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In this guide14 sections
- The short answer
- The date, and what has been published for 2027
- Amsterdam’s hotel tax in 2027: VAT, and a tourist tax rising to 16%
- Getting in from Schiphol
- Centre and Jordaan: inside the party
- De Pijp: the metro line out
- Museum Quarter: the Vondelpark and the family day
- Oost: east of the tram core
- Noord: a free ferry across the IJ
- Haarlem and Zaandam: a calmer base by train
- How to book Amsterdam for King’s Day
- All 12 at a glance
- Before you go
- Frequently asked questions
King’s Day is the one day when Amsterdam plans around the crowd, so where you sleep is really a question of how you will move. In 2027 it falls on Tuesday 27 April, with King’s Night the evening before. The hotel bill is different too: on top of 21% VAT, the city’s tourist tax is 12.5% of the room price today, and the city executive has proposed raising it to 16% in 2027, with the council due to vote in November 2026.
This guide covers what the city and the transport operators have published so far, six areas, 12 hotels and the tax. It is about the 27 April weekend; for the rest of your trip, where to stay in Amsterdam covers the Canal Ring, the Museum Quarter and more. The hotels are researched picks, chosen for location, what each property publishes and consistent guest feedback, and each was checked as operating in November 2026. No hotel pays to appear here.
The short answer
| If you want… | Stay in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| to be inside the party | Centre and Jordaan | Canal-house hotels in the busiest streets; the city advises parents to avoid the Jordaan and Westerstraat with children |
| a metro line out of the crowd | De Pijp | In 2026 GVB ran extra metro 52 trains from Centraal and Zuid to De Pijp station |
| a family day and the Vondelpark | Museum Quarter | The Vondelpark opens to a children-only market, and Hotel Fita sits next to the park |
| a base east of the centre | Oost | Two hotels beside the Oosterpark and the Amstel, away from the tram core |
| a free ferry and a festival | Noord | Free IJ ferries from Centraal and a free festival at NDSM in 2026 |
| to sleep outside the city | Haarlem or Zaandam | About 15 and 10 or more minutes by train from Amsterdam |
Not sure which area? Rank these areas for your trip: pick what matters and see the reasons.
The date, and what has been published for 2027
I amsterdam gives King’s Day 2027 as Tuesday 27 April, from 07:00 to 00:00, with events across the city. The Royal House says King’s Day moves to the day before when 27 April is a Sunday; in 2027 it is not, so the date stands. King’s Night is the evening before, which in 2027 means Monday 26 April by our reckoning: in 2026 GVB named King’s Night as Sunday 26 April and King’s Day as Monday 27 April.
The royal family will not be in Amsterdam. The Royal House announced on 6 July 2026 that the King will celebrate King’s Day 2027 in Lelystad, in Flevoland, so Amsterdam’s day is the city’s own party.
What we could not find is the 2027 rulebook. I amsterdam’s rules page was last updated on 28 April 2025, and its practical pages are for 2026. Everything below is labelled with the year it comes from, and the city’s 2027 rules, transport plan and event list will come later. One 2027 change is already flagged: I amsterdam’s 2026 page says the Westerstraat and Noordermarkt will become event grounds from 2027.
The market, the shops and the streets
- The vrijmarkt. The city-wide street market officially runs from 06:00 to 20:00, I amsterdam says, and most events start at midday. You may not sell alcohol in it, or perishable food such as meat, fish or dairy products.
- The Vondelpark. It traditionally closes the night before and opens at 09:00 on the day, for a children-only version of the market. I amsterdam names the Vondelpark, Sarphatipark and NDSM as child-friendly zones.
- Crowds. The same page says the Jordaan, particularly around Westerstraat, is usually very crowded, and that families with children are generally discouraged from coming.
- Shops and museums. Most high-street shops close; larger supermarkets open for part of the day. Most major museums close, but the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum and Rijksmuseum traditionally stay open.
Drink, glass and music (2026 rules)
I amsterdam’s 2026 page says you may carry no more than one can or bottle of alcohol on the street, a six-pack counts as more than one, and glass should stay at home. Amplified music in public spaces was not permitted, parents were advised to avoid the Jordaan and Westerstraat, and the city said it would check illegal alcohol sales and illegal parties more thoroughly. The 2025 page adds that alcohol is usually not allowed on trains and at stations from 19:00 on the night before to 05:00 the day after.
