Netherlands turns orange to celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s birthday

Across the Netherlands, people have donned orange clothes – from tuxedos to feather boas – and boats packed with revellers clogged Amsterdam’s canals to celebrate their king’s birthday.

In an Amsterdam park, a dog called Lucy sported orange-dyed fur.

The official royal walkabout by King Willem-Alexander and family members in the eastern town of Doetinchem started an hour later than planned so as not to clash with the funeral at the Vatican of Pope Francis.

In a video message, Willem-Alexander said the day of Dutch celebration “has two faces” due to the pope’s funeral, and paid tribute to Francis.

“For many Catholics and non-Catholics, he was a source of inspiration,” the king said.

The king’s 58th birthday is on Sunday, but King’s Day was held a day earlier.

The celebrations began on Friday night with street markets in the central city of Utrecht and parties in other towns and cities.

By early afternoon, some canals in the Dutch capital were crammed with boats.

In the days leading up to Saturday’s celebrations, Amsterdam Municipality urged people to avoid the busiest areas of the city due to fears of the overcrowding that has marked the party in recent years.

In Amsterdam’s Vondel Park, children spread out blankets and sold unwanted toys, clothes and books in one of the many “free markets” that spring up on pavements and in parks.