Queen Day in Amsterdam

It's a major holiday, all the tourist sites will be closed, and the trams in the city center will not be running. In the morning it's like a giant citywide yard sale as people try and sell their second hand junk. The energy increases by midday when its seems like the entire population of the country floods the streets of the city center for a giant street and music festival.

Its a Big Event and you might just Enjoy it! If you do go during the Queens Day, Wear Orange (the official color) and Have Fun !! Try the Stayokay hostels in Amsterdam. I believe there are 3 of them.

I recently stayed at the ITC Hotel (http://www.itc-hotel.com/english/hotel/index.html), you may want to check them out.
The hotel itself is about what you would expect in a 2(ish) star; rooms are comfy, free wifi, good staff, and very good maid service (they replaced the top blanket 5 times during a 7 day visit...better than hotels in the us!). The hotel is in a very good location; roughly 10 feet from the #4 tram line and 4-5 stops from CS (hotel is by the prisengracht canal and utrechtse). 5 min walk to rembrandtplein.

I happend to be in Amsterdam for the first time 9 yrs ago on April 30th & OMG - Be sure to WEAR YOUR ORANGE - i have been back every year since - Try the AMSTERDAM HOUSE - lots of houseboats/apartments resonable!

I was in the Netherlands in 2007 for Queen's Weekend.
Some towns have events starting Friday night. I was in Amsterdam on Queens Day from 10am to 4pm. I enjoyed the people and canal boat watching, the party starts early. I decided I would shop in Utrecht and Haarlem for the "garage sales" for candle sticks. I came home with lots of brass & silver not paying over 1 euro per piece. It was fun.
I am sure the hotels in Amsterdam are packed so I would consider maybe Haarlem or even by the airport for a night or two. Utrecht was our base that trip.
Have fun

BTW, I would wait and buy an orange shirt that weekend. There are plenty in stores and street vendors in Amsterdam, makes for a unique souvenir. Getting off the train we got paper orange hats.

Here's is a good listing of activities at this year Queen's Day:

http://tinyurl.com/cgtx46

If you don't like crowds and partying and lots of rowdy people, don't go that day. If you like Heineken, and love to party, this is your scene. When we went, teh msueuem wer open (the Rijks and Van Gogh) but perhaps this has changed.

In addition to the other variables (crowds, parties, etc.) check out hotel prices. We modified our itinerary last year when we saw how rates spiked over that holiday period. I was worried it would be too rowdy as well, but now I have a hard time imagining "too rowdy" Dutch. Good luck!