Getting around (2026 and 2025 notes)
- Trams and metro. GVB’s 2026 page says buses, trams and metros ran to a Saturday timetable, and ferries to a Sunday one. On King’s Night, trams 2, 17 and 24 were diverted away from Leidsestraat from 18:30. Amstelveenseweg, Europaplein and RAI metro stations were closed, and metro 52 ran every 6 minutes from 10:00 between Centraal or Zuid and De Pijp, Vijzelgracht and Rokin. GVB also asked people not to take bicycles on the metro.
- Closures change. I amsterdam’s 2025 page listed the Nieuwmarkt and RAI metro stations as closed, not the three GVB listed in 2026. Do not plan around one year’s list.
- Trains. I amsterdam’s 2026 page says NS runs an Orange timetable with longer and additional trains, and that Science Park station was closed on the day. The 2025 page says there are no luggage lockers at Amsterdam Centraal on King’s Day.
- Taxis and cars. The 2025 page says taxi stands in the centre are mostly out of action and you cannot reserve a taxi, and that the whole centre closes to cars from 07:30.
On the water
If a hotel looks onto a canal, expect boats. The 2025 rules page lets boats up to 10 metres sail, at 6 km/h at most, always on the right, with no alcohol for whoever is in control and no amplified music audible 10 metres away. The 2026 page adds that the 12+1 rule was enforced with no exceptions, meaning at most 12 passengers plus the skipper.
Amsterdam’s hotel tax in 2027: VAT, and a tourist tax rising to 16%
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| VAT on hotel accommodation | 21% from 1 January 2026 |
| Tourist tax (toeristenbelasting), city page when we checked | 12.5% of the overnight price, excluding VAT |
| Tourist tax in 2027, proposed by the city executive on 23 September 2026 (council vote due November 2026) | 16% of the overnight price |
The Belastingdienst says the 21% rate applies to hotel stays from 1 January 2026. The city’s tax page still showed 12.5% when we checked, but on 23 September 2026 the city executive agreed a proposed amendment to the tourist-tax ordinance that would set a uniform 16% in 2027. The city council still has to vote on it, which it is due to do in November 2026, so budget for 16% but treat it as a proposal until then. The page also lists a €15 day tax per cruise passenger, which is charged to the cruise operator and not to hotel guests.
A worked example, our arithmetic: a room priced at €200 a night before VAT. VAT at 21% adds €42. The tourist tax at 12.5% adds €25, so the night costs €267; at 16% it adds €32, so the night costs €274. Two nights for the 26 and 27 April weekend at 16% cost €548, of which €148 is tax. Check whether a hotel’s quoted price includes VAT and the tourist tax before you compare.
Getting in from Schiphol
- By train. Schiphol says a train runs eight times an hour between Amsterdam Centraal and the airport, in just 17 minutes. On the day, I amsterdam’s 2026 page says trains to Schiphol run but you should allow more time, and it suggests checking whether another station works better than Centraal.
- Into town. I amsterdam’s 2026 page says you no longer need a separate ticket in the city: check in and out with OVpay, using a contactless card or phone, on trains, buses, trams and the metro.
- For fares and the rest, see where to stay in Amsterdam.
Centre and Jordaan: inside the party
This is where the day is loudest. The streets around Westerstraat and the Noordermarkt are the Jordaan crowd that the city warns families about, and the tram diversions around Leidsestraat on King’s Night in 2026 show how the centre is reorganised. A hotel here puts you on foot among the vrijmarkt stalls and the canal boats; it also means you walk home through the same crowds.
