Holidays in Holland. National holidays of the Netherlands Holland May 5 holidays events

Holidays and events in the Netherlands 2020: the most important festivals and highlights, national holidays and events in the Netherlands. Photos and videos, descriptions, reviews and timings.

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And from March 14 to 23, an important event in the art world takes place in the life of the small Dutch town of Maastricht: the antique fair TEFAF, which has been regularly held here since 1975, and during this time has become one of the most authoritative such events in the whole world. At the fair, masterpieces of painting and sculpture by world masters are put up for sale: it is very interesting to get here on time, because all these works of art will end up in private collections by the end of the event.

It is not surprising that in a country famous throughout the world for its beautiful tulips, the spring flowering season opens with a magical and stunningly beautiful spectacle - the Flower Festival.

It is not surprising that in a country famous throughout the world for its beautiful tulips, the spring flowering season opens with a magical and stunningly beautiful spectacle - the Flower Festival. The Flower Parade (Bloemen Corso) begins on the morning of the third Saturday in April, when a column of cars leaves Noordwijk, decorated with the most incredible compositions of fresh flowers, the aroma of which drives you crazy. Along with the cars, a huge number of singing and dancing people take part in the procession. It’s worth saying that talented florists from all over the country begin preparing for the holiday a few days in advance: they come up with what flower installations will look like, make illuminated fixtures and decorate them with all kinds of flowers. The final stop of the parade is Keukenhof Park, famous throughout the country, where most flower festivals are held.

On April 30, one of its main national holidays is celebrated throughout the country - Queen's Day (Konninginnedag / Queen's Day), which is otherwise called National Unity Day. On this holiday it is customary to dress in orange, the family color of the Oran dynasty. City streets are full of orange ribbons, flowers and flags. One of most interesting traditions Queen's Day - free market (“free market”): on this day, by decree of the Queen, VAT is canceled for all stores.

On Queen's Day, parades, celebrations and festivals take place across the country. The main center of all this fun, of course, is Amsterdam, which is flooded with hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The streets of the city are thundering with cheerful music, noisy with intertwining voices, and when darkness falls, they glow brightly in the lights of festive fireworks.

It is known all over the world how the Dutch love bicycles - residents of the Netherlands spend about half of their lives in the saddle. Therefore, it was impossible to do without a special holiday, Cyclist’s Day. On a beautiful May day, a significant portion of the country's population gets on their bikes and rides around the country. Cycling races are held in cities, in which everyone can take part - cyclists from all over the world come here especially for this. People are having fun and walking, and cyclists of all nationalities, ages and levels of training are rushing through the streets, because none of this matters, only freedom, the wind in their hair and the cries of support from the fans.

Holidays in Holland were based on the territorial location of the state. Part of the Northeast of Europe is given to the Netherlands, Germany adjoins the borders in the east, and Belgium is located in the south. The cold northern sea washes the shores on the western and northern sides.

The constitutional monarchy has been ruled since the 19th century by the Orange-Nassau dynasty. Today the throne belongs to Queen Beatrix of Holland. The eldest of her children, Prince Willem-Alexander, is considered the heir to the throne.

The state is characterized by another unusual arrangement in other countries - the location of the parliament with the residence of the kings. All this is located in The Hague, but the capital is Amsterdam.

Having briefly become acquainted with the main factors influencing the cultural formation of the Netherlands, you can begin a mental journey through the holidays of Holland.

How are the national holidays of the Netherlands celebrated: Old-New Year, Liberation Day, Queen's Day in Amsterdam

Official holidays are those that mark Dutch holidays. These include New Year, which is celebrated on January 1, the Queen's birthday, which falls on April 30. May 4 is Remembrance Day, and May 5 marks a great date—Liberation Day from Fascism.

It is worth noting family celebration Catholic Christmas, Protestant dates are also unforgotten. Holland has become famous for its annual colorful carnivals and folk festivals.

