Public holidays in the Netherlands 2021-2025
Almost half of the Dutch population belongs to Christianity, so it is not surprising that the Dutch calendar is also largely made up of Christian holidays.Typical Dutch holidays also belong to the calendar year, in which there is usually a lot of celebrating. In terms of numbers, there are very few holidays in the Netherlands, which are also laid down by law. And even on these days, depending on the region, the shops are sometimes even open.
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Non-movable holidays
Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.| holiday | Local name | date |
|---|---|---|
| New Years Day | Nieuwjaarsdag | Jan, 1st |
| King's Day | Koningsdag | Apr, 27th |
| Queen's Day | Koninginnedag | Apr, 30th |
| Remembrance of the dead | Nationale Dodenherdenking | May, 4th |
| Liberation Day | Bevrijdingsdag | May, 5th |
| Flemish Community Day | Feestdag van Vlaanderen | Jul, 11th |
| Groninger relief (Groningen only) | Gronings Ontzet | Oct, 2nd |
| St. Martin's Day (regional only) | Sint Maarten | Nov, 11th |
| Santa Claus Eve | Sinterklaasavond | Dec, 5th |
| Santa Claus | Sinterklaas | Dec, 6th |
| Christmas Eve | Kerstavond | Dec, 24th |
| Christmas Day | Eerste Kerstdag | Dec, 25th |
| Christmas Day 2 | Tweede Kerstdag | Dec, 26th |
| New Year's Eve | Oudejaarsdag | Dec, 31st |
Moving Holidays in the Netherlands
| holiday | Local name | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardi Gras | Vastenavond | Feb, 16th | Mar, 1st | Feb, 21st | Feb, 13th | Mar, 4th |
| Ash Wednesday | As woensdag | Feb, 17th | Mar, 2nd | Feb, 22nd | Feb, 14th | Mar, 5th |
| Good Friday | Goede Vrijdag | Apr, 2nd | Apr, 15th | Apr, 7th | Mar, 29th | Apr, 18th |
| Easter Sunday | Eerste Paasdag | Apr, 4th | Apr, 17th | Apr, 9th | Mar, 31st | Apr, 20th |
| Easter Monday | Tweede Paasdag | Apr, 5th | Apr, 18th | Apr, 10th | Apr, 1st | Apr, 21st |
| Mother's Day | Moederdag | May, 9th | May, 8th | May, 14th | May, 12th | May, 11th |
| Ascension of Christ | Hemelvaartsdag | May, 13th | May, 26th | May, 18th | May, 9th | May, 29th |
| Pentecost Sunday | Eerste Pinksterdag | May, 23rd | Jun, 5th | May, 28th | May, 19th | Jun, 8th |
| Pentecost Monday | Tweede Pinksterdag | May, 24th | Jun, 6th | May, 29th | May, 20th | Jun, 9th |
| Father's Day | Vaderdag | Jun, 20th | Jun, 19th | Jun, 18th | Jun, 16th | Jun, 15th |
| Prince's Day | Prinsjesdag | Sep, 21st | Sep, 20th | Sep, 19th | Sep, 17th | Sep, 16th |
Royal festivities
Probably the most important festival of the Dutch is the King's Day on 27 April. To ensure that it really remains a free holiday, the holiday is simply brought forward to 26 April if necessary, should it fall on a Sunday. Everyone in the country wears orange on that day. The evening before, there is a free pop concert for the population in The Hague. Since 2019 the royal family no longer lives in The Hague, but now in Amsterdam. Perhaps this festival will also move there in the coming years.The Queen and the Princes also have their own holiday. Neither of them is legally established and therefore no days off from work. On Prince's Day, the third Tuesday in September, the entire royal family with their golden carriage and richly decorated entourage drives to the Knights' Hall in The Hague. There the King reads out the speech from the throne, which is politically significant in that it contains the guidelines for the coming year.
Typically Dutch
Often unknown in other countries, there are several customs that make the Netherlands special. For example, the new year begins on 1 January, but with a jump in the deep end. New Year dives are very popular here.On 4 May, the day of national mourning, people "remember" - but they do not just mourn. Instead, concerts and festivals take place in several cities. And the first catch of herring is celebrated in Scheveningen in June as Flag Day ("Vlaggetjesdag") with a big street festival.