Holland’s largest — and perhaps most colorful — national event takes place on April 27, King’s Day. Orange is the color to be, from orange wigs to orange-hued food and brightly decorated orange floats. Celebrations include live music, flea markets and parties held throughout the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Hague pulls out all the stops the night before on Koningsnach (King’s Night) as part of the annual Life I Live Festival, with open-air musical performances on multiple stages in city center.

In Amsterdam, a huge street party takes place, with music, performances, processions and a float-by of canal boats filled with revelers. Meanwhile, in the town of Utrecht, the country’s biggest flea market gets underway, while decorated boats sail by along the canals and the sound of live music fills the air. Join the fun while sipping some Oranjebitter, a liqueur created in 1620 to honor the battle victories of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. A concoction involving juniper, laurel berries, licorice root, malt gin and orange peels, it ripens slowly over the course of months, ready for the April festivities.