How Do You Explain King’s Day to the Rest of the World?

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How Do You Explain King’s Day to the Rest of the World?

25/4/2025

Gosse Verschoor

King’s Day (Koningsdag) might just be the most Dutch holiday there is. On April 27, the streets are orange, music fills the air, and the whole country turns into one big flea market. For the Dutch, it all feels very natural. But how do you explain this unique celebration to someone from abroad? And more importantly: how do you translate King’s Day in a way that does justice to both its meaning and its atmosphere?

In this blog, we dive into the world of cultural translation and explore why King’s Day can be a challenge for translators.

What Exactly Is King’s Day?

For an international audience, you can translate Koningsdag as King’s Day: the national holiday celebrating the Dutch king’s birthday. But that’s just the beginning. The spirit of the celebration — the orange decorations and clothing, the street markets (tax free!), the festive parades and folk songs — can’t be captured in just a few words.

That’s where the real challenge lies for translators: how do you convey not just the words, but their cultural significance as well?

Cultural Translation: Context Is Key

When translating culture-specific terms such as Koningsdag, you quickly run into uniquely Dutch words that are hard to translate. Consider:

Vrijmarkt: A literal translation like free market can be confusing, as it may suggest an economic system. A better option would be something like: community flea market without permits.
Oranjegekte: This term refers to the exuberant celebration and national pride, but there’s no direct equivalent in English. A creative option: the Dutch craze for all things orange on King’s Day.
Oranje boven: A historical rallying cry that’s tough to translate without additional explanation. A translator might choose to describe its meaning or keep the Dutch original with a note.
Koekhappen: This King’s Day game is so distinctly Dutch that it lacks a direct English translation. In English, you might say something like: “a traditional Dutch children’s game where participants try to bite a hanging piece of spiced cake without using their hands.” Often, you leave the term in Dutch and explain it — that way, the cultural flavour is preserved.

These kinds of words are examples of what translators often call untranslatables: terms so deeply embedded in Dutch culture that they can only be fully understood with proper context.

Why Good Translation Matters

For companies and organizations offering information about King’s Day in multiple languages — such as tourism boards, event planners, or international schools — a good translation is essential. Not just to convey the message, but to preserve the right tone and style.

That takes more than a literal translation. It requires localization: adapting content to the culture, expectations, and knowledge of the target audience. What feels obvious to a Dutch reader often needs to be explained or repackaged for someone from another country.

Tips for Translating King’s Day Content

1. Know your audience

Are you addressing tourists, expats, business contacts, or students? The tone, style, and number of explanatory notes will vary for each group.

2. Use cultural explanations where needed

Sometimes it’s better to keep a term in Dutch and briefly explain what it means.

3. Be creative with fixed expressions

Don’t translate slogans and phrases literally — find a way to capture their essence in the target language.

4. Work with native speakers

This ensures your translation isn’t just accurate but also sounds natural.

Language as a Bridge Between Cultures

A holiday like King’s Day is a perfect example of how language and culture are intertwined. For translators, it’s an opportunity to show what makes their craft so valuable: they build bridges between worlds, make culture accessible, and ensure that international audiences can share in national celebrations.

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