Amsterdam Holidays & Events Calendar

Planning a vacation in another country can be complicated by the national holidays that country celebrates. You plan trips around your holidays – not theirs – but sometimes travel is difficult if you’re not just competing with other foreigners but also locals getting out of town at the same time.
So to help you plan your trip to Amsterdam, here’s a list of the national holidays celebrated in the Netherlands.

bold = national holidays (banks, businesses, attractions typically closed all day or part of the day)
italics = events/things to do that aren’t national holidays
regular text = not national holidays, but widely celebrated throughout the country
[brackets] = Dutch name for each holiday
* = specific non-moveable dates each year
† = celebrated every year, but only an “official” holiday once every 5 years (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, etc.)

2011 Calendar of Holidays & Events in Amsterdam

January in Amsterdam

1 – New Year’s Day [Nieuwjaar]*
4 – Epiphany [Driekoningen]
26-30 – Amsterdam Fashion Week
November-January – Ice Skating Rink in Museum Square

February in Amsterdam

no special events/holiday in February

March in Amsterdam

19 – Silent Walk [Stille Omgang]

April in Amsterdam

4-23 – Kleinkunst Festival [Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival]
10-11 – National Museum Weekend
13-23 – Imagine Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
22 – Good Friday [Goede Vrijdag]
24 – Easter Sunday [Eerste Paasdag]
25 – Easter Monday [Tweede Paasdag]
30 – Queen’s Day [Koninginnedag]*

May in Amsterdam

4 – Remembrance of the Dead [Dodenherdenking]*
5 – Liberation Day [Bevrijdingsdag]*†
5 – Haarlem Liberation Day music festival [Bevrijdingspop Haarlem]
14-15 – National Windmill Day [Nationale Molen-En Gemalendag]
14 – National Cycling Day

June in Amsterdam

1-23 – Holland Festival
2 – Ascension Day [Hemelvaartsdag]
Jun 5-Aug 28 – Vondelpark Open Air Theatre [Openlucht Theater]
12 – Whit Sunday [Eerste Pinksterdag]
13 – Whit Monday [Tweede Pinksterdag]
17-19 – Open Garden Days [Open Tuinen Dagen]
23-26 – Amsterdam Roots Festival
Jun 23-Jul 1 – ITs Festival Amsterdam

July in Amsterdam

Jun 5-Aug 28 – Vondelpark Open Air Theatre [Openlucht Theater]
Jul 5-Sep 9 – Sunsets Film Festival
7-17 – Over het IJ Festival

August in Amsterdam

Jun 5-Aug 28 – Vondelpark Open Air Theatre [Openlucht Theater]
Jul 5-Sep 9 – Sunsets Film Festival
5-21 – De Parade
4-7 – Amsterdam Gay Pride
5-7 – Jazz in Zandvoort
6 – Canal Pride Parade
6 – Dance Valley
12-14 – Landjuweel
13-21 – Canal Festival [Grachtenfestival]
19-21 – Heart Day [Hartjesdag]
26-28 – Uitmarkt
27-28 – IJmuiden Harbour Festival