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SF’s Dutch “King’s Day” Party at the Windmill

The biggest Dutch celebration of the year is Saturday right underneath the windmill.
By - posted 4/26/2018 No Comment

The Dutch community in San Francisco invites you to celebrate King’s Day 2018 near the Murphy Windmill on the south end of Golden Gate Park.

King’s Day, the biggest national celebration in the Netherlands, is returning once again to San Francisco. Dutch King’s Day San Francisco will be a fun-filled day with traditional Dutch games, a flea market, Dutch food, beer, music & more.

And most likely the windmill will be turned on (weather permitting), so it’s a rare day to see one of Golden Gate Park’s windmills in action. Please note, the windmill is often turned on during this festival, but we haven’t received confirmation of this yet for 2018.

2018 King’s Day
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | noon to 5 pm
Murphy Windmill, Golden Gate Park
FREE (sometimes donations are requested at the entrance) – RSVP on Facebook

Everything and everyone turns orange to celebrate not just King Willem-Alexander’s birthday, but also Dutch culture and the Dutch way of life.

2018 Dutch King’s Day Activities

Ride Your Bike
10 am-noon: Orange Bicycle Ride – Register

Celebrate Dutch King’s Day and join this free group bike ride. Wear orange, bring your bicycle, and be ready for a fun group ride in celebration of King’s Day. This free event is for ages 12 and up.

10:30 am: Ride starts at Queen Wilhelmina Windmill (Dutch Windmill)
12:20 pm: Ride ends at the Murphy Windmill

Children’s Toy Exchange
noon-5 pm: Vrijmarkt – Register

Email in advance if your kids want to put down a blanket on the grass at the foot of the windmill and showcase their used books, toys, games, and more at this Dutch-style toy exchange, called “Vrijmarkt”. The kids are also invited to perform, sing or play an instrument.

Play
1-3 pm: Dutch Children’s Games

Prepare for some traditional Dutch games like: zaklopen, spijkerpoepen, kroonwerpen, kloslopen, ezeltje prik and memory.

Eat
Enjoy Dutch favorites at the various food trucks (not yet confirmed):

  • Ori Deli – Dutch and Indonesian snacks
  • ‘Poffertjes’ / micro pancakes
  • Hiyaaa Truck – Dutch fries, pancakes, pea soup (‘snert’)
  • Seoulful Chicken – Dutch fries, ‘frikandellen’, ‘bitterballen’
  • Little Red Riding Truck – schnitzel and currywurst with fries
  • Mobowl – sateh, pickled herring

The Netherlands’ national color is orange because the Dutch monarchy is the “House of Orange.” You will see it in abundance on King’s Day, so grab all of the orange you have in your closet (dust off that Halloween and Giants gear).