DUTCH CALENDAR

Holidays, festivals & special days

Every Dutch public holiday, observance, festival, sports event and school break — when it falls, what it means, and what to expect. Bookmark this page; we keep it current.

2025

2027

December 2026

14 events

9 Oct FRI until 17 Jan

EXPO

Willem de Kooning at Work at the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum shows Willem de Kooning at Work from 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027: more than 120 works by the Rotterdam-born painter, with Woman I and Woman and Bicycle in the Gallery of Honour.

Amsterdam in 61 days
16 Oct FRI until 10 Jan

EXPO

Whistler. Dandy and Disruptor at the Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum presents Whistler. Dandy and Disruptor from 16 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, the first retrospective of James McNeill Whistler ever held in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam in 68 days
13 Nov FRI until 3 Jan

FESTIVAL

Kerststad Valkenburg 2026-2027

Valkenburg aan de Geul turns into Kerststad Valkenburg from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with Christmas markets in its marlstone caves at the heart of a seven-week festive season.

Valkenburg in 96 days
26 Nov THU until 17 Jan

FESTIVAL

Amsterdam Light Festival 2026-2027

Amsterdam Light Festival

Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with light artworks along a free 6.5km public route and ticketed canal cruises.

Amsterdam in 109 days
4 Dec FRI until 6 Dec

SPORTS

ISU Speed Skating World Cup Heerenveen 2026

The only Dutch stop of the 2026/27 ISU Speed Skating World Cup takes place in Heerenveen from 4 to 6 December 2026, the first home World Cup of the post-Olympic cycle.

Heerenveen in 117 days
5 Dec SAT

OBSERVANCE

Pakjesavond 2026: the Dutch gift evening on 5 December

Pakjesavond

Pakjesavond falls on Saturday 5 December 2026, the climax of the Sinterklaas season. It is not a public holiday, and any early closing that evening is custom rather than law.

in 118 days
7 Dec MON

OBSERVANCE

National NL-Alert test, December 2026

NL-Alert testbericht

The Dutch government sends its national NL-Alert test message on Monday 7 December 2026, at around 12:00. Phones across the country sound a loud alarm. No action is required.

Netherlands (nationwide) in 120 days
12 Dec SAT until 13 Dec

FESTIVAL

Dickens Festijn Deventer 2026

More than 950 costumed Dickens characters fill Deventer's Bergkwartier on 12 and 13 December 2026, from 11:00 to 17:00. Entry costs 6 euros at the gate; there is no advance sale.

Deventer in 125 days
13 Dec SUN until 14 Dec

OBSERVANCE

Geminids meteor shower peak, 13 and 14 December 2026

The Geminids peak in the night of 13 to 14 December 2026. With the moon only 22 percent lit, dark-sky observers in the Netherlands can expect roughly 49 to 65 Geminids per hour before dawn on 14 Decem…

Netherlands in 126 days
13 Dec SUN

OBSERVANCE

NS timetable change: dienstregeling 2027 starts 13 December 2026

Dutch rail switches to its 2027 timetable on Sunday 13 December 2026. Direct intercities return between Groningen and Rotterdam and Enschede and Amsterdam, and all NS lines get numbers for the first t…

Netherlands in 126 days
18 Dec FRI until 24 Dec

FESTIVAL

3FM Serious Request 2026 in Arnhem

The Glazen Huis of 3FM Serious Request stands on the Markt in Arnhem from 18 to 24 December 2026. This year's fundraising goes to the Nederlandse Brandwonden Stichting.

Arnhem in 131 days
25 Dec FRI

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Christmas Day 2026 in the Netherlands

Eerste Kerstdag

Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026 and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December. Both are official public holidays, and shops are closed by default unless the municipality allows opening.

in 138 days
26 Dec SAT

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Boxing Day

Tweede Kerstdag

Second day of Christmas: also a national public holiday. Restaurants busy; many museums open with normal hours; some supermarkets reopen. Often the day for the second family visit.

in 139 days
31 Dec THU

OBSERVANCE

New Year's Eve 2026 in the Netherlands

Oudjaarsavond

Oudjaarsavond falls on Thursday 31 December 2026, the first New Year celebrated under the national ban on consumer fireworks. Category F1 items such as sparklers stay legal from age 12.

in 144 days

MONTHLY CALENDAR EMAIL

Plan the Dutch month before it starts.

A calm monthly briefing with public holidays, school breaks, major festivals and practical date changes worth knowing.

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Willem de Kooning at Work at the Rijksmuseum

Whistler. Dandy and Disruptor at the Van Gogh Museum

Kerststad Valkenburg 2026-2027

Amsterdam Light Festival 2026-2027

ISU Speed Skating World Cup Heerenveen 2026

Pakjesavond 2026: the Dutch gift evening on 5 December

National NL-Alert test, December 2026

Dickens Festijn Deventer 2026

Geminids meteor shower peak, 13 and 14 December 2026

NS timetable change: dienstregeling 2027 starts 13 December 2026

3FM Serious Request 2026 in Arnhem

Christmas Day 2026 in the Netherlands

Boxing Day

New Year's Eve 2026 in the Netherlands

Plan the Dutch month before it starts.