Let's return to public holidays. The Dutch call the New Year Old-New or Oude-Niewe. During the celebration, December 30-31, the streets of big cities are filled with the sounds of car sirens, firecrackers and the roar of fireworks. 24-hour parties are held. The apogee is reached at midnight, when the power of a bright fire illuminates the country, fireworks go off - just a crazy cannonade roars for half an hour.

On New Year's Day, each province bakes its own types of cakes, cookies or waffles. But a particularly popular delicacy is the “Advent wreath.” In fact, these are not flowers, but shortbread cookies with a delicious almond filling. To decorate the cakes, grated almonds and various candied fruits are used. It turns out not only a real feast of taste, but also extraordinary beauty appearance. More often, cookies are made in the shape of animals: a cow or a pig.

In addition to the “Advent wreath,” the New Year’s menu includes the “Slam” drink. It is prepared from milk with the addition of tea, sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, saffron, cloves and nutmeg.

Another important national holiday in Holland is Catholic Easter, which the country begins to celebrate on Friday. On this day all churches are decorated light white flower arrangements. The whole family attends Easter Mass - this is the custom. After the service, the population of Holland goes home for a festive dinner or to visit friends or neighbors. Officially, the first and second Easter days are considered days off: Sunday and Monday.

Liberation Day of the Netherlands symbolizes the country's liberation from fascist invaders. The celebration takes place on May 5th. Festivals are held in cities. The celebration ends in the evening in Amsterdam with a folk festival and a concert taking place on the banks of the Amstel River. Churches also hold services for the dead.

Everything amazing that is inherent in the state is manifested during the Christmas holidays in the Netherlands. Catholic Christmas really celebrated on a special scale. There is still a belief in the country that on this holy night even animals begin to speak a language understandable to humans, that water magically turns into real wine.

The other side of the belief, the dark one, says that a hunt takes place on this night evil spirits under the command of the mighty Wodan. In all this carnival of images, there was a place for Attila, Napoleon and Charlemagne. In some cities, the sounds of a horn can be heard, the purpose of which is to drive away all malicious participants in the wild hunt.

Sometimes in houses you can notice another attribute of Christmas - the Jericho rose or some other evergreen unusual rarity.

The Christmas table is distinguished not only by the richness of the meal, but also by games, for example, the bean king, who must choose a queen during the game. Figures such as the jester and nobles are also chosen. A constant participant in the game is Black Pete.

Quite a few famous public holiday Saint Stephen's Day is celebrated on December 26th. Stephen among Catholics is the patron saint of cattle breeding. On this day, hay and oats are illuminated in churches. The little one carries armfuls of dry cattle feed to houses, leaving a little for each cow or horse. In response, the owners treat them to something tasty. Since this day is, as it were, a continuation of Christmas, people continue to exchange gifts and organize horse races.

One of the main celebrations is King's Day. In general, the celebration is already 60 years old. This is the so-called Queen's Day in Amsterdam, symbolizing the anniversary of the ascension of Beatrix, the current queen, to the throne. It was always celebrated on April 30th. The date arose at the time when Juliana, the queen whose birthday fell on this date, came to the throne. Her daughter, Beatrix, decided not to change anything.

However, it so happened that in 2013 the queen abdicated the throne and her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, ended up on the throne. Therefore, starting from 2014, the country will celebrate King’s Day. The date will shift to April 26.

Flag Day or Herring Festival in Holland

In addition to the main state celebrations, the herring holiday has become widespread in Holland. It is also called Flag Day. Residents of the country usually celebrate this fun party on the first Saturday in June. It is believed that on this day the first herring catch of the year arrives at the port.

Why is there so much honor given to the first delivery? Herring during this period is special - it has ideal parameters in size and fat content, reaching 14%. By the way, the first vessel to deliver a new catch receives a reward.

Flags appear in the name of the holiday due to the fact that they decorate the harbor of Scheveningen and the surrounding streets.

Announcement of holidays in Holland for 2018 - a complete overview for tourists.

