Doetinchem was chosen to host the main celebrations for King’s Day 2025. The Dutch municipality recently released the programme for the national holiday, as well as the route the royal family will take through the city on April 26.
King’s Day celebrations are set to take place on April 26 this year, and while Amsterdam draws in the most visitors, filled corner to corner with people clad in orange, other Dutch cities also take part in the festivities. This year, the main celebrations which the Dutch royal family will attend are set to take place in Doetinchem.
Mayor of Doetinchem Mark Boumans presented the programme for King’s Day after riding into the hall on an electric moped. "Almost everything, anyway. We're keeping a few things secret, because it has to remain exciting until the day itself," Boumans told Omroep Gelderland.
What has been revealed is that King Willem-Alexander and his family will cover a route of 700 metres, stopping at multiple city attractions under the theme of tradition and innovation. The royal bus will also be accompanied by electric mopeds to show off the innovation of the Achterhoek region.
Doetinchem is expecting to welcome up to 30.000 visitors from other cities for the King’s Day celebrations. Starting at the Stadstheater Amphion and ending with a festival at the historic Walmolen on the banks of the Oudse IJssel, the route will present the royal family with art, culture, food and performances from the region.
Moped manufacturer Niels Willems will also have some mopeds waiting for the royal family to climb on. "I hope of course that the king will jump on it, but I have no idea if that will happen. I honestly don't think so. But we do think it's nice that we can contribute to King's Day," said Willems.
Achterhoek band Normaal will welcome the king and his family, and duo Suzan & Freek, accompanied by the Gelders Orkest Phion, will perform the song De Overkant at the festival as a tribute to the region. “We can’t wait to play at a place that feels like coming home to us,” the duo said in a video message.
To see more of the King’s Day programme, visit the Doetinchem website.
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