Koninginnedag, or Queensday, is one of the largest annual celebrations in the Netherlands. It is also observed in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Before 1949, the holiday was celebrated on the birthday of then-Queen Wilhelmina. Queen Juliana took the throne in 1948 and the holiday has been celebrated on her birthday, April 30, ever since. The current queen, Beatrix, has her birthday on January 31, but decided to continue the tradition of celebrating Queensday on April 30, as it was the date of her inauguration.

Queensday itself is preceded by Koninginnenacht (Queensnight), April 29, when festivities start around the country with parties, street markets and the requisite wearing of orange (the Dutch royal family is the House of Orange).

As part of the celebrations, the queen and her family visit two different cities every year. In 2008, they will be visiting the towns of Franeker and Makkum, both in the northern province of Friesland.