well-organized, with recommendations to park at Ahoy if driving, or to use the train and metro systems with Rotterdam Centraal as the central hub. Keep in mind that on Koningsdag, special transport regulations apply, including an adjusted train schedule and restrictions on alcohol consumption in transit areas.

The festival upholds strict house rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all. These include mandatory ID checks (as the event is 18+), a ban on smoking in enclosed spaces, and a zero-tolerance policy for drugs.

For more information, you can check the festival's official website. 

HAPPENING 22 February 2025 | Jamal Ben Saddik faces Uku Jürjendal at Glory 98 at RTM Stage, Rotterdam. Experience the heavyweight action at this must-see kickboxing event.

Renowned kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik is set to make his long-awaited return to the ring at Glory 98. Scheduled for 22 February 2025, the heavyweight contender will face Estonian fighter Uku Jürjendal at the RTM Stage in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The event promises an electrifying match as both fighters bring impressive records and fierce determination to the arena.

Ben Saddik’s anticipated return

Jamal Ben Saddik, a veteran in the world of kickboxing, is stepping back into the spotlight after nearly two and a half years of absence. The 34-year-old has built a formidable reputation with victories over prominent names such as Remy Bonjasky and Rico Verhoeven. With a professional record of 36 wins, including 29 by knockout, Ben Saddik seeks to reassert his dominance in the heavyweight division.

His opponent, Uku Jürjendal, ranked eighth in Glory’s heavyweight standings, joined the organisation in 2023 and quickly made a name for himself with powerful knockouts. This matchup is poised to be a crucial test for both fighters, with Ben Saddik aiming for a triumphant comeback and Jürjendal seeking to solidify his place among the sport’s elite.

A high-stakes heavyweight clash

The fight carries significant stakes for the heavyweight division of Glory. Ben Saddik, also known by his nickname "The Goliath," has been a fan favourite for years, known for his electric performances in the ring. His opponent, Jürjendal, is coming off a remarkable victory over Badr Hari at Glory 89, a fight that showcased his potential as a top contender.

Spectators can expect an intense bout, with both fighters aiming to deliver decisive results. Ben Saddik’s experience and knockout power will be pitted against Jürjendal’s rising momentum and determination to climb the rankings.

Event details and directions

Glory 98 will take place on Saturday, 22 February 2025, at the RTM Stage in Rotterdam. The event is scheduled to begin at 18:00 and conclude by 23:00. Fans are encouraged to secure tickets early through the official Glory Kickboxing website.

The RTM Stage, located within Rotterdam Ahoy, is easily accessible by public transport, car, and bicycle. The venue is well-connected to the city centre, with several parking facilities nearby.

HAPPENING 29 Jan–12 Feb 2025 | In Rotterdam, Chinese New Year is typically heralded with all kinds of activities in the city centre. Expect the awakening of the lion, fireworks, culinary tours, Chinese calligraphy, face painting, delicious food stands and traditional dances.

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year (also referred to as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) marks the start of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Unlike the Gregorian New Year, Chinese New Year begins on the day of the new moon that falls between 21 January and 20 February. The celebrations last for 15 days and conclude with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the lunar year, which coincides with the first full moon.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Rotterdam

In 2025, the official celebrations are scheduled from 29 January to 12 February, with key events planned on specific dates. On Saturday, 8 February, a street celebration will take place around West-Kruiskade, known for its vibrant Asian community and businesses. On this date, the “awakening of the dragon” also takes place, at Wijkpark Oude Westen.

The “awakening of the dragon” (in Chinese culture, known as 点睛仪式, diǎn jīng yí shì, or “eye-dotting ceremony”) is a traditional ritual performed to “bring life” to the dragon used in dragon dances. This ceremony symbolises the dragon awakening and being imbued with power, good fortune, and protection for the community. 

The following day, Sunday, 9 February, festivities will move to Katendrecht, an area with historical ties to the Chinese community in Rotterdam.

Chinese New Year in Rotterdam 📷 https://rcny.nl

What to do at Rotterdam Chinese New Year?

For visitors to the event, there is plenty to do and Chinese culture to be experienced in Wijkpark Oude Westen. You can have your name translated and written in traditional Chinese calligraphy (and take it home with you). You can also get something tasty at the various food stands. Moreover, there are culinary tours, there's dancing, kids can get their faces painted and to top it all off, the celebration ends with a professional fireworks display. For more information, visit the official Rotterdam Chinese New Year website.

Directions to Wijkpark Oude Westen