Holidays

Typical Dutch Holidays

• New Year's Dive: January 1,
  An annual tradition in The Hague is the New Year's Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik), in which some 10,000 people plunge into the icy waters of the North Sea near the pier at Scheveningen Beach.
• King's Day (Koningsdag): April 27,
  A national holiday in the Netherlands that began as a celebration of the Dutch monarchy.
• Remembrance Day & Liberation Day: May 4 and 5
  The Netherlands has its own way of commemorating World War II and celebrating the country's liberation.
• Flag Day: Saturday in June
  Celebrating the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) in the southern coastal towns of Vlaardingen and Scheveningen.
• Dutch Veterans Day: the last Saturday in June
  The country honors veterans who served the Netherlands in wars or international peacekeeping operations.
• Prince's Day: the third Tuesday in September
  The official annual opening of the Dutch parliament.
• Saint Nicholas: December 5
  Although it is not an official holiday in the Netherlands, many parents traditionally leave work early so they can celebrate "Pakjesavond" (the evening of presents) with their children on Saint Nicholas' Eve. He usually arrives by boat three weeks in advance.