Netherlands Public Holidays: Few but Good
The Dutch call their calendar "feestdagen" and keep the list deliberately short. This guide to netherlands holidays covers all ten national days plus the two semi-holidays, the 2026 dates with weekdays, and the patterns locals plan around. If you need the full netherlands public holidays 2026 picture before booking anything, this is the page to start from.
Why the Dutch list is short on purpose
The Netherlands has ten fixed national public holidays, one of the leanest lists in Europe. Germany counts nine, France eleven, Italy twelve. The Dutch do not add regional holidays the way Spain does, and there is no nationwide carnival holiday. The result is a calendar that is easy to plan around: the same days off everywhere, with a couple of wildcards.
The two wildcards are King's Day (Koningsdag) on April 27 and Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) on May 5. King's Day is the monarch's official birthday and a genuine national party. Liberation Day became a permanent day off in 1990, and since 2000 it is observed every single year, even though it celebrates the end of the German occupation with big events only once every five years.
Netherlands public holidays 2026 (full calendar)
| Holiday | 2026 date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (Nieuwjaarsdag) | Jan 1 | Thursday |
| Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag) | Apr 3 | Friday |
| Easter Sunday (Eerste Paasdag) | Apr 5 | Sunday |
| Easter Monday (Tweede Paasdag) | Apr 6 | Monday |
| King's Day (Koningsdag) | Apr 27 | Monday |
| Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) | May 5 | Tuesday |
| Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag) | May 14 | Thursday |
| Whit Sunday (Eerste Pinksterdag) | May 24 | Sunday |
| Whit Monday (Tweede Pinksterdag) | May 25 | Monday |
| Christmas (Eerste Kerstdag) | Dec 25 | Friday |
| Boxing Day (Tweede Kerstdag) | Dec 26 | Saturday |
Best bridge opportunities in 2026: King's Day lands on a Monday, so the whole weekend is already three days. Liberation Day on a Tuesday means taking May 4 off makes a four-day stretch. Ascension Day on a Thursday is the classic Dutch "bridge day": many workplaces close on Friday May 15, making a four-day weekend out of nothing.
How Dutch holidays compare to its neighbors
Compared to Germany, the Netherlands swaps the German Unity Day (October 3) for King's Day in late April, and adds Whit Monday, which Germany dropped. Compared to Belgium, it lacks the Belgian regional feasts entirely. What stands out is the Easter-Whitsun cluster: from Good Friday to Whit Monday, eight weeks with nine days off sprinkled through them. Locals call that stretch the "spring of days off" and it is the best season for a dutch holiday planning exercise.
What visitors should know about koningsdag
Koningsdag on April 27 is the day the Dutch dress in orange, take to the streets, and turn every city center into a giant free market where anyone can sell anything. Shops and trains run reduced schedules, so plan transport early. The day before, many towns hold a "Koningsnacht" (King's Night) party. For tourists it is the easiest Dutch holiday to join: no family obligations, just street food, live music, and the whole country in a good mood. It is also the busiest travel day of the year in the Netherlands, so book accommodation months ahead.
FAQ
How many public holidays does the Netherlands have? Ten national days always observed, plus King's Day and Liberation Day, making a practical total of twelve. It is one of the shortest lists in Europe.
Is Liberation Day a public holiday? Yes. Since 1990 it has been a national day off on May 5 every year, even though it only celebrates the end of the occupation on a grand scale once every five years.
What is King's Day in the Netherlands? Koningsdag, April 27, the King's official birthday. The whole country turns into a giant street market, everyone wears orange, and most people get the day off.
Do Dutch people bridge holidays? Only when the calendar cooperates. There is no official bridge-day system, but when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many workplaces close the connecting day anyway.
Planning a trip around the Dutch calendar? Check the full public holiday calendar, compare countries side by side, or browse more holiday guides.
Share this article
Verwandte Länder
blog.faqHeading
How many public holidays does the Netherlands have?
Ten national days that are always observed, plus King's Day and Liberation Day, which brings the practical total to 12. It is one of the shortest holiday lists in Europe.
Is Liberation Day a public holiday?
Yes, since 1990 it has been a national day off, observed every year on May 5 even though it only celebrates the end of the occupation once every five years.
What is King's Day in the Netherlands?
Koningsdag, April 27, the King's official birthday. The whole country turns into a giant street market, everyone wears orange, and most people get the day off.
Do Dutch people bridge holidays like elsewhere?
Only when the calendar cooperates. There is no official bridge-day system, but when a holiday lands on a Tuesday or Thursday, plenty of workplaces close on the connecting day.