Across the Netherlands, people dressed in orange, from tuxedos to feather boas, and Amsterdam's canals filled with boats carrying merrymakers to celebrate their king's birthday.
A dog named Lucy showed off her orange fur in an Amsterdam park.
The official royal walk of King Willem-Alexander and members of his family in the eastern city of Doetinchem began an hour later than planned to avoid clashing with the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican.
In a video message, Willem-Alexander mentioned that the Dutch celebration day “has two faces” because of the Pope's funeral and expressed his respect for Francis.
“He became a source of inspiration for many Catholics and non-Catholics,” the king said.
The King's 58th birthday falls on Sunday, but King's Day was celebrated a day earlier.
The celebrations kicked off on Friday evening with street markets in central Utrecht and parties in other cities.
By midday, some of the Dutch capital's canals were filled with boats.
In the days leading up to Saturday's celebrations, Amsterdam authorities have urged people to avoid the city's busiest areas amid concerns about overcrowding, which has become a feature of the festival in recent years.
In Amsterdam's Vondelpark, children laid out blankets and sold unwanted toys, clothes and books at one of the many “free markets” that pop up on sidewalks and in parks.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
