Public holidays

Holidays & Celebrations

Dutch public holidays in 2025

Here are the Dutch public holidays you need to know for 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as other important dates to mark on your calendar.

Dutch holidays
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Updated 5-2-2025

Whether you’re living in the Netherlands or just visiting, it’s important to know when the public holidays take place; especially because many businesses close on these dates.

Here’s what you need to know:

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An overview of Dutch public holidays

There are important Dutch national holidays, while some holidays in the Netherlands vary across regions. For example, there are several regional variations of the Dutch carnival in February and March in Catholic areas. However, for most people living in the Netherlands, Koningsdag is arguably the biggest public holiday in the country.

Hoards of people wearing orange and walking in front of Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to celebrate King's Day
King’s Day in Amsterdam (Photo: Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

It is important to note that if a Dutch holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday is not typically transferred to another day in the week.

When are the Dutch public holidays in 2025?

DateWeekday(s)Holiday
1 JanuaryWedNew Year’s Day
18 AprilFriGood Friday
20–21 AprilSun–MonEaster
27 April
Observed on Saturday 26 April
SunKing’s Day
5 MayMonLiberation Day
29 MayThuAscension Day
8–9 JuneSun–MonWhit Monday
25–26 DecemberThu–FriChristmas

Other important dates in 2025

DateWeekdayOccasion
4 MaySunRememberance Day
11 MaySunMother’s Day
15 JuneSunFather’s Day
1 JulyTueKeti Koti – a day marking the end of slavery in Suriname
15 AugustSatDutch-Indonesian Remembrance Day
11 NovemberTueSaint Martins’ Day – when children typically go singing from door to door in exchange for sweets
5 DecemberFriSinterklaas (Sint arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November)

When are the Dutch public holidays in 2026?

DateWeekday(s)Holiday
1 JanuaryThuNew Year’s Day
3 AprilFriGood Friday
5–6 AprilSun–MonEaster
27 AprilMonKing’s Day
5 MayTueLiberation Day
14 MayThuAscension Day
24–25 JuneMonWhit Monday
25–26 DecemberFri–SatChristmas

Other important dates in 2026

DateWeekdayOccasion
4 MayMonRemembrance Day
10 MaySunMother’s Day
14 JuneSunFather’s Day
1 JulyWedKeti Koti – a day marking the end of slavery in Suriname
15 AugustSatDutch-Indonesian Remembrance Day
11 NovemberWedSaint Martins’ Day – when children typically go singing from door to door in exchange for sweets
5 DecemberSatSinterklaas (Sint arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November)

When are the Dutch public holidays in 2024?

DateWeekday(s)Holiday
1 JanuaryMonNew Year’s Day
29 MarchFriGood Friday
1 AprilMonEaster Monday
27 AprilSatKing’s Day
5 MaySunLiberation Day
9 MayThuAscension Day
20 MayMonWhit Monday
25–26 DecemberWed–ThuChristmas

Other important dates in 2024

DateWeekday(s)Important occasion
4 MaySatRemembrance Day
12 MaySunMother’s Day (Moederdag)
16 JuneSunFather’s Day (Vaderdag)
1 JulyMonKeti Koti – a day marking the end of slavery in Suriname
15 AugustThuDutch-Indonesian Remembrance Day
11 NovemberMonSaint Martins’ Day – when children typically go singing from door to door in exchange for sweets
5 DecemberThuSinterklaas (Sint arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November)

Shops closed in the Netherlands

You will find shops typically closed on public holidays; however, they also traditionally close on Sundays and Monday mornings (and sometimes all day Monday) throughout the year.

Sinterklaas gives children high-fives while two Piets stand behind him
Sinterklaas (Photo: Ana Fernandez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Although larger cities have changed this, you will typically find shops closed in smaller towns. Koopzondag, however, means shops have been given an assigned Sunday to open.

Dutch school holidays

Curious when your little ones are off? Learn about school holidays in the Netherlands.

Author

Stephen Maunder

About the author

An award-winning finance writer and editor, Stephen has been writing for Expatica since 2016, covering a range of financial topics across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Over a decade in journalism, he’s worked for breaking news broadcasters, industry publications, and national magazines.

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