Top 5 Festivals to Experience in the Netherlands in 2024

5 major Dutch holidays are coming! The Netherlands is a country that loves to celebrate, with everyone from royalty to ordinary people actively participating in various festivals. There are important historical commemorative days and beautiful flower seasons. Come and see when it's best to travel to the Netherlands so you can experience Dutch culture firsthand!

March to May: Tulip season
April 27th: King's Day (Koningsdag)
May 4th: Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking)
May 5th: Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag)
September 17th: Prince's Day (Prinsjesdag)
Mid-November to December: Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas)

This is the Netherlands' most grand national holiday, established to celebrate the reigning king's birthday. On this day, the entire country is enveloped in an orange sea because orange is the representative color of the Dutch royal family. People wear orange clothing and go out to participate in various parties and activities. Amsterdam becomes a huge party, with boat parties on the canals, DJs and bands performing on the streets. Another feature is the free market where people from all over the country can set up stalls to sell their goods, making it very lively and interesting.

These two days are consecutive national holidays, commemorating the martyrs who died for the country during World War II, and celebrating the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi Germany. On the evening of May 4th, the whole country will observe a two-minute silence, and a national memorial ceremony will be held at Amsterdam Dam Square. May 5th is a day of celebration, with concerts, markets and other celebratory activities taking place throughout the country.

Every year on the second Tuesday of September, the Dutch Parliament convenes in The Hague. The King addresses the Parliament with a policy speech, announcing the new budget and policies. On this day, the King rides in a carriage from the palace to the Parliament building, with crowds cheering along the way. Many people go to The Hague specifically to catch a glimpse of the King. During the parliamentary session, hotels in The Hague are also booked solid.

This holiday is celebrated from mid-November all the way to December 5th, somewhat similar to Santa Claus. Legend has it that Saint Nicholas would travel from Spain by steamboat to Holland, riding a white horse on rooftops to deliver gifts to well-behaved children. During the celebration period, Saint Nicholas rides his white horse in parades, accompanied by his assistant Zwarte Piet, who hands out candy and cookies to the people. On the evening of December 5th, families exchange gifts and enjoy delicious food together, making it a lively and joyous occasion.

This is it for the must-see annual events in the Netherlands. Besides admiring the sea of flowers, royal themed festivals are also worth paying attention to, and St. Nicholas's Day at the end of the year is definitely not to be missed! Before you start planning, you can also take a look at this related information~