King's Day (Koningsdag)

King's Day, or Koningsdag, on 27 April is Curaçao's lively nod to its Dutch heritage, celebrated across the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the birthday of the reigning monarch. The colour of the day is unmistakable: orange, the hue of the House of Orange-Nassau. People dress head to toe in orange, and the streets, squares, and bars fill with the same bright energy you would find in Amsterdam, transplanted to the Caribbean sun.

The day mixes Dutch tradition with island flavour. A hallmark is the vrijmarkt, a free open-air flea market where anyone can lay out a blanket and sell, swap, or browse second-hand goods and crafts. Around it spin live music, DJ sets, children's games, food stalls, and pop-up parties that run from morning well into the night.

What happens on the day

• Everyone wears orange, from shirts to hats to face paint.
• Vrijmarkt street markets where locals sell from blankets and stalls.
• Live music, DJ sets, family games, and all-day parties.

It is a festive, easygoing day with a strong local turnout. Wear something orange to fit in, head into Willemstad for the busiest markets and music, and keep small cash for the vrijmarkt and food stalls. A morning swim at Jan Thiel Beach makes a fine warm-up before the crowds gather.