July 2-8– Roots Festival, Amsterdam. This is a large-scale festival of world music, which traditionally ends with the Roots Open Air party. The event features dance studios, children's entertainment, ethnic clothing, and ethnic food and drinks.

July 13-15– North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam. Since 1976, the three-day cultural event has grown to become the world's largest jazz festival. The event is now divided into 15 stages, featuring 1,200 artists from around the world and attracting more than 25,000 visitors per day. The festival features many musical styles - from traditional New Orleans jazz to swing, bebop, fusion, blues, funk, soul, and more.

August 10-19– Grachtenfestival, Amsterdam. This is a 10-day classical music festival on the canals of Amsterdam, featuring over 150 musical performances on floating barges, including performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The festival was first organized in 1998 and now attracts about 55 thousand visitors.

August 15 – Assumption. This is a great religious holiday for the entire Christian world, including the inhabitants of Holland. On this day, solemn services and religious processions take place.

August 15-25– Pluk de Nacht. It is an outdoor film festival of independent art-house, documentary, animation and short films that has been held annually since 2003 on the site of the beautiful old harbor in Amsterdam. All events during the film festival and film screenings are free.

August 23– Jazz in the Canal (Jazz in de Gracht), The Hague. Musical jazz festival, the stage for which is boats and floating platforms in the Gracht canal. The fun and relaxed festival has been held since 2004, admission is free, spectators line the banks of the canal, where festive mood there are also food trucks offering food and drinks to the public.

1st week of September– Flower parade on the canals. One of the world's largest flower festivals with the world's largest market and auction. A huge procession up to 3 km long. begins its procession in Aalsmeer and ends in Amsterdam with a big final concert. The distance between these cities is 13 km, during which it is accompanied by performances of musical groups and jazz bands. More than 1.5 million flowers take part in the parade - tulips, chrysanthemums, lilies, freesias, roses of various varieties and colors.

September 8-9– Open Monumentendag, Cultural Heritage Day. On this day, places that are usually not accessible to the public are opened to the public, and excursions are generally free. In addition to this, many activities are organized around cultural sites, such as walking, cycling and boat trips, as well as educational lectures.

September 18-19- Yom Kippur. This is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Historically, many Jews live in Amsterdam; on this day, hundreds of candles are lit instead of light bulbs in the main synagogue of the city and a common prayer takes place. In addition, several Jewish sites are open to visitors, including the Anne Frank House and the Jewish Historical Museum.

October 17-21– Amsterdam dance event. This is a 5-day electronic music festival, which in addition to concerts also includes numerous thematic conferences. The festival itself includes 450 events and performances with the participation of 2,200 artists in 115 clubs and other cultural venues. The festival attracts more than 350,000 people each year and makes Amsterdam one of the busiest cities in the world.

October 21– Amsterdam Marathon. An annual running marathon covering a distance of 42,195 km, with a Gold Label from the IAAF. The event also offers a half marathon race covering a distance of 21,097 km, and an 8 km race. Held annually since 1975.

October 29-November 4– Crossing Border Festival. It is one of the largest combined music and literature festivals in Europe, held annually in The Hague. It was first organized in 1993, with the participation of the city leadership, as part of the municipal arts support program.

November 14-25– International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam – IDFA. It is the largest of its kind in the world and has been held annually since 1988. The festival screens more than 300 high-quality films, diverse in form, content and cultural background, that offer new ideas for society, sells more than 250,000 tickets and welcomes more than 3,000 documentary guests.

November 17– Arrival of Sinterklaas – St. Nicholas, Amsterdam. This Dutch character is adored by both adults and children. His arrival in Amsterdam is traditionally accompanied by a festive colorful procession through the city, which includes a parade of boats and horses, and marks the official start of the New Year's season. Children wave to Sint and his friends, and for this they are showered with sweets.

