
Public holidays in the Netherlands
Almost half of the Dutch population is Christian, so it is not surprising that the Dutch calendar is also largely made up of Christian holidays. Typical Dutch holidays are also on the calendar, on which there is usually a lot of celebrating. In terms of numbers, there are very few holidays in the Netherlands that are enshrined in law. And even on these days, depending on the region, the shops are sometimes still open.
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Non-floating holidays
Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.Date | Holiday | Local name |
---|---|---|
Jan. 1st | New Years Day | Nieuwjaarsdag |
April 27th | King's Day | Koningsdag |
April 30th | Queen's Day | Koninginnedag |
May 4th | Remembrance of the dead | Nationale Dodenherdenking |
May 5th | Liberation Day | Bevrijdingsdag |
July 11th | Flemish Community Day | Feestdag van Vlaanderen |
Oct. 2nd | Groninger relief (Groningen only) | Gronings Ontzet |
Nov. 11th | St. Martin's Day (regional only) | Sint Maarten |
Dec. 5th | Santa Claus Eve | Sinterklaasavond |
Dec. 6th | Santa Claus | Sinterklaas |
Dec. 24th | Christmas Eve | Kerstavond |
Dec. 25th | Christmas Day | Eerste Kerstdag |
Dec. 26th | Christmas Day 2 | Tweede Kerstdag |
Dec. 31st | New Year's Eve | Oudejaarsdag |
Moving Holidays in the Netherlands
Holiday | Local name | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mardi Gras | Vastenavond | Feb. 21st | Feb. 13th | March 4th | Feb. 17th | Feb. 9th |
Ash Wednesday | As woensdag | Feb. 22nd | Feb. 14th | March 5th | Feb. 18th | Feb. 10th |
Good Friday | Goede Vrijdag | April 7th | March 29th | April 18th | April 3rd | March 26th |
Easter Sunday | Eerste Paasdag | April 9th | March 31st | April 20th | April 5th | March 28th |
Easter Monday | Tweede Paasdag | April 10th | April 1st | April 21st | April 6th | March 29th |
Mother's Day | Moederdag | May 14th | May 12th | May 11th | May 10th | May 9th |
Ascension of Christ | Hemelvaartsdag | May 18th | May 9th | May 29th | May 14th | May 6th |
Pentecost Sunday | Eerste Pinksterdag | May 28th | May 19th | June 8th | May 24th | May 16th |
Pentecost Monday | Tweede Pinksterdag | May 29th | May 20th | June 9th | May 25th | May 17th |
Father's Day | Vaderdag | June 18th | June 16th | June 15th | June 21st | June 20th |
Prince's Day | Prinsjesdag | Sept. 19th | Sept. 17th | Sept. 16th | Sept. 15th | Sept. 21st |
Royal festivities

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 drives to the Knights' Hall in The Hague with their golden carriage and richly decorated entourage. 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
Less known in other countries, there are several customs that make the Netherlands special. For example, the new year begins on January 1, but with a jump in the deep end. New Year’s dives are very popular here.On May 4, 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.