PalenQ

Last time I was there for Queen's Day then trains into Centraal Station in Amsterdam were suspended -due to huge crowds getting on trains - check that out so you are not stranded in Amsterdam - ask at the station first.

PalenQ

You could always take a round about route back to Haarlem - go to station RAI or Zuid-WTC a few miles south of the center and take a train to Schiphol airport then the direct bus to Haarlem.

Even trams are shut down however right in the mobbed cengter of Amsterdam.

aussie_10

Thank you for your suggestions for Kings Day. Travel into Amsterdam does sound a little tricky. We will talk to our apartment owners when we arrive as well.
But I am sure we will be participating somewhere, either Amsterdam or Haarlem. We love mixing it with the locals.

PalenQ

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/queens-day-in-amsterdam-or-haarlem-or-neither-with-kids.cfm>

Old 2012 thread asking about Queen's Day, as it were known then, in Haarlem or Amsterdam. Amsterdam IME can be rather chaotic but to me that is more fun but with kids...

menachem

do remember though, that King's day is not on the 30th of april, but on april 26th ...

menachem

aussie, don't even think of traveling into Amsterdam that day. You may get into the city, but there have been years when the entire railway system around Amsterdam ground to a halt because drunk people were stopping trains, walking on the tracks etc. As Amsterdam is such a hub, disruptions can spread far. Haarlem wil have its own celebrations, which will surprise you by their small scale friendliness. And if you want to see the king in person: he'll be in Amstelveen and De Rijp, celebrating. My money would be on De Rijp, should you wish to go. Reachable from Haarlem, and a beautiful village in its own right.

http://koningsdagnederland.com/koningsdag-2014/

aussie_10

Thank you PalenQ and Menachem for your replies and advice about not going in to Amsterdam on Kings Day.
We will look at your other suggestions.

I will also ask our apartment owners about Haarlem's celebrations. De Rijp looks like a cute village( bit I don't think I will visit on Kins Day), any other suggestions for villages or towns to visit during our stay is most welcome.

menachem

//For Kings Day go to Amsterdam for the biggest citywide celebration I've ever seen - many Haarlemers also go to Amsterdam this day - folks come from towns all around so for the best Kings Day take the train to Amsterdam for the day!//

Or maybe not. Expect trains to be completely jammed, not only getting into Amsterdam, but especially traveling back.

And not so nice, drunk multitudes in the centre of Amsterdam. I don't like the atmosphere then, especially in the city centre, bordering on what could be the beginnings of a panicky stampede. Haarlem will have its own King's day celebrations, and you could in fact see the King himself that day, in either Amstelveen or De Rijp, both not too far from Haarlem

menachem

double, and sorry for that

I lived in Jordaan, years ago, and for us, Queen's day was time to leave the city. Then when we came back, we used to find our front door had been used as a public urinal.

PalenQ

I saw two aspects of Queen's Day in Amsterdam - the one menachem describes but also a wholesome one - it has become a tradition to have a giant flea market everywhere with locals staking out space the night before and on this day one can sell practically anything (legal) they want on the sidewalk and there are also boats with floating jazz bands - all in all everyone seemed to be having a good time - drunks and all. So many younger folk carrying cases of Heineken when coming off the train - I have a video I took of celebrants piling off the train - a never-ending stream - like the old VW ads - how many folks can they fit in a train - and the stairs going down became seriously overcrowded - soon later Centraal Station was closed off to all trains for the day - not sure how all those folks got back home but feel many just headed for pubs or coffeeshops for the night!

Young teens were smoking marijuana out in the open - that did surprise me that that was allowed. Sitting on public benches rolling spliffs - just like at our local Hash Bash in Ann Arbor when I lived there.

menachem

yes crazy town. I can assure you King's day will be so much nicer in Haarlem, with essentially the same ingredients but on a smaller, friendlier scale.

aussie_10

Thanks for the ideas re Kings Day. I think we will definitely enjoy it but may very well avoid Amsterdam that day.

spaarne

<i>aussie_10 on Feb 4, 14 at 1:39am
Thanks for the ideas re Kings Day. I think we will definitely enjoy it but may very well avoid Amsterdam that day.</i>

Here is my photolog of Queen's Day in Amsterdam six years ago, http://tinyurl.com/55px5p. Obviously this is not for everybody but I wouldn't miss it if I am in Holland. I have been to several. I am thinking of going over this year for the first King's Day.

jamikins

Aussie_10 I found the woman on trip advisor that posted weekly updates last year! Hopefully she will do it again this year

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-forums/Nring

Enjoy your trip!

aussie_10

Wow thank you Jamikins for the link. Most appreciated.
Starting to get excited for our trip only 9 weeks away. Hoping the blooms are full in the fields for our visit, your photos inspired me as well as others Foderite's.

Still undecided where we will view the Kings Day celebrations but it should be a good one.

And firstly we will be catching up with our son in Glasgow. A bit of whisky trailing for the boys!

PalenQ

And firstly we will be catching up with our son in Glasgow. A bit of whisky trailing for the boys!>

I enjoyed the yes rather kitschy Whisky attraction in Edinburgh just below, on the main drag between Castle and Holyrood Palace, where you get in a whisky barrel and it takes you thru the history of whisky and whisky making - I loved it when they explained why when the whisky is aged some of it has inevitably evaporated from the barrel - "tis the angels' portion' they lovingly said!

aussie_10

"tis the angels' portion' they lovingly said!
I love the Scottish sayings!

Not being a whisky drinker myself I will be the driver. We have booked a couple of distillary tours up in the Speyside area.