A Dutch colorway for a Dutch holiday on a sneaker claimed by the Dutch – the circle is complete. On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Nike is dropping the Air Max 1 'King’s Day', a release made especially for us Dutchies.
To celebrate this launch, Sneakerjagers spoke with Clara Bonaccorsi, the mastermind behind the release.
A Sneaker for the Netherlands
We spoke with Clara Bonaccorsi at Nike’s European headquarters in Hilversum just a few days before the release of the Nike Air Max 1 'King’s Day'. Clara has been with Nike for over 20 years and is part of the design team responsible for this drop. Although Clara isn’t Dutch herself, she’s very familiar with the national holiday.
"We thought it was the perfect moment to celebrate such a beloved model on a truly special day in the Netherlands," says Clara. While Nike has often celebrated cultural moments and holidays, this is the first time King’s Day is getting its own release. And what better way to celebrate the Dutch national holiday than with the Air Max 1?
If there’s one sneaker that has played a major role in Dutch sneaker culture, it’s definitely that silhouette. Clara references the Dutch gabber scene, which was huge in the ’90s. "Back then, you had the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, and BW, but the Air Max 1 is the one that's stood the test of time," she explains.
The Design
Capturing the essence of King’s Day was crucial for Clara and her team. Holding the sneaker in her hand, she explains how the design came to life: "King's Day is all about love, fun, music, drinks, and being together. No matter where you go, from bustling streets to small villages, there's a recognizable color palette in the architecture."
She refers to the orange and brown tones of the sneaker. Orange, of course, for the crowd’s outfits, and the brown tones hint at traditional Dutch buildings. The sneaker also had to be practical for all the festivities that go hand in hand with King’s Day.
"If you’ve ever been to King's Day, you know bathrooms are scarce and often come at a price," Clara says with a laugh, pointing to a hidden pocket on the tongue of the sneaker. "Nowadays, hardly anyone carries cash, so we thought adding this stash pocket for some emergency coins would be both practical and fun."
Another standout detail is the embossed pattern on the sneaker’s heel that symbolizes King’s Day music. "Music is such a huge part of the festivities. Whether you're enjoying traditional tunes, techno beats, or just someone blasting a boom box, it's everywhere," says Clara.
At last, the date of King’s Day, '27-04', is printed on the lace tips (even though the holiday falls one day earlier this year).
The Release
Alongside a special custom box, the release also includes a tote bag, also designed with King’s Day in mind. "Imagine you're at a flea market, you stumble across vintage Patta sneakers, and need something to carry them home in," says Clara. "We thought of everything."
The sneaker perfectly captures the essence of the holiday with a bold, premium design – exactly how Clara envisioned it: "King’s Day is a party for everyone. Put on these sneakers, head out, enjoy the day, and make unforgettable memories. These Air Max 1’s are truly one-of-a-kind, so wear them proudly!"
The Nike Air Max 1 'King’s Day' drops on April 22, 2025, at Nike and selected retailers. Keep an eye on Sneakerjagers’ Instagram account (@sneakerjagers) for more exclusive content around the release.
