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Amsterdam celebrated its 750th birthday on Monday with a 75-meter-long cake placed on Dam Square, the city's central plaza. Mayor Femke Halsema cut the first piece at 7:50 a.m. as rain began to fall; a tent kept participants dry.
The cake, decorated in Amsterdam's signature red and white colors, featured the city's coat of arms -- three white X symbols. Hundreds of residents braved the rain to attend the Dam Square event. The cake was cut into 7,500 pieces and distributed to all the city's districts.
"Waking up at 7 a.m. to get free cake under the rain is the most Dutch thing ever," posted a resident on the platform "X," their video showing the mayor and residents enjoying the lengthy cake. "Dit is toch geweldig!" replied a commentator ("That is awesome!").
The October 27 bash, which included an evening concert at the Rijksmuseum attended by members of the Dutch royal family, marked the culmination of a year-long celebration.
The Op de Ring (On the Ring) festival, held in June on the A10 motorway that encircles the city, proved to be the most popular event. Three zones hosted 25 events along the nine-mile route, which, as evening fell, turned into a pulsing rave.
Amsterdam invested €27 million in the celebrations, which were tailored for residents rather than tourists. Like many European cities, the city faces over tourism and struggles to balance economic benefits against residents' quality of life. Amsterdam had 22.9 million overnight stays by tourists in 2024, up 3% from the previous year.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Crown Princess Amalia attended the evening concert, headlined by Dutch artists performing on the Museum Square (Museumplein). Kris Kross Amsterdam, Yves Berendse, Wibi Soerjadi, Karsu and Maan performed at the event, broadcast live on NPO1. Hosts were actors Daan Schuurmans and Holly Mae Brood.
King Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne in 2013 after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated. Queen Máxima was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and worked in finance before her marriage to her husband in 2002.
"A hall full of dignitaries, celebrities, and ordinary Amsterdammers loudly singing along to Shaffy and Hazes (Dutch singers) -- the capital couldn't have wished for a better finale to the 750th anniversary year," reported Het Parool, Amsterdam's daily newspaper. "The national celebration of the capital's birthday turned out to be a spectacular show."
Het Parool noted that attendees gave the royal family a standing ovation upon their arrival. Images from the city's standout sites were projected at the concert venue: the Olympic Stadium, the A'DAM Tower, and the Johan Cruijff Arena, home to football club Ajax.
The night concluded with a 10 p.m. bonfire set ablaze in front of the Stedelijk Museum. The fire "represents the Amsterdam virtues: heroism, determination, and compassion," according to Het Parool.
The main birthday event was preceded by a 75-hour countdown celebration that launched on Friday with Verhalenfestival, a storytelling festival held in partnership with the Public Library of Amsterdam. Stories collected during the year were shared, with an emphasis on hidden and lesser-known narratives. One example: the city's forgotten Hindustani community, detailed in a documentary "Vals Paradijs" (False Paradise), by Feroz Amirkhan.
Also starting Friday, locals participated in a citywide feast. Called "All of Amsterdam Eats!," meals were shared at communal tables at 75 locations across the city.