Important Dutch Holidays and Busy Travel Dates to Know

Are you planning a trip to the Netherlands and trying to work out which dates to avoid — or plan around?

This page lists the Dutch school holidays and major events that affect travel each year. I’m a Dutch local and private guide, and I use this overview when helping visitors plan realistic itineraries.

Some people come because of these events. Others prefer to avoid them. Both are fine — as long as you know what to expect.

Use this page to:

• Plan around busy periods
• Choose quieter travel windows
• Or decide whether a specific event fits your trip

Whether you’re visiting during tulip season, Pride, or looking for calmer weeks, this overview helps you plan with fewer surprises.

Flower Season (Late March–Early May)

Busy, popular, but also expensive

Flower season is one of the most requested travel periods — and also one of the easiest to plan poorly.

What I regularly see:

• Keukenhof tickets purchased for wrong time slots
• Visitors assuming tulips bloom evenly for weeks
• Hotel prices rising sharply around mid-April

For outdoor flower fields, mid-April to early May is usually the most reliable window. Earlier or later visits depend more on indoor displays and weather.

If tulips are a priority, I recommend reading this before committing to dates:

⤷ If tulips are central to your trip, this page helps you judge whether the timing works for you:

King’s Day (April 27)

In one sentence: One day. Very busy. Very loud’s But no other experience is more Dutch then King’s Day

King’s Day is the biggest nationwide celebration of the year. Cities turn orange and normal routines stop completely.

If you want to experience King’s Day, I recommend planning the entire day around the celebration and doing nothing else. I don’t try to combine it with museums or sightseeing — it never works and usually leaves people frustrated.

If King’s Day is not your thing, I advise avoiding April 26–27 for Amsterdam and other major cities altogether. Hotels fill fast, transport is limited, and the city is focused entirely on the party.

Remembrance Day & Liberation Day (May 4–5)

May 4: solemn and respectful
May 5: celebrations and busy

On May 4 at 8 p.m., the Netherlands observes two minutes of silence. Trains stop. planes don’t take off, and traffic pauses. This is taken seriously.

If you’re in Amsterdam on May 4, I recommend attending the National Remembrance at Dam Square.
It is:

• Free to attend
• Open to the public
• Attended by the King and Royal Family

You can stand among locals and experience the silence firsthand. Be there early (7 p.m) and avoid bringing bags, as security can be strict.

⤷ Here is my article about Dam square and the event

May 5 celebrates liberation, with festivals and concerts across the country. Amsterdam and The Hague tend to be the busiest. I usually recommend booking accommodation well in advance for this period or staying in nearby cities.

Amsterdam Pride & Canal Parade (Late July–Early August)

Busy week. Extremely busy parade day (1st Saturday of the Month).

Pride week brings a welcoming, open atmosphere to Amsterdam. The Canal Parade is the highlight.

If you want to attend the parade, I recommend booking accommodation far in advance and accepting that the city will be full. Moving around spontaneously that day is difficult.

If Pride is not part of your plans, I usually suggest scheduling Amsterdam for a different week, as hotel prices and crowd levels spike sharply.

It is a fantastic celebration however, and extra special since it takes place on the water.

⤷ I’ve written an article just about the Canal Parade and how to see it best

Formula 1 in Zandvoort 2026 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix

August 21-23, 2026

The Formula 1 weekend is one of the most electric moments of the Dutch summer — even if you’re not a die-hard fan.

Zandvoort itself is small, and the race takes place right next to the beach and dunes, which makes the setting special. The atmosphere spills far beyond the circuit, with fans everywhere, trains full of team colors, and a buzz you simply don’t get at other times of year.

That said, it does require planning.

What I see during race weekend (and the days before and after):

• Hotels in Zandvoort and Haarlem selling out far in advance a mean a year or longer, prices skyrocket
• Trains between Amsterdam and Zandvoort becoming very crowded, the is no timetable. Just trains every 5-10 minutes
• Prices rise not just locally, but also in Amsterdam

If you’re attending the race, I recommend staying outside Zandvoort and travelling early in the morning. Expect a wait time to board the train from Amsterdam to Zandvoort of about 1 hour. Do not trust timetables, or travel planners for that journey.

