General

The Municipality of Doetinchem has officially invited the King and his family to come celebrate King’s Day in Doetinchem on April 26, 2025. We are honored, super proud and happy that the King has accepted our invitation.

The King has not previously celebrated King’s Day in the province of Gelderland. Doetinchem is the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of Gelderland; the Achterhoek. Over 20% of all Gelderlanders live in our region!

We see this as a great opportunity to introduce the King, his family, and the rest of the Netherlands to the people of and life in Doetinchem and the Achterhoek. We will show that we are a city and a region of large contrasts. We have everything! Traditions and modern innovations. Peace and space, but also atmosphere and coziness. Old crafts en world leading, cutting edge companies. And so much more…

The program

Check the page about the program to see what’s on April 25, 26 and 27 in Doetinchem. On the page about the Royal walk you will find all information about the route the Royal family will walk through the center of Doetinchem on Saturday, April 26.

The organization

The Municipality of Doetinchem is organizing Kings Day 2025 in cooperation with various parties. The organization operates from the Oranjehuis at Boliestraat 29 in Doetinchem. Feel free to drop in! We are there at least on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 10.00 and 16.00.

Region and province

The Province of Gelderland has wholeheartedly supported the invitation to the King from the municipality of Doetinchem. It is customary for the King to celebrate King’s Day in a city with a regional function. Doetinchem has this function within the Achterhoek, which is one of the reasons why King’s Day 2025 will be celebrated in Doetinchem. The schedule will reflect the people and life in Doetinchem and the Achterhoek (8 municipalities).

Betrokkenheid Koninklijk Huis

For information about the involvement of the Royal House, we refer you to the website of the Royal house.

Costs

You can read more about the finances of King’s Day 2025 on the budget page.

Safety

We pay great attention to public order and safety. Both visible and invisible measures are taken to make the event not only festive but also safe.

As with any major event, there is a focus on safety during King’s Day. Kings Day should be a celebration for all residents and visitors, that is paramount. And everyone should be able to feel safe. In the center we therefore temporarily hang extra cameras. These cameras are sometimes close to homes, but they never film in homes.

We keep downtown safe by closing many roads in and around downtown. Check out the traffic measures on the traffic measures page.

The Oude IJssel will be closed to freight traffic and pleasure craft from Thursday, April 24, 4 p.m. to Saturday, April 26, 4 p.m. (waterway closure). This applies only in Doetinchem from the Europa Bridge to the Railway Bridge. So unfortunately you cannot watch Kings Day in a boat from the Oude IJssel.

During the event Koningsdag in Doetinchem, together we ensure that everyone has a festive and safe day. At the temporarily designated event site:


  • Pictures and videos will be taken. So keep smiling! When you enter this area, you automatically give the organization permission to use these festive images.
  • We understand you want to enjoy a drink. You can get that from our welcoming hospitality staff. Alcoholic beverages and glassware are not allowed with you. Neither are drugs, for that matter. NIX18.
  • Must leave the following attributes at home: drones (improvised or potential) percussion, impact and other weapons, flares, fireworks or other objects suspected of being aimed at disturbing public order or obstructing police action, face coverings with the intention of making recognition difficult or frustrating. Signs, images and/or uttering texts that are offensive, inflammatory or discriminatory are also not permitted.
  • Therefore, can your bag be checked. You may also be searched.
  • May not distribute flyers or sell stuff without our permission.
  • Will everyone stay outside the fences of the route. Want to cross? Then use the designated crossing areas after receiving permission from police and security personnel.
  • Don’t bring your bike: you can park it in the designated bike racks.
  • Finally, listen carefully to the instructions of police and security. If you break one or more rules, you will be removed from the event site and may be denied access.