The traditional Queen’s Day celebrations can go ahead in Amsterdam on April 30, as well as the inauguration of king Willem-Alexander, the capital’s mayor Eberhard van der Laan said on Thursday.

All the usual activities should take place, and that includes the traditional market, the mayor told a parliamentary committee on Monday.

The market ‘is part of Amsterdam, including this year,’ Van der Laan said. ‘Perhaps it cannot take place in as many places as other years, but that is our starting point.’

Sealed off

Nevertheless, despite the desire to ensure the inuguration of the Netherlands’ first king since 1890 is as public as possible, some parts of the city may have to be sealed off, the mayor admitted.

‘It may be unavoidable in some places, but that is not the position we are starting from,’ the mayor said.

Hundreds of thousands of people traditionally flock to Amsterdam for the Queen’s Day festivities.