Kings Day a Bank Holiday in Holland - But no knock on effect this year!
Kings day in a national bank holiday in Holland that often sees Flora Holland’s Dutch Flower auctions closed (along with most other businesses).
However, this year the celebration takes place over the weekend, meaning flower trading and logistics are completely unaffected meaning that British florists don’t need to worry about being that bit more organised as they’ve had to in previous years.
What's it all about?
If you’ve been a florist for a while you’re probably quite familiar with King’s Day or Koningsdag as the Dutch call it. As a national bank holiday it often affect flower buying.
However, do you know more about it than that? It truly is an orange-filled celebration held every year for the king’s birthday on 27th April. It is renowned for being one of the biggest and most colourful festivities in the Netherlands, an opportunity for “orange madness” or oranjegekte, a kind of frenzy named for the national colour.
If you’re thinking – hang on a moment – wasn’t it previously Queen’s Day? You’re right! Queen Beatrix abdicated on Koninginnedag 2013, and her son, Willem-Alexander, ascended the throne (the first king since the observance of the national holiday). As a result, the holiday became known as Koningsdag from 2014 on, and the celebration was moved three days ahead to 27 April, his actual birthday.
How does it normally affect flowers and florists?
The celebration takes place on the 27th April each year. When this falls on a weekday all three of the Dutch flower auctions (and direct purchasing and collection from growers) wouldn’t happen. They’d be no flowers (or any other related) products leaving Holland.
This means that florists would usually need to order flowers earlier to ensure they have everything they need. We know so many of our customers are aware of it for that reason so we wanted to make sure you knew this year was different – stand down – no need to change your buying!
Next year too!
We don’t know how far you plan in advance but, next year also sees Kings Day fall at the weekend. So again, they’ll be no changes to the buying schedules or trading at FloraHollands Dutch auctions.
Whilst in 2025 it falls on a Sunday, it’ll be celebrated the day before on the Saturday. However, every year celebrations are not just limited to King’s Day. ‘King’s Night’, the night before King’s Day, it is celebrated extensively In many cities. With a number of free festivals, live music in pubs and outside in the streets, along with DJs playing in restaurants and clubs. As you can imagine, it’s an evening for dancing and celebrating together ahead of the King’s birthday.
