The Netherlands public holidays include two Dutch national days specific to the country. Most holidays occur in late Spring. Read on for more about those plus other notable special observance days in Holland…
NETHERLANDS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Here are the 11 official public holidays in the Netherlands and the date they fall in 2024…
NEW YEAR’S DAY
01 January 2025
- New Year’s Day (Nieuwjaarsdag) is a public holiday in the Netherlands. Banks, government offices and retail stores are closed. Public transport runs on a holiday schedule.
GOOD FRIDAY
29 March 2024
- Good Friday (Goed Vrijdag) is an official public holiday in the Netherlands but most businesses, government offices and retail stores are open. Schools are generally closed. Public transport runs on a regular schedule.
EASTER SUNDAY & MONDAY
31 March/01 April 2024
- Easter Sunday and Monday (Paasdag 1e/2e) are both public holidays in the Netherlands. Banks, public offices and private companies are closed on Easter Monday. Public transport runs on a holiday schedule both days.
KING’S DAY
27 April 2024
- King’s Day (Koningsdag) is the first Dutchnational holiday of the year in the Netherlands. It is a celebration of the king’s birthday. If the 27th April falls on a Sunday, King’s Day is observed on the 26th April. Public transport runs on holiday schedule.
LIBERATION DAY
05 May 2024
- Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) is the second Dutch national holiday in the Netherlands. It commemorates the day in 1945 when the country was liberated from the German occupation at the end of World War II. Schools, government offices and private companies are all closed. Public transport runs on a holiday schedule.
ASCENSION DAY
09 May 2024
- Ascension Day (Hemelsvaart) is a public holiday in the Netherlands. Schools, government offices and private companies are closed. Public transport runs on a holiday schedule.
PENTECOST SUNDAY & MONDAY
19/20 May 2024
- Pentecost Sunday and Monday (Pinksterdag 1e/2e) are public holidays in the Netherlands. Schools, government offices and private companies are closed on the Monday. Public transport runs on an abbreviated holiday schedule both days.
CHRISTMAS & BOXING DAY
25/26 December 2024
- Christmas and the day after (Kerstdag 1e/2e) are public holidays in the Netherlands. Government offices, banks and private companies are closed both days. Public transportation runs on a holiday schedule both days.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAYS IN NETHERLANDS
Other days of note observed at the city, regional or national level include…
CARNAVAL
11-13 February 2024
- The international pre-Lent celebration of Carnival is a major event in the Southern provinces of the Netherlands (Limburg, North Brabant) with parades and outdoor parties.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
04 May 2024
- Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) commemorates Dutch nationals which have died in combat or on peace missions since World War II. It is not an official public holiday but some government offices may be closed.
- Two minutes of silence observed throughout the country at 20:00, preceded by the tolling of church bells. Public transport runs on a normal schedule but does stop for the two minute interval.
VETERAN’S DAY
29 June 2024
- Veteran’s Day (Veteranendag) in the Netherlands commemorates past and current members of the Dutch armed services. It takes place on the last Saturday of June. The Hague hosts the largest Veteran’s Day celebration in the country which includes a parade, military awards, concerts and a military plane flyover. Public transport runs on a normal schedule.
BUDGET DAY
17 September 2024
- Budget Day (Prinsjesdag) takes place on the third Tuesday in September. On this day, a grand procession escorts the Dutch King and Queen from Noordeinde Palace to the Knight’s Hall at the Binnenhof, where the King reads the ‘Speech from the Throne.’ Many schools in The Hague are closed on this day.
LIBERATION OF LEIDEN
03 October 2024
- The Relief (or Liberation) of Leiden (Leidse Ontzet) commemorates 3rd October 1572 when the city of Leiden was liberated from a year-long siege by the Spanish army during the Eighty Years War. Thousands died from starvation after the city ran out of food. Schools and many businesses in Leiden are closed on this day.
SINTERKLAAS
05 December 2024
- This is the Dutch version of St Nikolaas and is widely celebrated by families with young children on the eve of St Nicholas’ feast day. It is not a public holiday. Public transport runs on a normal schedule.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
31 December 2024
- New Year’s Eve (Oudejaarsdag) is not a public holiday in the Netherlands but some government offices and private businesses may have shortened hours.
- Public transportation (trains, buses, trams) throughout the Netherlands stops at 20:00. (Night) train service resumes at 01:00, all others begin the following morning.
Read more about Netherlands Public Holidays
Related information…
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN THE NETHERLANDS
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