"it is madness but a real neat one"

You know, some people just don't care for madness and would never use neat in the same sentence. You've certainly convinced me that I would not want to be there, but I wouldn't go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras either. Give it a break. We hear loud and clear that you like it, others wouldn't.

Here's a Dutch person who doesn't fock to Amsterdam on King's Day. My kids do though.

tulips - where do you live and how are King's Day celebrations outside of Amsterdam - perhaps the experience in say Leiden would be more calm and more in keeping with older folk?

Just curious as to how the day is celebrated in average towns - since all the young folks flock to Amsterdam I would think in say a Leiden it may be rather fun for older folk not into the madness in Amsterdam.

I live in Belgium :-)

Queens Day was fun when I was a student. And I know plenty of people of my (old) age who still go to Amsterdam, often invited on a boat in the canals.
For me the crowd was oppressive. And for women; just try to find a toilet. Men apparently don't have that problem - hence Menachem's objections.

In the average small town there are children's games; these are traditional. It's more of a family thing. Often there are markets where anyone can sell anything, like in Amsterdam.
In The Hague there's a huge party the evening before King's Day. Leiden is a student town, there's probably plenty of partying.

If you are staying in Amsterdam, and have somewhere to escape to when it gets too busy, it can be fun, people are friendly, there are plenty of kids around. But not everyone's cup of tea.

don't forget the ABS or Any Belgian Stations fare in combo with your Chunnel train - if doing that - a great great deal and you can hop any train to any Belgian station!