This Saturday, the Dutch celebrate King’s Day, a national holiday marking King Willem-Alexander’s birthday, who turns 57 on Sunday.
Amsterdam’s popularity during the event is so immense that local authorities are requesting people not to travel to the city. “There are too many people in many areas. Please do not come to Amsterdam and celebrate King’s Day elsewhere,” said a spokesperson for the municipality.
This comes as Amsterdam grapples with overtourism, having implemented measures such as banning new hotels, limiting river cruises, and increasing tourist taxes to manage visitor numbers and preserve residents' quality of life.