Where to stay in the Centre and Jordaan
How the hotel links work: a hotel’s name goes to its own website. “Check rates” opens it on Booking.com through our partner Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
- Pulitzer Amsterdam, splurge. At Prinsengracht 323, spread across twenty-five canal houses from the 17th century, with what the hotel calls tranquil inner gardens. Choose it for a canal-house hotel on the busiest day with a quieter garden side. Watch out: the canals carry King’s Day boats, and its page publishes no King’s Day terms, so ask about garden-side rooms. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Mr. Jordaan, good value. At Bloemgracht 102, on what the hotel calls an enchanting 17th century canal just off the Prinsengracht, with single, twin, double and triple rooms. Choose it for the Jordaan at a modest price. Watch out: the Jordaan is the district the city tells families to avoid on the day, and the hotel publishes no King’s Day terms. Check rates on Booking.com →
De Pijp: the metro line out
De Pijp is the area where GVB pointed visitors in 2026: metro 52 ran every 6 minutes from 10:00 to De Pijp, Vijzelgracht and Rokin stations, so you can reach the centre without a tram. The Albert Cuyp Market street is a short walk from both hotels. The trade-off is that the neighbourhood has its own street parties, and we have no 2027 list of them.
Where to stay in De Pijp
- Sir Albert, comfortable. At Albert Cuypstraat 2-6, which the hotel places in the heart of De Pijp, just down the street from the Albert Cuyp Market and within walking distance of Museum Square. Choose it for the market street and the metro. Watch out: its page publishes no King’s Day terms, and groups of more than six rooms go through a request form. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Hotel Okura Amsterdam, splurge. At Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, with 120 completely renewed rooms and suites, Ciel Bleu on the 23rd floor and Yamazato. Its own page lists King’s Day on 27 April among what is on across Amsterdam. Choose it for a restaurant-led splurge outside the crowd. Watch out: the hotel gives no King’s Day terms, and the canals and the Jordaan are a metro ride away. Check rates on Booking.com →
Museum Quarter: the Vondelpark and the family day
If you are coming with children, this is the quarter that suits the city’s advice: the Vondelpark’s children-only market opens at 09:00, and the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk traditionally stay open. It sits outside the Jordaan and Westerstraat crowds. Which tram stops near the park are diverted in 2027 is not published yet.
Where to stay in the Museum Quarter
- Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, splurge. The former Conservatorium Hotel, with Superior, Duplex, Deluxe, Premier Deluxe and Family Deluxe rooms and a range of suites. Choose it for a luxury base by the museums. Watch out: its page publishes no King’s Day terms or minimum stay, so ask before you book. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Hotel Fita, good value. At Jan Luijkenstraat 37, an intimate bed-and-breakfast feel with 21 guest rooms, positioned next to the Vondelpark. Breakfast can be added for €17.50 per person. Choose it for the park and a small hotel. Watch out: rooms have a fan or air conditioning and the air-conditioned ones are limited, and there is no hotel parking. Check rates on Booking.com →
Oost: east of the tram core
Oost sits east of the central streets, around the Oosterpark and the Amstel. In 2026 I amsterdam listed a free Bredeweg Festival in Watergraafsmeer, describing it as a tamer, family-friendly party; we have no 2027 list. Both hotels below are on GVB routes, so check the day’s diversions for your line.
Where to stay in Oost
- Hotel Arena, comfortable. At ’s-Gravesandestraat 55, in the Oosterpark, with Comfy’s, Super Comfy’s, junior suites and suites, the PARK restaurant and an underground car park. The hotel lists tram lines 1, 3, 7, 14 and 19 and metro lines 51, 53 and 54 to Weesperplein. Choose it for a park setting east of the centre. Watch out: its page does not mention King’s Day, and with the centre closed to cars from 07:30 a car is no help. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Volkshotel, good value. At Wibautstraat 150, in Amsterdam East near the Amstel, with Cabins, Specials and Studios, the Canvas restaurant on the seventh floor and rooftop hot tubs and a sauna at Badplaats. It lists Limited, Flex and Business Stay rates. Choose it for a design hotel with a spa on the roof. Watch out: the building has its own bar and the Doka Doka sound bar, so ask for a quieter floor if you want to sleep. Check rates on Booking.com →
Noord: a free ferry across the IJ
Noord is a short free ferry from Centraal and sits clear of the tram diversions. In 2026 GVB ran its IJ ferries to a Sunday timetable on the day, and ferry F3, from Centraal to Buiksloterweg, ran more often and all night on King’s Night. I amsterdam’s 2026 list of free events included a King’s Day party at the Pllek on the IJ and NDSM Vrijhaven, a free festival at NDSM.
