When I first moved to the Netherlands, I didn\u2019t give much thought to local holidays. I figured they\u2019d be similar enough to what I knew back in the U.S.\u2014maybe a few different names or dates, but nothing major.<\/p>\n
I was wrong.<\/p>\n
From bonfires that tower over the beach to fireworks that feel like a war zone, Dutch holidays don\u2019t just mark time on a calendar\u2014they take over the streets<\/i>. And if you\u2019re living here, it helps to know what\u2019s coming. Stores close, transportation shifts, and the whole country changes pace.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a rundown of the major Dutch holidays\u2014what they mean, when they happen, and what to expect if you\u2019re an expat in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
New Year\u2019s Eve & New Year\u2019s Day (Oud en Nieuw + Nieuwjaarsdag)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
December 31 & January 1<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve only ever experienced NYE in the States\u2014crowded bars, countdowns on TV, maybe a couple fireworks\u2014you\u2019re not ready for the war zone<\/i> that is Oud en Nieuw.<\/p>\n
Fireworks are technically banned for private use in many places, but enforcement is\u2026 let\u2019s say relaxed. People stockpile them illegally for weeks. Kids, adults, your 80-year-old neighbor\u2014everyone<\/i> participates. It\u2019s loud, chaotic, and honestly kind of impressive in its lawless unity.<\/p>\n
Scheveningen\u2019s Bonfire Battle:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
In previous years, Scheveningen and Duindorp built giant<\/i> bonfire towers, stacking pallets as high as apartment buildings in a kind of coastal pride competition. The fires have occasionally gotten out of control (one year, embers rained down on the beach, I\u2019m told), and restrictions have been tighter lately\u2014but the tradition still holds cultural weight.<\/p>\n
January 1:<\/b><\/span> Most stores, restaurants, and services are completely closed. Plan ahead. The whole country is basically hungover and silent. Luckily my gym is still open, although it\u2019s a later start than usual.<\/p>\n King\u2019s Day (Koningsdag)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n April 27<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n This is the big one<\/i>. Think of it like the Fourth of July, Mardi Gras, and a neighborhood garage sale all rolled into one.<\/p>\n Orange Everything:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Everyone wears orange\u2014because the royal family\u2019s name is \u201cHouse of Orange.\u201d You\u2019ll see orange hats, wigs, sunglasses, full-body suits, boas, and face paint. If you\u2019re not wearing orange, you\u2019ll feel like an outsider.<\/p>\n Free Markets (Vrijmarkt):<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n It\u2019s the one day a year when anyone can sell anything on the street without a permit. Families and kids lay out blankets and tables with old clothes, books, random kitchen gadgets\u2014it\u2019s half flea market, half treasure hunt.<\/p>\n Parties:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Big cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam become massive street festivals with live music, DJs, and boat parties. Public transport is jammed, and stores are mostly closed or running limited hours.<\/p>\n Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n May 5<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n It marks the day the Netherlands was liberated from Nazi occupation in 1945. But here\u2019s the odd part from an American perspective: it\u2019s only a mandatory day off every five years<\/b><\/span>. So in most years, you\u2019ll still see festivals and flags, but it\u2019s not technically a public holiday for everyone.<\/p>\n Freedom Festivals:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Most major cities host live music and public events, especially in milestone years. The vibe is one of pride and gratitude, especially coming the day after Remembrance Day<\/b><\/span> (May 4), which is a much more somber affair.<\/p>\n Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n March\u2013June (Dates Vary Annually)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n These holidays are religious in origin but still culturally significant, even in a mostly secular Dutch society. What makes them tricky is that some are public holidays and some aren\u2019t\u2014and observance can vary depending on region and employer.<\/p>\n Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Not a national public holiday\u2014but some schools and offices give the day off, especially in government or education sectors. For most people, it\u2019s a normal Friday. But don\u2019t be surprised if schedules feel lighter.<\/p>\n Easter Sunday & Monday (Eerste Paasdag & Tweede Paasdag)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Two full days of rest, and both are<\/i> official public holidays. Most stores and services are closed on Easter Sunday, while some limited shops open on Monday.<\/p>\n Dutch Easter is low-key and family-oriented. Think brunch with eggs, spring-themed sweets, and paasbrood<\/b><\/span> (a sweet bread with dried fruit and almond paste). There\u2019s no Easter Bunny mania or pastel overload, just a calm weekend with chocolate eggs in foil wrappers and cozy meals.<\/p>\n Ascension Day (Hemelvaart)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Always falls 40 days after Easter<\/b><\/span>, which lands it on a Thursday<\/b><\/span>\u2014and this is<\/i> a public holiday.<\/p>\n Many people take \u201cHemelvaart weekend\u201d<\/b><\/span> and also take the Friday off, creating a four-day break known as a \u201cbrugdag\u201d<\/b><\/span> (bridge day). If you\u2019re trying to travel, expect crowds and full trains. Shops and restaurants may be closed or running holiday hours.