The Dutch have a variety of national, public, and other holidays to keep track of. Whether you’ve just moved to the lowlands, or have lived here all your life, knowing these key Dutch public holidays will save you the embarrassment of going to work when you don’t have to.
2024
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day / Nieuwjaarsdag | January 1 |
| Good Friday / Goede Vrijdag | March 29 |
| Easter Sunday / Eerste Paasdag | March 31 |
| Easter Monday / Tweede Paasdag | April 1 |
| Kings Day / Koningsdag | April 27 |
| National Remembrance Day / Dodenherdenking | May 4 (not a public holiday) |
| Liberation Day / Bevrijdingsdag | May 5 (public holiday every 5 years; next in 2020) |
| Ascension Day | May 9 |
| Mother’s Day | May 12 (not a public holiday) |
| Whit Sunday / Eerste Pinksterdag | May 19 |
| Whit Monday / Tweede Pinksterdag | June 20 |
| Father’s Day | June 16 (not a public holiday) |
| All Saint’s Day | November 1 (not a public holiday) |
| Sint Maarten’s Day | November 11 (not a public holiday) |
| St Nicholas’ Eve/Sinterklaas | December 5 (not a public holiday) |
| Christmas Day / Eerste Kerstdag | December 25 |
| St. Stephens Day | December 26 |
| New Year’s Eve / Oudejaarsavond | December 31 (not a public holiday) |
2025
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day / Nieuwjaarsdag | January 1 |
| Good Friday / Goede Vrijdag | April 18 |
| Easter Sunday / Eerste Paasdag | April 20 |
| Easter Monday / Tweede Paasdag | April 21 |
| Kings Day / Koningsdag | April 27 |
| National Remembrance Day / Dodenherdenking | May 4 (not a public holiday) |
| Liberation Day / Bevrijdingsdag | May 5 (public holiday every 5 years; next in 2025) |
| Mother’s Day / Bevrijdingsdag | May 11 (not a public holiday) |
| Ascension Day | May 29 |
| Whit Sunday / Eerste Pinksterdag | June 8 |
| Whit Monday / Tweede Pinksterdag | June 9 |
| Father’s Day | June 15 (not a public holiday) |
| All Saint’s Day | November 1 (not a public holiday) |
| Sint Maarten’s Day | November 11 (not a public holiday) |
| St Nicholas’ Eve/Sinterklaas | December 5 (not a public holiday) |
| St Nicholas’ Day | December 6 (not a public holiday) |
| Christmas Day / Eerste Kerstdag | December 25 |
| St. Stephens Day | December 26 |
| New Year’s Eve / Oudejaarsavond | December 31 (not a public holiday) |
Things to Know About the Dutch Holiday Season
Gourmetten
One thing the Dutch love during the holiday season is cooking miniature-sized meats on a tabletop frying pan. Supermarkets make it easy to become involved by supplying packets of pre-cut meat, ready to fry. It’s a great way to spend time with family and friends during the holidays.
Christmas Markets
Fill your belly with mulled wine and oliebollen, while wandering around market stalls lit up by sparkling fairly-lights. The Dutch have perfected Christmas markets, which are dotted around the country during the holiday season. They’re the perfect way to spend a night and are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Oliebollen
These doughy, fried balls of deliciousness can be found everywhere in the lead up to New Years’. Personally, I think they should have dedicated stalls year-round (my waistline disagrees). These lekker treats come in a variety of fillings, including raisins and apples. Sprinkle powdered sugar over them to really get your taste buds tingling.
Kings Day
On Kings Day (formally Queens Day) the entire Netherlands gets painted orange. One of the greatest celebrations on the calendar of Dutch public holidays, this national holiday is one massive street party. The canals become swamped with boats filled with partygoers, while every square becomes an open-air festival.
Whether you plan on grabbing a bargain at Europe’s largest flea market or soaking in the sounds of the Dutch DJs, King’s Day guarantees a good time.
Get Creative
One of the best things about Sinterklaas is the tradition of making a creative surprise. Usually, families will draw their gift-receiver at random. They then create an arts and crafts surprise that relates to that person (think paper-mache and glitter), before hiding their present inside. The time and effort that goes into making the surprise is a really lovely gesture, and more important than the gift itself.
Search ‘Sinterklaas Surprise’ on Pinterest for some extremely creative examples.
Nieuwjaarsduik
Do as the Dutch and brave the chilly waters of Scheveningen beach on New Years Day. Known as the New Year’s Dive, thousands of shivering Dutchies don orange Unox beanies and run into the ocean to celebrate the start of a new year.