Amsterdam Founders Day transport issues?

Posted by dgoessling on 02/07/24 02:13 AM

My brother and I are arriving in Amsterdam on April 25 this year. That's the Thursday before Saturday, April 27: Founders Day, the biggest national holiday of the year, like 4th of July in the U.S. We hope to enjoy the crazy weekend festivities and get a train for Koln on Sunday.
I have been trying to find out if that will be an issue: I saw some websites saying that some of the public transport trains, trams, etc. won't be running but I can't seem to find anything to confirm this or give a real schedule. Any help? Any other suggestions about this weekend would be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!

Posted by Valerie

Pacific Northwest

02/07/24 05:29 AM

2683 posts

I am thinking you mean King’s Day? We were there for King’s Day in 2023. It truly was a massive party all over the main tourist areas that we walked. Transit was affected on King’s Day itself - but the day before and (especially) the day after, when you are taking the train to Germany, should be fine.

The morning after King’s Day 2023, we walked out of our hotel, expecting a city of full of garbage/evidence of the big party - but it was pretty tidy and very quiet. The road down to the train station was empty.

I was worried about being in Amsterdam for King’s Day but, in the end, we had fun. The hoards of people wearing orange, riding boats, milling about - it was interesting to see. We actually went into a couple of museums that day - some are open. Give yourself extra time to walk there, though, as the crowds are thick.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

02/07/24 10:41 AM

33882 posts

I agree - you must be speaking about Kings Day (used to be Queen's Day for obvious reasons). I haven't heard of a Founders Day.

Kings Day is unlike anything I've seen elsewhere. Combination drunken party, chance to wear garish orange everything, chance to visit yard sales and celebration of Spring all wrapped up in very pro-Royal emotion.

July 4th pales in comparison.

Central Amsterdam transportation is a basket case, but feet still work.

Posted by Dutch_traveler

The Netherlands

02/07/24 11:45 AM

1596 posts

I’m not sure what you read, but the Netherlands doesn’t have a holiday called Founders Day. As mentioned by the 2 previous posters, we do have a holiday called Kingsday on April 27, but it’s nothing at all like the 4th of July. See here for what to expect in Amsterdam on Kingsday;
https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/whats-on/kings-day

You wrote you can’t find any information about train schedules to Koln on April 28. The obvious place to look for these is on the websites of the Dutch and/or German national railway companies. Did you check there? The train schedules for April 28 should already be available and tickets should be bookable.

Posted by dgoessling OP

02/08/24 02:41 PM

2 posts

Yes, sorry, of course I meant King's Day. Thanks for the replies and advice!

Posted by derek

Walnut Creek, CA

02/09/24 10:12 PM

608 posts

We were in Amsterdam on Kings Day a few years ago. The local public transportation shuts down in the Central ring area. No buses, trams were running or taxis or cars allowed in this area. But the free ferries across the river were running as was the underground subway. But it's all over by the next day, so you should not have any problems getting a train on Sunday, if Kings Day is on Saturday.