SFKingsDay

Normally the Murphy Windmill (the largest in the world when it was built in 1908) sits majestically, but silently watching over the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park which no longer needs it to pump the 40,000 gallons of water a day it used to before electric pumps took all the glory.

But on April 26, 2025, the brakes come off and the windmill will turn once again in honor of “Kings Day,” an annual festival celebrating Dutch culture and traditions.

The Dutch community in San Francisco invites you to celebrate King’s Day 2025 near the Murphy Windmill on the south end of Golden Gate Park to celebrate Dutch culture and traditions, including traditional Dutch games, flea market, Dutch food, beer, music & more.

2025 King’s Day
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | Noon – 5 pm
Murphy Windmill, Golden Gate Park
FREE – donations are appreciated

The festival is located at the Murphy Windmill in the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park near MLK Jr. Drive and Lincoln Way.

Wear Orange: 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).

Dutch King’s Day San Francisco is a day to celebrate the birthday of the Dutch King, Willem Alexander van Oranje. You can call it a phenomenal street party where a crowd of over 3,000 young and old, has “orange fever.”

There is music, multiple ‘Typically Dutch’ activities, and food trucks that offer Dutch delicacies. Dutch King’s Day San Francisco is a day not just for Dutch expats or Dutch Americans, but a celebration to share with the Dutch San Francisco Bay Area community and beyond.

SF King’s Day 2025

SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2025, 12PM-5PM, MURPHY WINDMILL, GOLDEN GATE PARK

Come join us for SF King’s Day in Golden Gate Park at the MURPHY WINDMILL to celebrate Dutch culture and traditions, including traditional Dutch games, flea market, Dutch food, beer, music & more!

Ride Your Bike!  –  TBD

10.30am-noon: Orange Bicycle Ride
REGISTER NOW! (you  will  be  directed  to  a  Google  form)

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: Gather at Queen Wilhelmina Windmill (Dutch Windmill)

12.00 PM: Ride ends at the Murphy Windmill

Children’s Toy Exchange!

noon-5pm: Vrijmarkt
REGISTER NOW! (You  will  be  directed  to  a  Google  form)

Fill  out  the Google form 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 a are also invited to perform singing or playing an instrument.

Volunteer!

Help make it happen and volunteer for an hour or more!
REGISTER NOW!  (You  will  be  directed  to  a  Google  form)

Decoration/Set up Crew, King’s Day Ambassador, Photographer, Clean up crew

Play!

1pm-3pm: Dutch Children’s Games

The Dutch School Silicon Valley coordinates Traditional Dutch Children’s Games from 1-3pm. Prepare for some traditional Dutch games like: zaklopen, spijkerpoepen, kroonwerpen, kloslopen, ezeltje prik and memory.

Eat!

Enjoy Dutch favorites at the various food trucks:

• · Oma’s Puffers – Micro pancakes (poffertjes)
• · Dutchman’s Stroopwafels – syrup waffles
• · Efi’s Dutch-indo kitchen – ‘bitterballen’, Kroketten
• · ZoomCaffee – Coffee
• · Mobowl – sateh, pickled herring
• – Kabob Trolley – Gyro, Kabob
• – Ofie’s Kitchen – Burgers
• – Ori Deli – Prepacked Dutch/Indonesian Products – PREORDER ONLY (details coming soon)

Donate!

The success of this free event depends on the generosity of our guests. Please consider making a donation at the entrance of the event. Thank you!

Orange

Our 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 the orange you have in your closet (dust off that Halloween and Giants gear!)

History

The royal celebrations were first held on 31 August 1885 in honour of the birth of Queen Wilhelmina, and the Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) tradition was born. After Wilhelmina’s daughter (Juliana) succeeded to the throne in 1949, the day was changed to 30 April in accordance with the new Queen’s birthday. When she became queen, the now Princess Beatrix chose to retain the day in honor of her mother but as of 2014, King’s Day is officially celebrated on 27 April (the king’s birthday).