<\/p>\n Despite its religious roots, it\u2019s mostly a springtime long weekend now.<\/p>\n Pentecost (Pinksteren)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Falls 50 days after Easter<\/b><\/span> and spans two days:<\/p>\n \u2022Eerste Pinksterdag<\/b><\/span> (First Pentecost) \u2013 Sunday<\/p>\n \u2022Tweede Pinksterdag<\/b><\/span> (Second Pentecost) \u2013 Monday<\/p>\n These are<\/i> national holidays, with Monday being the most noticeable. It\u2019s another time for family, food, or a short getaway. Some cultural events and markets pop up, and you\u2019ll find fewer people in the cities as they escape to the coast or countryside.<\/p>\n Sinterklaas<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n December 5 (with festivities starting mid-November)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Not technically a public holiday, but culturally<\/i>, this one\u2019s massive. Sinterklaas (think Santa) arrives by steamboat from Spain (yes, seriously), parading through towns with his helpers and handing out candy.<\/p>\n Kids put out shoes in exchange for treats, adults do elaborate gift exchanges with surprise poems<\/b><\/span>, and bakeries go all in with pepernoten<\/b><\/span>, chocolate letters<\/b><\/span>, and speculaas<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n To outsiders, it can look like an early Christmas knockoff. To the Dutch, it\u2019s the<\/i> main event for children.<\/p>\n Christmas (Kerstmis)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n December 25 & 26<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Yes, the Dutch get two full days of Christmas<\/b><\/span>\u2014Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag.<\/p>\n Day one is usually for close family.<\/p>\n Day two is for extended relatives, relaxing, or sometimes outlet shopping.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t expect big public displays or hyper-commercialized d\u00e9cor. Dutch Christmas is quiet, candlelit, and focused on home. Think gourmetten<\/b><\/span> (tabletop grilling), cozy living rooms, and slow meals that stretch into the evening.<\/p>\n Imported & Influenced Holidays<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n While the Dutch have their own strong calendar of traditions, a handful of American and international holidays have quietly crept into the culture\u2014especially among younger people and in bigger cities.<\/p>\n Halloween<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Not traditionally Dutch, but it\u2019s gaining traction\u2014mostly with children and in expat-heavy neighborhoods. Some shops and schools do small celebrations, and a few families go trick-or-treating, but it\u2019s still low-key and scattered. You won\u2019t find haunted houses or horror movie marathons on national TV.<\/p>\n Valentine\u2019s Day<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Definitely commercialized here, but very<\/i> toned down compared to the U.S. You\u2019ll see some heart-shaped candies and flower displays at Albert Heijn, and maybe a special dinner out, but no pressure. It\u2019s more about a romantic gesture than a grand event.<\/p>\n Thanksgiving<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Only really celebrated by Americans living here\u2014but many specialty shops (like Albert Heijn XL or expat grocers) will stock turkeys and cranberry sauce in late November. Some restaurants even offer themed menus. If you\u2019re feeling nostalgic, you can<\/i> build a Thanksgiving here\u2014but it takes effort.<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Resolutions<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The concept exists, but the Dutch don\u2019t take it nearly as seriously. Gym memberships spike like everywhere else, but there\u2019s less pressure to completely reinvent yourself on January 1.<\/p>\n Other Notables<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) \u2013 May 4<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n At 8 PM, the entire country goes still for two minutes of silence<\/b><\/span> to honor those who died in WWII and other conflicts. It\u2019s moving, powerful, and deeply respected.<\/p>\n Carnival \u2013 February (Southern Netherlands only)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n In provinces like Limburg and North Brabant, Carnival is an explosion of costumes, drinking, and pure chaos before Lent begins. If you\u2019ve never seen a Dutch businessman in full glitter drag on a Tuesday afternoon\u2026 just wait.<\/p>\n What Closes (and What Doesn\u2019t)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Most major holidays mean total shutdowns<\/b><\/span>\u2014especially for grocery stores, banks, and government offices. Pharmacies and convenience shops (like Albert Heijn To Go) might stay open with limited hours.<\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/b><\/span> Get the app for your local grocery chain. Most of them list holiday opening times in advance.<\/p>\n Public transport usually runs on a holiday or Sunday schedule<\/b><\/span>. Plan for fewer trams and buses and earlier final departures.<\/p>\n Final Thought<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Dutch holidays are slower, subtler, and sometimes completely unhinged (see: fireworks). But they\u2019re woven into the rhythm of life here in a way that makes them feel earned. Once you\u2019ve experienced a few, they stop being confusing\u2014and start becoming yours, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When I first moved to the Netherlands, I didn\u2019t give much thought to local holidays. 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