Events & Festivals

This page lists events, festivals & public holidays in Holland including The Cannabis Cup, Queen's Day - Koninginnedag and Gay Pride.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Throughout The Year

Open Studios Open Ateliers	Groups of artists in Amsterdam open their doors to a broad public. Free entry; you have direct access to the studios, workplaces and artists.
Dutch Markets Hollandse Markten	If you can't find it on the Dutch markets, it probably hasn't been discovered yet!
Tours	A wide range of tours from fishing villages to windmills, Amsterdam's red light district to canal cruises
Holland tourist board	Events in the Netherlands
The Queen's English Theatre Company	English language theatre company in Amsterdam.
iAmsterdam	Events in and around Amsterdam
Ruigoord	A village just outside Amsterdam, occupied by artists. Regular festivals throughout the summer

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October

18th October - 15th November

Holland Dance Festival

This festival – the largest dance festival in the Netherlands - puts all the diverse facets of the art of dance on display. For almost three weeks, more than forty dance companies and artists, from the Netherlands and around the world, will present some sixty performances in five theatres and at special locations.

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November

Early November	Museum Night Museumnacht	Forty two museums and institutions in Amsterdam open their doors and organise special events from 7pm until 2am.
18th October - 15th November	Holland Dance Festival	This festival – the largest dance festival in the Netherlands - puts all the diverse facets of the art of dance on display. For almost three weeks, more than forty dance companies and artists, from the Netherlands and around the world, will present some sixty performances in five theatres and at special locations.
18th November	The arrival of Sinterklaas Aantocht van Sinterklaas	Sinterklaas traditionally arrives each year in November by steamboat from Spain. He is then paraded through the streets, welcomed by cheering and singing children. His Zwarte Piet helpers throw candy and small, round ginger bread-like cookies, kruidnoten or pepernoten, into the crowd. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs. Sinterklaas also visits schools, hospitals and shopping centres. All towns with a dock have their own 'aantocht van Sinterklaas' (arrival of Sinterklaas). If you're not near a dock, don't worry - the event is televised!
22rd - 26th November 2009	Cannabis Cup	Six days of hedonism: music, events, and tasting sessions at various locations in Amsterdam. A panal of 'experts' sample the offerings and prizes are awarded to the ones they like best.
19th - 22nd November 2009	Crossing Border Festival	Music, literature, spoken word and film in The Hague
19th - 29th November 2008	IDFA - International Documentary Filmfestival of Amsterdam	The largest documentary festival in the world takes place Amsterdam.

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December

5th December	Saint Nicholas' Eve	In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' eve is the primary occasion for gift-giving. In recent years, Christmas (along with Santa Claus) has been pushed by shopkeepers as another gift-giving festival, with some success, although, especially for young children, Saint Nicholas' eve is still much more important than Christmas. This is not an official holiday but it is widely observed.
Mid - Late December	Christmas Market Fluweelengrot	A Christmas market held in the 'velvet caves' with twinkling lights, gnomes and elves, ancient legends, sculptures, gottos and 'Glühwein' (sparkling hot wine).
Late December	Gouda by candlelight Gouda bij Kaarslicht	This day-long event features free admission to Gouda museums, songs from choirs and carolers and most importantly, the lighting of the soaring Christmas tree in front of the stunning Gothic town hall. The atmosphere, which gives the event its name (Gouda bij Kaarslicht, or "Gouda by Candlelight") is magical, as most buildings' windows are illuminated by flickering flames rather than electricity. This is quite a popular event, so go earlier in the day to enjoy yourself before staking out a good spot to watch the tree lighting.
25th-26th December	Christmas Kerstmis	The Dutch celebrate two days of Christmas: Eerste Kerstdag (the first day of Christmas) and Tweede Kerstdag (the second day of Christmas). Both are public holidays.
31st December	New Year's Eve Old Year's Day	In partying terms New Year's Eve is second only to Queen's Day. Dazzling fireworks displays, street parties and many venues holding special events.The fireworks at Scheveningen are particularly noteworthy.

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1st January	New Year's Day Nieuwjaar	A public holiday. The day before is called "Old Year's Day" and not "New Year's Eve."
Late January	Amsterdam International Fashion Week	AIFW is steadily establishing itself as a young and directional alternative to the world’s more traditional fashion weeks. Focusing on Amsterdam’s reputation as an inspiring city, the AIFW programme combines commerce with creativity. Alongside the catwalk show schedule the programme includes fashion events, lectures, exhibitions, retail initiatives and parties.
Late January - Early February	International Film Festival Rotterdam	The International Film Festival Rotterdam offers a quality selection of worldwide independent, innovative and experimental cinema and visual arts.

Late January - Early February	International Film Festival Rotterdam	The International Film Festival Rotterdam offers a quality selection of worldwide independent, innovative and experimental cinema and visual arts.
Early February	Maastricht Carnival	Maastricht holds the biggest of the Dutch carnivals, a three-day party that's extended to a full week by some seasoned revellers. The show starts for real on Carnival Sunday, when brass bands march through the city streets. Later, stages are set up for live music and DJs. Meanwhile, fancy dress parties take place in neighbourhoods throughout the city, each with music and entertainments laid on. Maastricht's many bars stay open all night through carnival, and the crowds enjoy singing and dancing in the streets, most of them wearing their 'pekskes' (carnival costumes). Everyone comes down to earth on Ash Wednesday, the day after carnival, when a portion of "heering biete" (herring and bread) is the traditional consolation.

