The Queen Mother's birthday is a very festive occasion in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam goes all out to celebrate staging a street party which starts the night before and keeps going well into the early hours of the next day. Traditionally people attending wear orange (the Royal family is the House of Orange), and ensure they have a beer in hand. The party also resembles a giant jumble sale, with street trade unregulated for the day allowing people to display all their unused and unwanted goods on the street in the hope of selling it to passers-by. It is a great day for bargain hunters and party animals alike, particularly if the sun shines. For more information contact the tourist office on (0)20 201 8800.

Venue: The centre of the action is at Vondelpark in the city centre

Date: 30 April annually (unless it falls on a Sunday, when it will be celebrated on 29th)