Holidays and traditions in the Netherlands

Public holidays in the Netherlands: New Year (1 January), Good Friday (not a general public holiday but many are given leave), Easter and Easter Monday, King's Day (27 April), Liberation Day (5 May) which is an official holiday every five years and a holiday for many in other years by agreement, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday and Whit Monday, and Christmas (25 and 26 December).

• Sinterklaas (5 December) is not a public holiday.
• Most shops and banks close on holidays or work limited hours, so check the times before visiting.
• School holidays are announced regionally (Zuid, Midden and Noord) and vary from year to year, so check the school calendar.

King's Day (Koningsdag) on 27 April is a national holiday on which people celebrate the king's birthday, wearing orange the colour of the royal family, and a free market (vrijmarkt) is held where people sell their old things in the streets without a licence, and parties, music and shows are organised.

• In Amsterdam boats gather in the canals.
• On 4 May is Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) when Dutch people stand for two minutes of silence at eight in the evening to honour the victims of war, traffic stops, and flags are flown at half-mast.
• On 5 May is Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) celebrating the end of the Nazi occupation in 1945 with music festivals.
• Respect the two minutes of silence, since they are sacred to many.

In mid-November Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) arrives by ship from Spain according to the legend, and families and schools celebrate him until 5 December Pakjesavond (gift evening) when gifts are given with humorous poems and sweets such as pepernoten and chocoladeletters.

• Sinterklaas traditions are changing, especially the depiction of his helpers (Zwarte Piet), which has been replaced in many places by Roetveegpiet, so ask your neighbours to explain to you.
• Christmas (25 and 26 December) is more a family holiday than a celebration of gifts, with a tree and dinner.
• On New Year's Eve fireworks are set off and oliebollen doughnuts are eaten, and fireworks have recently been restricted in some areas.

In spring the tulip fields bloom and the Keukenhof exhibition is held, and Easter is celebrated with coloured eggs.

• In the Catholic south (Limburg and Brabant) Carnival (Carnaval) is held before Lent with costumes, a parade and music, and people take two days off.
• In September the king opens parliament on Prinsjesdag on the third Tuesday with a procession in The Hague.
• In summer music and film festivals and events such as Zwarte Cross are held.
• And in autumn the feast of Sint-Maarten on 11 November when children go around with lanterns and sing in return for sweets.
• Ice-skating races (Elfstedentocht) are held when canals freeze.
• Each region has its local festivals, so follow your municipality's calendar.

Eid al-Fitr (Suikerfeest) and Eid al-Adha (Offerfeest) are not general public holidays, but many employers and schools give a day for Eid, and some municipalities recognise it, so tell your manager or school early of its expected date and request annual leave or a special day.

• Eid prayers are held in mosques and large halls, markets and festivals are held in some cities, and families celebrate with visits, sweets and gifts for children.
• You are told Gelukkig Suikerfeest or Gezegend Offerfeest cheerfully, and you may invite your neighbours and colleagues to taste sweets, and they welcome it. And during Ramadan you can explain kindly to colleagues that you are fasting, and many understand and respect.

When is King's Day?