Where to stay in Noord
- Sir Adam, comfortable. At Overhoeksplein 7, just across the IJ from Centraal, a 3 minute, free 24/7 ferry ride away by the hotel’s own count, with 360-degree views from the rooftop. Choose it for the ferry and the view. Watch out: the ferry is your way in, and on the day it ran to a Sunday timetable in 2026, so check the 2027 times. Check rates on Booking.com →
- ClinkNOORD, budget. At Badhuiskade 3, with the free ferry from Centraal, a reception and café open 24/7 and a bar from 4pm to midnight. It has dorms, single and double, twin, family and private rooms, and female-only dorms for four to ten. Choose it for the lowest price here. Watch out: a dorm bed is shared space on one of the year’s loudest nights. Check rates on Booking.com →
Haarlem and Zaandam: a calmer base by train
If you would rather watch Amsterdam than sleep in it, two towns are on the railway. I amsterdam lists Haarlem at 15 minutes by train, and says direct trains run from Zaandam to Amsterdam Central Station in just over 10 minutes; the Inntel hotel says 12. The costs are the Orange timetable on the day, crowded carriages home, and the rule against alcohol on trains and at stations. We have not checked what Haarlem and Zaandam plan for their own King’s Day, and we left out Amstelveen because we did not confirm a rail route to it.
Where to stay in Haarlem and Zaandam
- Amrâth Grand Hotel Frans Hals, comfortable. In the city centre of Haarlem, with 82 rooms, a lounge and a hotel bar, check-in from 2:00 PM and flexible cancellation until 7:00 AM. Choose it for a historic town and a short train. Watch out: the hotel does not give a walking time from the station, so check it before you book. Check rates on Booking.com →
- Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam, comfortable. A facade of nearly seventy Zaan-style houses in four shades of green, with a Wellness Club and swimming pool and the Puur Saen bar and restaurant. Choose it for the quickest rail link here, about 12 minutes by the hotel’s own account. Watch out: the last trains home matter on the night, so check NS before you commit. Check rates on Booking.com →
How to book Amsterdam for King’s Day
- Count the tax. VAT is 21%, and the tourist tax is 12.5% today and proposed to rise to 16% in 2027; both come on top of the room price.
- Pick the night, not just the day. The party starts on King’s Night, by our reckoning Monday 26 April, and the 2026 transport changes began that evening, so a booking that starts on 26 April covers both.
- Plan your arrival. With no luggage lockers at Centraal and no reservable taxis in 2025, a hotel you can reach by metro or ferry with a bag is safer than one reached by tram.
- Read the rate type. Ask about minimum stays and cancellation; most hotel sites here published none for King’s Day.
- Compare totals. Our hotel booking sites compared goes through where to book, and hotel taxes around the world sets Amsterdam beside other cities.
- See the tulips too. If you are adding Keukenhof, see where to stay for Keukenhof.
All 12 at a glance
| Hotel | Area | Tier | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulitzer Amsterdam | Canal Ring | Splurge | Canal houses and gardens | Boats on the canal |
| Mr. Jordaan | Jordaan | Good value | The Jordaan for less | Westerstraat crowds |
| Sir Albert | De Pijp | Comfortable | The market street and metro | No King’s Day terms |
| Hotel Okura Amsterdam | De Pijp | Splurge | A restaurant-led splurge | A metro ride to the canals |
| Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium | Museum Quarter | Splurge | A luxury base by the museums | No published terms |
| Hotel Fita | Museum Quarter | Good value | The Vondelpark market | No parking, limited air conditioning |
| Hotel Arena | Oost | Comfortable | The Oosterpark | Check your tram line |
| Volkshotel | Oost | Good value | A rooftop spa | On-site bar and sound bar |
| Sir Adam | Noord | Comfortable | The ferry and the view | Ferry timetable |
| ClinkNOORD | Noord | Budget | The lowest price here | Shared dorms |
| Amrâth Grand Hotel Frans Hals | Haarlem | Comfortable | A historic town | No station time published |
| Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam | Zaandam | Comfortable | The quickest rail link | Last trains home |
Before you go
- Sort your data and cover. See the best eSIM for Europe (check that the Netherlands is included) and the best travel insurance.
- More of Amsterdam. For the rest of the city, see where to stay in Amsterdam, and for getting around Europe by rail, is a European rail pass worth it.
Frequently asked questions
When is King’s Day in Amsterdam in 2027?