If you’re not attending but are in the area, expect everything to feel busy, even in Amsterdam.

For many visitors, this weekend is intense — but also memorable. If you enjoy energy, crowds, and big events, it can be a great time to be here. If not, book another weekend.

August: The Busiest Month Overall

August is the fullest month of the year in the Netherlands — not just because of Dutch school holidays, but because much of southern Europe is travelling at the same time.

Amsterdam, in particular, fills from early morning until late evening. Museums reach capacity quickly, hotel prices peak, and spontaneous plans become harder.

That doesn’t mean August is a bad time to visit — it just needs a different approach.

If August is your only option, I usually advise staying outside Amsterdam and treating the city as a day trip, rather than your base. Smaller cities, countryside areas, and coastal towns feel far more relaxed this month.

I also recommend:

• Starting sightseeing early in the day
• Limiting yourself to one major sight per day
• Leaving room to wander rather than rushing

Handled well, August can still be enjoyable — especially if you shift the focus away from ticking boxes.

Sinterklaas (Dec. 5)

Sinterklaas is one of the most traditional Dutch celebrations, and it’s very much focused on children and families.

You’ll see parades in the week before, decorations, and a festive atmosphere in towns and cities. For visitors, it’s pleasant to experience without requiring any special planning.

I don’t usually plan trips around Sinterklaas, but if you’re here in late November / early December, it adds a local layer to daily life without affecting logistics.

PS: you really want to try some seasonal snacks just available around Sinterklaas: kruidnoten, pepernoten, marsepein, amandelstaaf, and gevulde speculaas are all delicious!

Christmas (Dec. 25–26)

Christmas in the Netherlands is calm rather than busy. People celebrate with family. And we have two Christmas days, not one. Which confuses many North Americans.

Especially outside of the city center in Amsterdam make sure to check and plan your meals carefully. Walk in is rarely possible.

Cities feel quieter, streets are relaxed, and there’s a noticeable pause in the rhythm of daily life. Restaurants book up early, and many operate with set menus. Some are closed. Make sure to plan your meals in advance for those two days.

I recommend checking opening times in advance if museum visits are part of your plans, especially on Christmas Day itself. The Rijksmuseum is open. But many are closed or operate limited hours.

If you enjoy a slower pace and quieter streets, this can be a very pleasant time to be here. Just enjoy the Christmas lights. Amsterdam has a great Winter festival every year at RAI.

Another fantastic festival you should miss is the Amsterdam Light Festival. Best seen from the water on special canal cruises.

⤷ Here is my article on Winter in the Netherlands with more information

And of course in the weeks leading up to Christmas German Christmas markets are the best. And something not many people realize Germany is just around the corner.

⤷ My friend Cate from “My Germany Vacation” has some excellent content on German Christmas markets.

New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31)

I’ll be very direct about this one.

New Year’s Eve is not a good night to be in the Netherlands, and especially not in Amsterdam.

Unlike cities with organised public shows, New Year here is largely driven by private fireworks, much of it illegal. That means:

• Extremely loud, unpredictable bangs
• Fireworks set off at street level
• Damage to cars, bicycles, windows, and street furniture
• A general sense of chaos rather than celebration

This is not about beautiful displays — it’s about noise and disruption. Even people who live here often leave the city or stay indoors.

If New Year’s Eve is an important part of your trip, I usually advise choosing a different European city altogether, such as London or Berlin, where the evening is organised around large public events.

If you are already in the Netherlands on Dec. 31, I recommend treating it as a quiet night in, staying well away from city centres, and planning your sightseeing for another day.

This is one moment where I feel my honesty matters more than the romantic picture I often see in social media or media that are not local. Planning around new year’s eve will genuinely improve your trip.

My Practical Take

If your dates are flexible, planning around the periods above usually leads to an easier trip — simpler hotel choices, calmer days, and fewer last-minute surprises. Except of course if these events are the reason of your trip. Then you just need plan your trip well.

If you’re still choosing dates, start here:

⤷ When to visit the Netherlands →

I want some help planning the right dates, and things to do I can fine tune your travel plans with my planning services.