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Event
Chauffeur service on King's Day in Amsterdam
Drop-offs at the edge of the centre, Schiphol transfers and day trips away from the crowds
Koningsdag, King's Day, is the national holiday for the King's birthday on 27 April, or 26 April when the 27th falls on a Sunday. Amsterdam becomes one big street party. The canals fill with boats, the streets with a free market and orange crowds, and much of the city centre is closed to traffic for the day. We will be straight with you: no car can drive you to the canal ring on King's Day, ours included. What we can do is get you to the edge of the centre, to Schiphol and out of town without the stress. Hourly hire starts at €90 for a V-Class, VAT included.
- 26 April if the 27th is a Sunday
- 27 April
- Plus King's Night the evening before
- 1 day
- Centre closed to cars
- Whole city
- Schiphol to the city centre
- 20 km
The day
What King's Day does to traffic
The party starts the evening before, on King's Night, and the free market (vrijmarkt) runs from early morning. People sell old clothes and toys on the pavement, bands play on the bridges and the canals are packed with boats. By late morning the centre is so full that walking is slow and driving is impossible.
The municipality closes a large part of the city centre to cars, and trams around the centre are diverted or stop running. The exact closures change from year to year. Check the City of Amsterdam website in the week before for the current map, and we check it too when we plan your trip.
Outside the centre, the roads are fairly quiet. It is a public holiday, so there is little commuter traffic. The A10 ring road, the routes to Schiphol and the motorways out of the city usually move well. That is where a car is useful on King's Day.
What we can and cannot do
- Drop-off at the edge of the centre. We take you as close as the closures allow, for example near the Rijksmuseum side of the Museumplein or near Amstel station, and you walk the last part. We agree a pick-up point and time in advance, because phone networks get slow in big crowds.
- Schiphol transfers. Flying in or out on King's Day is fine. Trains from Schiphol to Centraal are very full that day, and a car avoids them. If your hotel is inside the closed zone, we meet you at the nearest reachable point and help with the luggage as far as the car can go.
- Trips out of town. Plenty of people would rather skip the crowds. Haarlem, the Zaanse Schans or the beach at Zandvoort are 20–40 minutes away, and we can drive you there and back for the day.
- Hotels outside the centre. Zuidas, the RAI area and Amsterdam Noord are reachable by car as usual, with some extra time near the busiest roads.
What we will not promise: a drive along the Prinsengracht, a pick-up at a canal house door or a stop on a closed street. If someone offers you that on King's Day, ask how.
A practical King's Day plan
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | V-Class collects a family of six at a hotel in Zuidas |
| 10:50 | Drop-off at the edge of the closed zone, the group walks into the centre |
| 16:00 | Pick-up at the agreed meeting point, away from the busiest streets |
| 16:30 | Back at the hotel |
Arriving at Schiphol that day? The trip to a hotel outside the centre takes about the usual time. For a hotel inside the closed area, plan to walk the final stretch and pack a bag you can carry.
Where we drive
Useful points on King's Day
| Place | Address | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Schiphol Airport | Schiphol Plaza, Meeting Point | Reachable as normal, trains to the centre very full |
| Zuidas | Gustav Mahlerplein area | Outside the closed zone, normal car access |
| RAI Amsterdam area | Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam | Outside the centre, a practical drop-off for hotels in the south |
| Edge of the city centre | Depends on the closures that year | We agree the exact point with you in advance |
In the price
What is included
- Route planned around that year's closures
- Agreed pick-up point and time
- Fuel, parking and 9% VAT
- Schiphol meet and greet with flight tracking
- Help with luggage as far as the car can go
Our fleet
Recommended vehicles
FAQ
King's Day transport questions
When is King's Day?
On 27 April every year, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. When the 27th is a Sunday, it moves to Saturday 26 April. King's Night is the evening before.
Can you drive into the city centre on King's Day?
No. Large parts of the centre are closed to traffic and too crowded for cars. We drop off and pick up at the edge of the closed zone and you walk the rest.
Is a Schiphol transfer on King's Day a good idea?
Yes, often better than the train. The roads to the airport are usually quiet on the holiday. A fixed transfer from Schiphol to the city centre area costs from €125 in a V-Class.
Can we leave Amsterdam for the day instead?
Yes. Haarlem, Zandvoort and the Zaanse Schans are 20–40 minutes away. A V-Class at disposal costs €90 per hour with a 3-hour minimum.
Do we need to book early?
It helps. The holiday is a busy day for Schiphol transfers, and a booking made a few weeks ahead gives us time to plan the route around the closures.
Calendar
Other events in Amsterdam
SeptemberIBC AmsterdamThe broadcast and media show at the RAI, every September. Hotel shuttles and Schiphol transfers.
JuneMoney20/20 EuropeThe fintech conference at the RAI, every June. Schiphol transfers, RAI runs and Zuidas meetings.
OctoberAmsterdam Dance EventADE, the electronic music conference and festival in October. Night driving between venues, artist transfers.Plan your King's Day Amsterdam transport
Tell us the dates, hotels and number of guests. We reply with a schedule and a fixed price for the whole event.
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