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Public holidays in the Netherlands 2026 and 2027

The official Dutch public holidays for 2026 and 2027, whether you get the day off (it depends on your collective agreement or contract), what King's Day, Remembrance Day and Liberation Day mean in practice, and how holidays affect shops, deadlines and school holidays.

Checked 7 Oct 2026

Applies to: Everyone living or working in the Netherlands. Regional school holidays are covered in the schools guide.
Effort: Low effort
Time needed: About 5 minutes to read

On this page

The Netherlands has a short list of official public holidays (officiële feestdagen). Unlike in some countries, Dutch law does not give employees a right to a day off on these holidays: whether you are free, and whether you get extra pay if you work, depends on your collective labour agreement (cao) or employment contract. In practice many employers give most of these days off, so check your own terms.

Two days in early May have special significance: Remembrance Day on 4 May, which is not a public holiday but is marked nationwide, and Liberation Day on 5 May.

Public holidays in 2026

New Year's Day (Nieuwjaarsdag): Thursday 1 January 2026
Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag): Friday 3 April 2026
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Eerste en tweede paasdag): 5 and 6 April 2026
King's Day (Koningsdag): Monday 27 April 2026
Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag): Tuesday 5 May 2026
Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag): Thursday 14 May 2026
Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (Eerste en tweede pinksterdag): 24 and 25 May 2026
Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Eerste en tweede kerstdag): Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December 2026

Public holidays in 2027

New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027
Good Friday: Friday 26 March 2027
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday: 28 and 29 March 2027
King's Day: Tuesday 27 April 2027
Liberation Day: Wednesday 5 May 2027
Ascension Day: Thursday 6 May 2027
Whit Sunday and Whit Monday: 16 and 17 May 2027
Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 December 2027

Do I get the day off?

There is no legal right to a day off on a public holiday. Your cao or contract states which holidays are days off and what happens if you have to work, for example extra pay or time off in lieu. Good Friday and Liberation Day in particular are not days off for everyone. If you are unsure, ask HR or check your cao.

Public holidays also matter for legal deadlines: if a period set by law for paying or responding ends on a Saturday, Sunday or official public holiday, it is extended to the next working day.

King's Day

King's Day on 27 April celebrates the King's birthday and is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, especially in Amsterdam, which fills with people in orange, street parties and markets, with events also on the evening before (Koningsnacht). Expect crowds, closed streets and changed public transport. I amsterdam publishes the year's practical information and local rules ahead of the day.

Remembrance Day (4 May) and Liberation Day (5 May)

On 4 May, Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking), the Netherlands commemorates all civilians and soldiers killed in war situations or peacekeeping operations since the outbreak of the Second World War. At 20:00 the whole country observes two minutes of silence; the national ceremony takes place on Dam Square in Amsterdam. By law, shops must close by 19:00 on 4 May, most cafés and restaurants honour the silence, and public transport and traffic largely come to a halt. It is respectful to stop and stay quiet at 20:00 wherever you are.
On 5 May, Liberation Day, the country celebrates its liberation and living in freedom, with Liberation Festivals across the country and shared Freedom Meals.

Shops, transport and services on holidays

Opening hours differ on public holidays. Many shops, including supermarkets, open with reduced hours on some holidays and close on others; government offices are closed. Public transport timetables often differ, so check before you travel. Plan ahead around Christmas, when many businesses close or have short hours.

School holidays

School holidays are set per region and are not the same as public holidays; Amsterdam is in region North. See schools in the Netherlands for the 2026–2027 dates.

Common mistakes

Assuming every public holiday is automatically a paid day off.
Planning a shop visit or event on the evening of 4 May without accounting for the early closing and the two minutes of silence.

Tips

Put the public holidays and your region's school holidays in your calendar early; travel and childcare are busiest around them.
If you are new to a job, ask which holidays your employer gives off, especially Good Friday and Liberation Day.
On King's Day in Amsterdam, avoid driving into the centre and allow extra time for public transport.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Is Sinterklaas or Carnival a public holiday?

No. They are widely celebrated in some families and regions, but they are not on the list of official public holidays.

What happens if King's Day falls on a Sunday?

In 2026 and 2027 it falls on a weekday (Monday and Tuesday). For later years, check the official list published by the government, which gives the exact date each year.

Official links

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 7 Oct 2027.

Government of the NetherlandsOfficial source
Public holidays in the Netherlands (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026
RijksoverheidOfficial source
Officiële feestdagen (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026
Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 meiOfficial source
4 May (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026
Two minutes of silence at 20:00; shops required by law to close by 19:00
Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 meiOfficial source
5 May (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026
I amsterdam
King's Day (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026
RijksoverheidOfficial source
Regio's schoolvakantie (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Accessed 7 Oct 2026