Dutch celebrate first King's Day holiday without COVID curbs since 2019

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pose with their daughters, Princess Ariane, Princess Alexia and Princess Catharina-Amalia, during King's Day (Koningsdag), in Maastricht, Netherlands, April 27, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

MAASTRICHT (Reuters) - The city streets around the Netherlands streamed with festival-goers wearing orange on Wednesday in celebration of the national holiday King's Day in traditional fashion -- with music and open-air markets -- for the first time since 2019, without COVID-19 restrictions.

King Willem-Alexander, who turns 55 on Wednesday and whom the holiday celebrates, was visiting the southern city of Maastricht with his family, keeping a promise that had been postponed for two years due to the pandemic.