New country, new traditions! Are you constantly taken by surprise by school activities and Dutch traditions? Feel like you keep missing important events? Worry no more! We’ve put together this fantastic calendar to make life easier for Amsterdam Mamas. Enjoy!
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Date
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English name
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Dutch name
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What to say
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What you need to know
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Monday morning
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Dutch shops are traditionally closed on Sundays and Monday mornings, sometimes all day Monday. Though not widely practiced in Amsterdam, it’s still true for smaller towns. If you hear mention of a Koopzondag, that’s a pre-assigned Sunday when shops will be open.
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1st Monday of every month, at noon
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Air raid siren
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Luchtalarm
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Don’t be alarmed! Since 2003, some 3800 sirens are tested nationwide once a month. They’re meant for any kind of disaster, and if you hear one at any other time, head indoors, close the doors and windows, and put the radio or TV on.
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1 January
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New Year’s Day
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Nieuwjaarsdag
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Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! Beste wensen!
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At Scheveningen, the Hague, a new tradition has taken hold. Not for the fainthearted, the Nieuwjaarsduik is a bracing swim in the North Sea. Afterwards, shivering swimmers are presented with a hot cup of Erwtensoep, a hearty, meaty pea soup.
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6 January
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Epiphany
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Driekoningen
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This traditional Christian holiday is not widely celebrated anymore. One mama tells us: “My oma always made a special cake with a coin and coffee bean in it. Whoever got the coin was king for the day and got to decide on the day’s activities… can’t remember what the finder of the coffee bean got to do… can’t have appealed so much to me as a child!” Traditionally the finder of the white bean was king.
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21 January
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Tulip Day
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Tulpendag
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The opening of the tulip season. The Dam Square is converted into a colorful tulip garden and everyone is invited to visit and pick one tulip for free.
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25 January
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Chinese New Year
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Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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Amsterdam’s Nieuwmarkt plays host to the Chinese New Year, with lion dances, fireworks, and Chinese drums.
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23-25 February
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Carnival
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Carnaval
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Alaaf!
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The Dutch answer to Mardi Gras is celebrated mostly in Catholic South Holland, with colourful parades and some peculiar localised customs. Watch out men in Venlo: your neckties will be cut! Common to all are unbridled partying and fancy dressing.
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18 March
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Silent Walk
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Stille Omgang
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A silent night-time pilgrimage through Amsterdam, commemorating the Catholic “Miracle of Amsterdam” which took place on the Kalverstraat in 1345.
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21 March
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1st day of Spring
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Voorjaar / Lente
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22 March
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Festival of Trees
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Boomfeestdag
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Basisschool children plant around 200,000 trees on this day, in parks, streets, squares, countryside and forests.
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21 March – 10 May
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Keukenhof open
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Keukenhof, at Lisse, near Haarlem, opens every spring so you can wander through the woods and fields ablaze with tulips and other spring flowers.Another Christian holiday which is losing its hold.
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16 March – 2 April
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Amsterdam Restaurant Week
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Discounted prices for food and drink across town – make sure to book ahead before it sells out. Tickets available from February.
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1 April
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April Fool’s Day
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Een-aprilfeest |
Practical jokes have been played on this day in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages. It was also the old New Year’s Day, until the French king Charles IX changed that to 1 January in 1852. It’s also worth noting that this is the deadline for tax returns!
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5 April
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Palm Sunday
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Palmpasen
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Commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem when the crowd waved palms at him, this is the Sunday before Easter. The Palmpaasstok (Easter stick) is an elaborate object involving a cockerel-shaped bread roll on a cross with dangly decorations.
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12 April
(date varies – always the Sunday following first full moon after Spring Equinox)
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Easter Sunday
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Eerste Paasdag
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The paashaas is the ubiquitous Easter hare.
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Easter is pretty much the same here as elsewhere. Decorate eggs, go on an Easter egg hunt, eat too much chocolate. In some areas the older tradition of Easter bonfires is still alive.
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13 April
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Easter Monday |
Tweede Paasdag
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Easter Monday is known as the Second Day of Easter.
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Mid April
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World Press Photo
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The world’s largest photography competition kicks off every year in Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk, before touring 70 countries worldwide.
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25 April
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Flower Parade
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Bloemencorso
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A beautiful parade of flower-decorated floats winds its way over 40km from Noordwijk to Haarlem.
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26 April
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King’s Night
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Koningsnacht
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The drinking for Koningsdag starts here, in clubs and on the streets. There are events organised on this night to keep things under control. The Westerstraat, in the Jordaan, is the place to be.
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27 April
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King’s Day
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Koningsdag
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Do not underestimate this one. The King’s birthday is a huge excuse to party, to dress in orange from top to toe, and (with the exception of the night time boozing) a great day for children. Vrijmarkts pop up everywhere, with children setting out their stalls on pavements to sell their unwanted toys and goods. It is a much-anticipated nationwide jumble sale, and many Amsterdam mamas head to the Vondelpark.