5th of December– The eve of St. Nicholas Day. On this day, Dutch children receive gifts and special treats from Sinterklaas. He traditionally rides on a white horse and carries a large red book, in which it is written whether each child has been obedient or mischievous in the past year. Sinterklaas is assisted by black-faced assistants in picturesque Moorish dresses and other colorful characters.

December 26 – Second day after Christmas. The day when everyone goes to visit each other and gives gifts. Fairs with a variety of entertainment for children and adults are held on the streets of Dutch cities.

Grachtenfestival or "Canal Festival"

Every year in mid-August, Amsterdam hosts the famous Grachtenfestival, or canal festival, which is becoming increasingly popular every year. The festival features classical music concerts. And the main one distinguishing feature Grachtenfestival is that all concerts are held outdoors...

Windmill Day

Every year on the second Saturday of May, Windmill Day is celebrated in the Netherlands. There are about a thousand windmills in the country, and on the holiday, more than six hundred of them will open their doors to visitors. On this day, the Dutch like to repeat: “Everything that can spin spins.” ...

Museum Day

Every year on the second weekend of April, the Netherlands holds National Museumweekend, or Museum Day. Traditionally, all weekends the doors of almost all museums are open for free visits. Moreover, this rule applies not only to the Dutch, but also to foreigners. Museums…

Liberation Day

On May 5, the Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day from Nazi occupation during World War II. This day is an official holiday. Until 1990, Liberation Day was celebrated in the Netherlands only once every five years, but now the memorable date is celebrated annually. Liberation day...

War Remembrance Day

The Dutch never forget their history. In this country there are two dates dedicated to the Second World War. In addition to Liberation Day on May 5, the country also celebrates the National Day of Remembrance of the Fallen - May 4. In 1987, the National Committee 4-5 was specially established in the Netherlands...

Queen's Birthday

April 30 is celebrated in the Netherlands main holiday- Konninginnedag, or Queen's Birthday. This holiday is considered an official day off. True, the real birthday of the now living queen, Beatrix, falls on January 31, the Dutch solemnly celebrate exactly 30 ...

Valentine's Day

In the Netherlands, as throughout Europe, Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th. It is considered a very good sign to arrange weddings on Valentine's Day. It used to be that congratulating a girl on Valentine's Day meant asking a man to marry her. Spicy...

St. Nicolas day

One of the most interesting national holidays in Holland is St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on December 6th. Saint Nicholas (in other countries he is called Santa Claus) is the prototype of our Father Frost. The holiday began with the Spanish conquest, and the holiday continued...

Flag Day

New Herring Day, or Flag Day, is celebrated in the Netherlands on the first Saturday in June. The traditional location of this holiday is the small town of Schefeningen. Even the coat of arms of this city depicts three crowned herrings. The holiday received its second name - Flag Day...

Cyclist Days

The Netherlands is a country not only of tulips, but also of bicycles. According to statistics, every resident of the country annually travels more than 800 kilometers on his two-wheeled friend. For lovers of this type of transport, all conditions for comfortable movement have been created. In any city or town there are special…

Carnival week

Carnival in Holland is celebrated only in the southern provinces of Brabant and Limbourg. Each city has its own unique carnival procession, in which the entire population comes out to take part. During the holiday, costume parades, musical competitions, costume parties are held...

Cannabis Cup

The Cannabis Cup, or cannabis cup in Russian, is held in the glorious city of Amsterdam every year. This event occupies a significant place in the modern subculture, one might say, a “winter seminar on grass”, allows you to find out what the affairs of a plant that causes so much…

International Film Festival - IFFR

The International Film Festival - IFFR - is held in the Netherlands every January. It is known as the Rotterdam Film Festival as it is held in the city's cinemas. IFFR stands on par with other famous film festivals that take place in Cannes, Venice and Berlin. Film Festival …

New Year

On January 1, the Dutch celebrate the New Year. The name of the holiday in the Netherlands sounds like Oude-Niewe, which means “Old-New”. This is mainly due to the fact that the celebrations on the occasion of the new year begin two days before January 1st. Already at this time on…