Willem-Alexander makes it King's Day

Last year it was called King's Day for the first time but it will still held on Queen's Day. In 2015, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands rang the changes and moved this big Dutch holiday to his own birthday. April 27th 2015 marked the debut of King's Day.

The King of the Netherlands greets the crowds on his special day accompanied by his wife and daughters

The traditional celebrations, a national holiday in the Netherlands, were held on April 30th because that was Queen Juliana's birthday. When she abdicated in favour of her daughter, Beatrix, the date remained unchanged as the new monarch's birthday was January 31st and the weather was never going to be favourable then. Beatrix stepped aside on Queen's Day 2013 and in 2014 her son kept the celebrations on the usual day. But as an April baby himself, this year Willem-Alexander moved the big day to his own big day, April 27th, and got a new party started.

An official portrait of the King and Queen of the Netherlands with the Princess of Orange and Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane on King's Day 2015

The day began with an official photo for the royals with the king, Queen Maxima and their three daughters all smiles at the start of a long day. This year the celebrations were held in Dordrecht and included a boat trip through the canals where the royals passed a parade of old and new boats.

Royals on a boat - the King and Queen of the Netherlands enjoy the start of King's Day 2015

They then attended a concert as part of the ongoing Bach Festival and while sitting in the audience did a bit of photography themselves, holding up tablets to get shots of the crowds behind them, and later during a walkabout, Willem-Alexander and Maxima posed for a selfie with Prince Maurits.

View image | gettyimages.com

The king and queen then toured the Scheffersplein where local businesses had put on stalls and the royals were seen admiring cakes and trying local drinks as they enjoyed the day. The festivities ended with a party.

View image | gettyimages.com

And so Willem-Alexander has made his own mark on a traditional celebration. He is the first King of the Netherlands in over one hundred years and now he has made the annual festivities all his own as well. Welcome to the world of King's Day.

And you can see more photos from King's Day 2015 by clicking on the link below

King's Day 2015 - in pictures