Orange-clad crowds cram into Dutch cities to celebrate king’s birthday

Across the Netherlands, people have donned orange clothes – from tuxedos to feather boas – as boats packed with revellers clogged Amsterdam’s canals to celebrate their king Willem-Alexander’s 58th birthday.

An official royal walkabout by the Dutch king 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 Dutch king said.

Although Willem-Alexander’s 58th birthday falls on Sunday, the King’s Day celebration was held a day earlier.

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

By Saturday afternoon, some canals in the Dutch capital were crammed with boats, the water sometimes barely visible through the throngs of people and clouds of orange smoke from flares.

In a message on social media, Amsterdam Municipality said parts of the city were “too full” and urged people not to visit Amsterdam and “celebrate King’s Day somewhere else”.

Other cities also reported that events were overcrowded.

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 sidewalks and parks.