I amsterdam gives King’s Day 2027 as Tuesday 27 April, from 07:00 to 00:00. King’s Night is the evening before, which we reckon as Monday 26 April because in 2026 GVB named King’s Night as the Sunday before the Monday holiday. The Royal House says the day moves to the 26th only when 27 April is a Sunday, which it is not in 2027.
Will the King be in Amsterdam on King’s Day 2027?
No. The Royal House announced on 6 July 2026 that the King will celebrate King’s Day 2027 in Lelystad, in Flevoland. Amsterdam’s celebration is the city’s own street party, market and boat day.
What are the King’s Day 2027 rules in Amsterdam?
We found no 2027 rulebook yet. I amsterdam’s rules page was last updated on 28 April 2025 and its practical pages are for 2026. In 2026 you could carry no more than one can or bottle of alcohol on the street, glass should stay at home and amplified music in public spaces was not permitted. The vrijmarkt officially ran from 06:00 to 20:00, and boats were limited to 6 km/h and, in 2026, to 12 passengers plus the skipper.
How does public transport work on King’s Day in Amsterdam?
The 2027 plan is not published. In 2026 GVB ran buses, trams and metros to a Saturday timetable and ferries to a Sunday one, diverted trams 2, 17 and 24 away from Leidsestraat on King’s Night, closed Amstelveenseweg, Europaplein and RAI metro stations and ran extra metro 52 trains from Centraal and Zuid to De Pijp, Vijzelgracht and Rokin. NS ran an Orange timetable with longer and additional trains.
How much is the tourist tax in Amsterdam in 2027?
The city’s tax page showed 12.5% of the overnight price, excluding VAT, when we checked. On 23 September 2026 the city executive proposed an amendment that would set a uniform 16% in 2027; the council was due to vote on it in November 2026. VAT on hotel stays is 21% from 1 January 2026. On a €200 room before VAT, our arithmetic gives €274 a night at 16%.
Where is the best place to stay for King’s Day in Amsterdam?
It depends on how much of the crowd you want. The Centre and Jordaan put you inside the party, but the city advises families to avoid the Jordaan and Westerstraat. De Pijp had extra metro 52 trains in 2026, the Museum Quarter has the Vondelpark’s children-only market, and Noord has the free ferry. Haarlem and Zaandam are about 15 and 10 or more minutes by train.
Sources & further reading
- I amsterdam: King’s Day 2027 listing
- I amsterdam: King’s Day rules and regulations (last updated 28 April 2025)
- I amsterdam: getting around and practical info on King’s Day (28 April 2025)
- I amsterdam: King’s Day 2026, all the info at a glance
- I amsterdam: tips for King’s Day (24 April 2026)
- GVB: King’s Day 2026
- Het Koninklijk Huis: Koningsdag 2027 in Lelystad
- Het Koninklijk Huis: Koningsdag
- City of Amsterdam: tourist tax
- City of Amsterdam: news from the executive, 23 September 2026
- Belastingdienst: VAT rate on accommodation
- Schiphol: by train
- I amsterdam: best day trips from Amsterdam by train
- I amsterdam: Zaanstad and Purmerend area
- Official websites of each hotel named above, checked in November 2026
Dates, rules, rates and hotel terms change, and the city had not published its 2027 King’s Day rules, transport plan or event list when we checked; where we describe 2025 or 2026 arrangements we say so. The 16% tourist tax for 2027 is the city executive’s proposal; the council was due to vote on it in November 2026. Every hotel detail here was checked in November 2026; confirm minimum stays, rates and cancellation terms with the hotel before booking. These are researched picks, not reviews. This article contains affiliate links: hotel rates on Booking.com and other booking sites through Stay22, and tours, transfers and eSIMs through our partners; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No hotel pays to be included.
Keep reading on Gently Yonder
- Where to Stay in Amsterdam Six areas, 12 hotels, and the 12.5% tourist tax that now sits on top of 21% VAT.
- Where to Stay in Keukenhof Open 18 March to 9 May 2027: five bases by bus and train time, 12 hotels and the local tourist taxes.
- Best eSIM for Europe (2026) Why a regional Europe plan usually beats country-by-country, and how much data to get.
- Hotel Taxes Around the World (2026) What Paris, New York, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong and more add to a hotel room, checked at official sources.