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4 May
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Remembrance Day
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Herdenkingsdag
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Dutch flags fly at half mast, in memory of those who died in the Second World War. The Netherlands was occupied in May 1940 and many died in the following five years. At 20:00 there is a two-minute silence.
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5 May
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Liberation Day
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Bevrijdingsdag
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The flags fly high to celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation in 5 May 1945.
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13 – 14 May
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National Mill Day
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Nationale Molendag
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About 600 working windmills open up to the public – look for blue pennants.
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10 May
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Mothers’ Day
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Moederdag
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Note that this is the same date as in the USA, but not in the UK where Mother’s Day falls in March or April.
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21 May
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Ascension Thursday
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Hemelvaartsdag
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The day Jesus ascended to heaven is still a public holiday in the Netherlands. On this day many people enjoy dauwtrappen – taking a barefoot walk in the dew before sunrise.
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29 May – 1 June
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Taste of Amsterdam
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A foodie’s paradise. A culinary festival where you can try an array of international dishes surrounded by the green of the Amstel Park.
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30 May
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Luilak
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This is an old tradition, still going strong in Amsterdam, where children roam the streets in the early hours to wake up sleepyheads with as much noise as possible. Unfortunately the general mischief can get out of hand, and result in vandalism.
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Early June
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Holland Festival
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A hugely popular festival of the performing arts in Amsterdam, centered around music.
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31 May
(7 weeks after Easter; date varies)
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Pentecost
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Pinksteren
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A Christian feast commemorating the arrival of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciles; it’s still as a public holiday, but no longer widely celebrated.
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TBA June
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Dream Night at Artis
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Kinderbeestfeest
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Chronically sick and handicapped children are escorted through Amsterdam to the zoo in a cavalcade of emergency vehicles, all sirens blaring. They love it!
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Early June – mid August
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Vondelpark Open Air Theatre
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Vondelpark Openluchttheater
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The Vondelpark’s open-air stage is always busy during the summer. Tuesday is classical music, Friday is dancing, Saturday afternoon is for kids, Saturday evenings are for stand-up and Sunday is for pop music.
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Throughout May and June
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Avondvierdaagse
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Four evenings in a row where people – mostly schoolchildren – go on organised walks, a popular event across the Netherlands.
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June, July, August
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Artis Summer Evenings
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Artis Zoomeravonden
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The zoo stays open till sunset on Saturdays throughout the summer, with special events and a children’s programme starting at 3pm every Saturday.
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12 – 14 June
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Open Garden Days
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Open Tuinen Dagen
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A chance to poke your nose into normally hidden private gardens in Amsterdam, which often means walking through the houses too. Note that prams are not allowed.
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21 June
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Fathers’ Day
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Vaderdag
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This is the same date as in the USA and UK, but not as in Australia and New Zealand where it’s celebrated in September.
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21 June
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1st Day of Summer
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Zomer
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1 July
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Keti Koti
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This date marks the abolition of slavery in Suriname.
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10 – 12 July
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North Sea Jazz
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A massive festival of jazz music based in Rotterdam.
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July – August
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Kwakoe
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This five week multicultural festival in Amsterdam Bijlmerpark celebrates the abolition of slavery in Dutch colonies. Food, markets, dance and football top the bill.
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25 July – 2 August
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Gay Pride
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One of the biggest and best gay pride festivals in the world, and one of Amsterdam’s busiest weekends of the year. The high point is the unique canal parade on 6 August which draws big crowds.
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14 – 23 August
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Canal Festival
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Grachtenfestival
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A host of concerts set on or near Amsterdam’s canals.
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25 – 27 August
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Opening of Cultural Season
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Uitmarkt
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Every year Amsterdam celebrates the opening of its cultural season with scores of free events over the course of one jam-packed weekend. Uitmarkt Junior offers shows, workshops and activities for kids.
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19 – 20 September
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Heritage Days
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Open Monumentendagen
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Nationwide, 4.000 historical buildings and sites open their doors free of charge, with special events laid on. The Netherlands pioneered this now Europe-wide phenomenon.
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19-20 September
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Dam to Dam
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Dam tot Damloop
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A 16km, 2-hour run from Amsterdam to Zaandam, complete with bands and a circus.
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3rd Thursday in September
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Teachers’ Day
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Nationale Leidsterdag
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All the teachers in childcare share the same “birthday” on this day, and the children bring them little presents, often home-made. The date of Juffendag varies across schools.
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15 September
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Prince’s Day
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Prinsjesdag
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On this day the monarch reads out the parliamentary program for the coming year, and the national budget is also revealed.
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21 September
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1st Day of Autumn
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Najaar / Herfst
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Creative pumpkin arrangements appear in front gardens in the autumn, and last for months in the cold weather.
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From late September
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Children’s Stamp Campaign
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Kinderpostzegelactie
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Groep 7&8 children from basisschool go door to door taking orders for charity children’s stamps and cards, delivering them in November. This has been an annual event since 1948 and attracts 2.5 million orders every year.
