While Father’s Day (Vaderdag) may not be as famous as Mother’s Day, it definitely does put the dads in the spotlight. In the Netherlands, dads might be surprised with breakfast in bed or other little gifts from their children. And the best part? They get an excuse to take the day off from doing any […]
June solstice, also known as summer solstice or midsummer, celebrates the longest day of the year. Sounds like a great excuse to have your garden party until late in the evening, no? READ MORE | It’s the longest day of the year! And it’ll be a hot one too
If you wish to enjoy an extra day of celebrations this year, head to Leiden on October 3. You’ll find the bars and streets filled with people drinking, dancing, enjoying a traditional stew, and stuffing themselves with haring. To celebrate Leiden’s liberation from the Spanish in 1574, the lucky Leidenaars get the day off work […]
If you were disappointed by the lack of Halloween parties, Sint-Maarten celebrations may make up for it! Some Dutch cities take this seriously, with parades, bonfires, and lantern tours. Sint-Maarten is an exciting day, especially for children. Pumpkins, turnips, and beetroot are turned into spooky lanterns, and kids sing songs in exchange for fruit and […]
Sinterklaas is one holiday where the Dutch go all out on big celebrations and exciting traditions. While the youngsters sit their shoes under the chimney to receive chocoladeletters (chocolate letters) and other sweet treats, the adults can celebrate the holiday by giving out tailored gifts or writing poems. You’ll find the popular kruidnoten and pepernoten […]
Since Sinterklaas has already dropped off his presents on December 5, the Kerstavond is not much of a reason to celebrate. Pretty much a regular day, the Dutchies may spend it having dinner with family and friends, or simply enjoying the general merriment over the holidays. Don’t be surprised if you’re expected to show up […]
Also known as the first day of Christmas in the Netherlands, Christmas Day is usually celebrated with the family. Don’t expect to see a turkey dinner or any Christmas pudding. The Dutch traditionally eat gourmetten (an assortment of grilled meats and veg). Presents are exchanged, drinks are drunk, and general Christmas merriment is also in […]
After a night of drinking, fireworks and stuffing yourself with oliebollen, the Dutch like to take it easy on New Year’s Day by jumping into the sea. As if this nieuwjaarsduik wasn’t daring enough, they do it fully nude — except for an orange hat.
Valentine’s Day is not widely celebrated in the Netherlands, but it has gained some popularity in recent years. Flowers, chocolate, and valentines won’t go amiss if you buy them for your Dutch sweetheart but don’t expect them to make a big deal out of the day. https://dutchreview.com/expat/valentines-day-in-the-netherlands/
It’s that time of the year again when spring has sprung and across the Netherlands, flowers have started to bloom. This includes the stunning Japanese cherry blossom trees. Fancy a nice spring photoshoot or just an extremely Instagram-worthy spot for a picnic? Head to Amsterdamse Bos where you’ll find 400 of these beautiful trees. READ […]
Happy birthday King Willem-Alexander! The tradition of celebrating the monarch’s birthday is over 100 years old, but we’re guessing it used to be a lot more formal. Today, Koningsdag is known for the vrijmarkt (free market) which is basically a big yard sale, and oranjegekte (orange madness). When the Dutch say madness, they really mean […]
Freedom is a huge part of the Dutch culture and this day pays a tribute to all those who gave their lives for it. On Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day), a royal memorium is presented by the king and the queen at the Dam square. Another important tradition is holding a two-minute silence to commemorate the victims […]