“Every year, the King's Games show once again how enjoyable having a healthy breakfast, playing sports and exercising can be,” says Carole Thate of the King's Games. “We are proud that, after 14 years, the event is still of great value to primary schools and gets around 1.3 million children moving every year. The efforts of teachers, parents, municipalities and sports providers are indispensable in this. Thanks to their commitment, we can reach as many children as possible.”
The theme ‘Everyone Enjoys’ shows what the King's Games are really about: having fun together, being active and having a healthy breakfast. Fun arises when everyone feels welcome to take part, in their own way. Whether you play sports, help organise things or cheer from the sidelines. Everyone contributes. It is precisely this shared enjoyment that encourages children to keep exercising and having breakfast.
Festive opening in Zeewolde
As tradition dictates, the day began with the King's Breakfast, which was made possible again this year by Jumbo Supermarkets. In Zeewolde, the King was joined by Minister Mirjam Sterk for Long-Term Care, Youth and Sport, State Secretary Judith Tielen for Education and Emancipation, and top athletes Joep Wennemars and Angel Daleman, who started the day healthily together with the children.
After breakfast came the official opening, during which the King, together with children from OBS Panta Rhei and ICB Kaleidoscoop, gave the starting signal for the King's Games 2026 with a cheer, at the prompting of Zappsport presenter Britt Dekker. This was followed by a performance of singing and dancing by Kinderen voor Kinderen with the King's Games song ‘Ola ole olee’. The sporting programme then got underway, and the King enthusiastically took part in several activities.
During the visit, the King, the minister and the state secretary spoke with children, teachers and partners about the importance of daily physical activity and healthy eating. The King's Commissioner of Flevoland, Arjen Gerritsen, and Mayor Bram Harmsma were also present and experienced the successful morning in Zeewolde at close hand.
King's Games gets children moving
On Friday, 17 April, no fewer than 700 children attended the King's Games in Zeewolde. It was a wonderful day full of fun. At the same time, virtually all schools throughout the Kingdom and at Dutch schools abroad took part. This makes the King's Games an established tradition and one of the largest and most unifying sporting events for children.
With the help of the King's Games Sports and Celebration Packages, which are shipped by partner PostNL, the King's Breakfast and various online programmes and inspirational resources, children are encouraged in an accessible way to be active and healthy. Schools are also encouraged to work with local sports providers, so that sustainable connections continue to exist after the King's Games.
About the King's Games
The first King's Games took place in 2013, on the occasion of the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander. The aim was, and still is, to show children and their parents how enjoyable and important having a healthy breakfast and being physically active are. Schools organise the sporting day in their own way.
The King's Games can be made possible every year through cooperation with schools, social organisations, municipalities, sports providers and the business community. The King's Games receive financial and facilitating support from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Jumbo Supermarkets, PostNL Bijzondere Momenten Fonds, Kinderen voor Kinderen, Zappsport, Interimage, Pantar, Gezonde School, JOGG and Kenniscentrum Sport en Bewegen.
National coordination is in the hands of the Krajicek Foundation and the Johan Cruyff Foundation.
The date for the 15th edition of the King's Games has also been announced: Friday, 23 April 2027.