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30 September – 11 October
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Children’s Book Week
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Kinderboekenweek
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This initiative, designed to get children into books, has been going since 1954. Every year has a different theme, and school children across the land work on related projects. Don’t miss the fancy dress day.
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4 October
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World Animal Day
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Dierendag
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Look out for special events, and your children might be encouraged to take a pet or soft toy to school with them.
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10 – 16 October
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Cinekid
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A film, television and new media festival for children from 4 to 14 years old. Mostly in Amsterdam, but it does hold satellite events across the Netherlands.
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18 October
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Amsterdam Marathon
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Watch out on marathon day, it’s almost impossible to get in or out of the city.
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2 November
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All Souls in the Vondelpark
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Allerzielen in het Vondelpark
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Light a candle in the dark, and float it across the water in memory of a loved one.
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7-8 November
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Museum Night
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Museumnacht
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Be cool and call it “n8”
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One ticket gets you entry to parties and events at 50 museums around Amsterdam from 7pm to 2am.
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7 – 14 November
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Glow Festival
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Eindhoven is a blaze of glory in this annual festival of artificial lights.
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11 November
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St Martin’s
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Sint-Maarten
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Nearing dark, in some areas of the Netherlands children go door to door with their paper lampionen (lanterns), singing special Sint-Maarten songs in exchange for sweets. If they make the lanterns at school, make sure to buy a cheap lampionstokje – a stick with dangly bulb – from your supermarket, and don’t forget some batteries. In Amsterdam, there’s a special children’s lantern parade in the Vondelpark.
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18 November
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Intocht van Sinterklaas
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Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) arrives with his white horse (Amerigo), and scores of Pieten (Petes – Sinterklaas’s helpers), on a steamboat from Spain. This happens in many different towns during the same weekend. Crowds of kids turn out for the spectacle, and the Pieten shower them with pepernoten – small gingernut-style biscuits, ubiquitous at this time of year. Sinterklaas, like Santa Claus means Saint Nicholas, who was a bishop from Turkey, but the Dutch insist the two men are totally different. The Sinterklaas story has put a Spanish twist to Saint Nicholas, as a result of the Netherlands history as a province of Spain.
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From Intocht to Pakjesavond
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Once Sinterklaas has arrived in the country, children put their shoes out at nighttime, at the fireplace, radiator or by the door, sometimes with a little carrot for Amerigo and almost always a letter or drawing for Sint and Piet. Some children do it every night, though many parents restrict it to weekends. In the morning Piet will have left them a little treat such as chocolate. Some naughty Piets make a mess and leave pepernoten everywhere.
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2nd half November
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International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
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Held in various venues across Amsterdam, the IDFA is the biggest documentary film festival in the world.
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| 5 December |
Sinterklaas: pakjesavond
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As darkness falls, Sinterklaas rides his white pony across the sky, and a Piet drops down your chimney with presents. Parents with no chimneys have figured out other ways to do it: somebody knocks at the back door, for example. Your children open it, only to find a trail of pepernoten, at the end of which is a sack full of presents. Adults don’t get presents at this time of year, but can expect little surprises and poems from others in the family. And if you have older children at basisschool, watch out for the “surprise” they might be asked to make for a fellow classmate: you are expected to throw yourself into this big-time.
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December – January
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Amsterdam Light Festival
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A new annual event, lighting up the centre of the city with a special walking route, a program of events, and a Christmas Canal Parade.
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Mid-December
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Gouda by Candlelight
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Gouda Kaarsjesavond
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All the electric lights are off in Gouda’s medieval marketplace, as ten thousand candles burn. Carols are sung and the Christmas story is read.
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21 December
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1st Day of Winter
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Winter
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25 December
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Christmas Day
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De Eerste Kerstdag
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Prettige Kerstdagen!
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The Christmas trees can go up once Sinterklaas is over. Christmas in the Netherlands is not traditionally about presents for the children, who’ve already been cared for by Sinterklaas. Christmas Day is a day for the family to spend together at home, but dinner can be less ambitious than in other countries; most Dutch ovens won’t accommodate a turkey!
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26 December
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Boxing Day
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De Tweede Kerstdag
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The second day of Christmas is often reserved for a family day out, for example visiting friends, or shopping. Trips to the circus are popular at this time of year. Collectively, the two days of Christmas are Kerstdagen.
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31 December
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New Year’s Eve
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Oudejaarsavond (Oud en Nieuw)
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Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks. The law allows fireworks only from 10am on New Year’s Eve until 2am, but as one mama says, “I don’t know that words can do it justice. For those who have young kids and are new to the country, it might be useful to know that fireworks start going off days (& nights!) in advance.” It’s traditional to eat oliebollen and appelbeignets: deep-fried doughnut-like balls with fruit inside, available from special kiosks which appear on the streets during the festive season.
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* Please note that dates are to the best of our knowledge, and may not be totally accurate for each year.
This article was originally written by Catriona Black, and updated for 2020 by Anastasia Drost.
