27 April

If you didn't know that orange was the national colour of the Netherlands, it wouldn't take you long to realise this on the 27th April (or the 26th April if the 27th falls on a Sunday) as the whole country turns orange to celebrate King's Day (Koningsdag). A tradition and national holiday since 1890.

Koningsdag image by Carmelrmd

The normally straight-laced Dutch (usually) really let their hair down and make the most of the festivities. Known as oranjegekte, or orange madness after the national colour, the Dutch dress up in the most unlikely and extravagant orange outfits often topped off with an orange wig or over-sized orange sunglasses. Then it's all aboard the canal boats to live the real King's Day experience with friends and family. It's the largest and most colourful festival in the Netherlands, particularly in Amsterdam where the whole city stops and the party starts.

Koningsdag is also renowned for vrijmarkt. Literally translating as 'free market', this is best likened to a national boot fair where the Dutch sell unwanted possessions.

Inspired by the King's Day celebrations we created Koningsdag, a cocktail that's appropriately bright orange in colour and uses Dutch ingredients including Ketel One vodka.

One of our Dutch bartender friends and finalist of Diageo's World Class competition in 2012, Fjalar Goud, also crafted a cocktail using Ketel One vodka to honour the day. Called The King Of Orange he crowned the cocktail, literally, with a zest of orange.

Or perhaps a King's Soda, simply with Ketel One Oranje + Soda water + orange wedge in a tall ice-filled glass.