This is the moment a party in Amsterdam took a turn for the worse when a boat of revelers slowly sank underwater as they celebrated King’s Day.
As the crowded ship sank under the weight, some of the orange-clad patriots leapt toward the banks of the Herengracht canal, but most were forced to take an unexpected dip before the laughing and watching crowd.
King’s Day is a Dutch national holiday that celebrates King Willem-Alexander on his birthday, April 27.
Shortly before 2:00 p.m., the festivities were in full swing and many citizens chose to go to the river to attend the big event.
The viral clip, which racked up more than 20 million views in the following two days, captures the moment when passengers on more seaworthy vessels watched their fellow Dutch resign themselves to a soggy celebration.
This is the moment a party in Amsterdam went south when a boat of revelers slowly sank underwater as they celebrated King’s Day at the weekend.
As onlookers shouted “no”, the future divers met their fate, although some shameless passengers jumped onto dry land and left their friends behind, before finally offering a raised arm.
When it became clear that all the sunken passengers were safe and clearing the channel, laughter broke out among the surrounding fleet, as well as those watching from stable ground.
The ship finally returned to the surface once everyone had evacuated.
The clip begins with an air of tension as it’s unclear if the boat will actually stay afloat.
Cruelly, however, when the ship turns onto the adjacent road and the passengers move to the near side, they unbalance the ship enough that it begins to fill with water, leaving them doomed to the not-so-deep blue.
As onlookers shouted “no”, the future divers met their fate, although some shameless passengers jumped onto dry land and left their friends behind, before finally offering them a raised arm.
When it becomes clear that all the sunken passengers are safe and clearing the channel, laughter erupts from the surrounding fleet, as well as those watching from stable ground.
Given that Amsterdam’s 165 canals total 75 kilometers of waterways, it’s no surprise that many choose to tour them for the biggest party of the year.
King’s Day, also known by natives as Koningsdag or Koninginnedag depending on whether the monarch is male or female, has been celebrated by the royal family of the Netherlands for almost 150 years.
First celebrated as Princess’s Day on August 31, 1885, for Princess Wilhelmina the holiday assumed its current name when she ascended the throne five years later.
The date was moved to April 30, when her daughter, Juliana, became queen in 1948, and remained on that date when Queen Beatrix took office while her birthday fell in the middle of winter.
King’s Day is a Dutch national holiday that celebrates King Willem-Alexander (center) on his birthday, April 27. He is pictured with (LR) Princess Amalia, Queen Máxima, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.
Many of Amsterdam’s citizens flock to its 75 kilometers of canals to celebrate the day.
National revelers also celebrate the occasion by dressing in their national colour, orange, while soaking up the atmosphere with a day of street music and dancing.
Beatrix abdicated in 2009, leaving Willem-Alexander as king and has since celebrated Koningsdag on her birthday, moving it forward just three days.
In addition to the prevalence of boat parties, the celebration has become known for its nationwide “free market” for used items.
National revelers also celebrate the occasion by dressing in their national colour, orange, while enjoying the atmosphere with a day of street music and dancing.
The King goes to a lucky city every year and in 2024 he went to Emmen, meaning this time he and his family missed the excitement of Amsterdam’s canals.