12th - 21th March 2010	TEFAF International Fine Art and Antiques Fair	Held yearly in Maastricht, TEFAF offers you the chance to buy your very own masterpiece.
19th March - 21th May 2009	Keukenhof Bulb Fields	Magnificent displays of tulips, hyacinth and daffodils at this huge garden just outside Amsterdam. An extraordinary display of colour with some seven million flowers on show planted between woodland glades and streams.

19th March - 21th May 2009	Keukenhof Bulb Fields	Magnificent displays of tulips, hyacinth and daffodils at this huge garden just outside Amsterdam. An extraordinary display of colour with some seven million flowers on show planted between woodland glades and streams.
4th April 2009	Easter Pasen	The Dutch celebrate two days of Easter (on Sunday and the subsequent Monday).
End April	World Press Photo	Every year following the World Press Photo Contest, the winning images go on show in Amsterdam.
30th April	Queen's Day Koninginnedag	National holiday when the whole of the Netherlands dresses in orange and takes to the street to party in celebration of the Queen's birthday. Festivities start the night before on Koninginnenacht. Complete madness and lots of fun. Throughout the country - you can't escape!

4th May	Remembrance of the Dead Dodenherdenking	Held annually to commemorate all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of the Second World War.
5th May	Liberation Day Bevrijdingsdag	A public holiday to celebrate the liberation from the German occupation between 1940 and 1945
13th - 17th May 2008	Art Amsterdam KunstRAI	Some 125 galleries from the Netherlands and abroad display the latest developments in contemporary, international art.
21st May 2009	Ascension Day Hemelvaartsdag	A public holiday.
19th March - 21th May 2009	Keukenhof Bulb Fields	Magnificent displays of tulips, hyacinth and daffodils at this huge garden just outside Amsterdam. An extraordinary display of colour with some seven million flowers on show planted between woodland glades and streams.
21st May - 24th May 2009	Breda Jazz Festival	The festival offers a broad variety of jazz music: classical jazz, dixieland, swing, jump ’n jive as well as special theme concerts. Most concerts take place on outdoor stages in the historic city centre of Breda.
May-June	Sand Sculpture Festival	Building sandcastles enters a new realm at the International Sand Sculpture Festival on Scheveningen beach.
30th May - 1st June 2009	Pinkpop Festival	An open-air festival in Landgraaf with a capacity for 60,000 spectators. Last year's acts included Marilyn Manson, Maximo Park, Amy Winehouse, Lostprophets, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Muse, Macy Gray, The Kooks, Evanescence, Scissor Sisters, Arctic Monkeys, Linkin Park and The Smashing Pumpkins. There are rumours that Radiohead and Coldplay will be at Pinkpop 2008.

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1st June 2009	Pentecost / Whit Monday Pinksteren	The Dutch celebrate two days of Pentecost - on Sunday (Pentecost) and the subsequent Monday (Whit Monday). The Monday is a public holiday.
4th - 28th June 2008	The Holland Festival	A yearly cultural event in Amsterdam featuring opera, dance, music, theatre and film.
30th May - 1st June 2009	Pinkpop Festival	An open-air festival in Landgraaf with a capacity for 60,000 spectators. Last year's acts included Marilyn Manson, Maximo Park, Amy Winehouse, Lostprophets, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Muse, Macy Gray, The Kooks, Evanescence, Scissor Sisters, Arctic Monkeys, Linkin Park and The Smashing Pumpkins. There are rumours that Radiohead and Coldplay will be at Pinkpop 2008.
13th June 2009	Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day)	The outhern coastal towns of Vlaardingen and Scheveningen have been celebrating the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) for years. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in Scheveningen for the festivities, and the fishing boats are decorated especially for the occasion.
May-June	Sand Sculpture Festival	Building sandcastles enters a new realm at the International Sand Sculpture Festival on Scheveningen beach.

10th - 12th July 2009	North Sea Jazz Festival	The biggest jazz festival in the world held each year in Rotterdam. Just about every genre is represented there – from traditional New Orleans jazz, swing, bop and free jazz, to fusion, avant-garde jazz and electronic jazz. And it doesn’t stop at jazz; blues, gospel, funk, soul, hip hop, R&B, world beat and Latin enthusiasts have a great time as well.
21th - 24th July 2008	Four Days Marches De 4 Daagse	The largest marching event in the world. Held each year in Nijmegen as a means of promoting sport and exercise. Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). During the week of the Vierdaagse the accompanying festivities (known as the Vierdaagsefeesten) always draw a large crowd. It is known as one of the biggest festivities in the Netherlands, drawing a crowd of one million visitors. It starts on the Saturday before the marches, and ends on the Friday. There is free music during the week, and special events on each day, such as the famous firework display on Tuesday night.
31st July - 2nd August 2008	Amsterdam Gay Pride	The highlight of the festival is the canal parade on the 2nd of August when a fleet of boats, straining under the weight of sound systems, carry elaborately-dress revellers down the Princengracht canal.

Mid September	Robodock Festival	A unique, contemporary arts festival in an old shipyard in Amsterdam North. Featuring industrial-style performing arts, music, lots of robots, lights and fire. Highly recommended.
12th - 13th September 2009	Open Monument Day Open Monumentendag	Thousands of historical buildings and sites around the Netherlands are open to the public free of charge. Many locations also organise on-site activities like exhibitions, music and guided tours.