If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, you’ll want to know when the city hits pause—shops, museums, and restaurants sometimes close for public holidays. Dutch holidays have their own rhythm, with most packed into spring and then a long, dry spell from late May until December. Booking flights, locking in hotels, or just trying to avoid unexpected closures? Having Amsterdam’s public holidays for 2026 and 2027 handy can really help.
Dutch public holidays blend Christian traditions with national events, and honestly, the calendar might surprise you if you’re used to American holidays. There’s no Fourth of July, no Thanksgiving, and Labor Day doesn’t exist here. Instead, you’ll bump into King’s Day, Ascension Day, and two-day runs of Easter, Whitsun, and Christmas. Getting familiar with these dates helps you plan better—maybe you’ll join the party, or maybe you’ll dodge the crowds. You can always subscribe to the Essentially Amsterdam newsletter for tips on navigating the city like you live there.
Amsterdam Public Holiday Dates for 2026 and 2027
Every year, the Dutch holiday calendar shifts a bit since several holidays depend on Easter’s date. Here’s the full rundown of official Netherlands public holidays for 2026.
Nieuwjaarsdag (New Year’s Day) lands on Thursday, January 1. Goede Vrijdag (Good Friday) arrives Friday, April 3. Eerste Paasdag (Easter Sunday) falls on April 5, and Tweede Paasdag (Easter Monday) follows on April 6. Koningsdag (King’s Day) comes on Monday, April 27. Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension Day) is Thursday, May 14. Eerste Pinksterdag (Whit Sunday) is May 24, and Tweede Pinksterdag (Whit Monday) is May 25. Eerste Kerstdag (Christmas Day) falls on Friday, December 25, and Tweede Kerstdag (Boxing Day) is Saturday, December 26.
In 2027, things move around a bit. Nieuwjaarsdag is Friday, January 1. Goede Vrijdag shifts to March 26. Eerste Paasdag is March 28, and Tweede Paasdag is March 29. Koningsdag lands on Tuesday, April 27. Hemelvaartsdag is Thursday, May 6. Eerste Pinksterdag is May 16, with Tweede Pinksterdag on May 17. Eerste Kerstdag is Saturday, December 25, and Tweede Kerstdag is Sunday, December 26.
Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) on May 5 is a full public holiday just once every five years. The last one was 2025, and the next won’t come until 2030. Most people don’t get the day off in the years between.
Which Dutch Holidays Usually Mean a Day Off
Not every Dutch public holiday guarantees a day off, which can be a bit baffling. Dutch law doesn’t force employers to give paid leave on any public holiday. Your time off depends on your contract or your collective labor agreement (CAO). According to official government guidance, your CAO spells out which holidays you’re actually free.
Most employers do give days off for all the main holidays, but two tend to trip people up. Goede Vrijdag shows up on the official list, but most workers don’t get it off. Some government offices and a few sectors close, but don’t count on it citywide. Bevrijdingsdag on May 5 is also confusing—outside those five-year cycles, it’s just a regular workday for most, though a few companies might offer a half day.
So, if you’re visiting Amsterdam on Goede Vrijdag or a non-milestone Bevrijdingsdag, the city feels pretty normal. Shops open, trams run, and museums stick to their usual hours. On other holidays, you’ll notice shorter hours, closed government offices, and a much quieter city center.
What to Expect in Amsterdam on Public Holidays
Amsterdam really changes on its big holidays. If you know what’s coming, you can either dive in or steer clear.
Koningsdag on April 27? It’s wild. The whole city dresses in orange. Canal boats get packed, music blares, and the streets turn into one huge flea market where anyone can sell their stuff. Crowds are massive, public transit barely works, and regular shops close. The Amsterdam events calendar calls it the city’s most energetic—and honestly, most chaotic—day.
Tweede Paasdag and Tweede Pinksterdag are much calmer. Locals usually spend these Mondays with family or take a day trip. City center supermarkets often open with limited hours, and most big museums stay open. Restaurants get busy, so booking ahead is smart.
Hemelvaartsdag always falls on a Thursday, and a lot of Dutch people take Friday off to make a long weekend. The city fills up with domestic tourists. Parks like Vondelpark get crowded fast, and brunch spots? Expect a wait.
Tweede Kerstdag, the day after Christmas, brings a slower pace. Families stay home, and the city feels quiet. Some shops reopen for post-Christmas sales, but don’t expect everything back to normal. In 2026, Tweede Kerstdag is on a Saturday, so it won’t really disrupt the work week.
Dutch Holiday Names Explained in English
Dutch holiday names actually make sense once you see the pattern. They use “eerste” (first) and “tweede” (second) for multi-day holidays, which you won’t find in the US.
Nieuwjaarsdag is just “New Year’s Day.” Goede Vrijdag means “Good Friday,” same as in English. Eerste Paasdag is “First Easter Day” (Easter Sunday), and Tweede Paasdag is “Second Easter Day” (Easter Monday). This first-and-second style, as the Amsterdam Tips holiday guide points out, also applies to Whitsun and Christmas.
Eerste Pinksterdag is “First Whitsun Day” (Whit Sunday), Tweede Pinksterdag is “Second Whitsun Day” (Whit Monday). Most Americans don’t know Whitsun—it’s Pentecost, 50 days after Easter.
Eerste Kerstdag means “First Christmas Day,” or December 25. Tweede Kerstdag, “Second Christmas Day,” is December 26, which is Boxing Day in the UK. When you spot these names on signs or schedules, you’ll know what’s going on.
Best Long-Weekend Planning Opportunities in 2026-2027
If you time your trip right, you can turn a short visit into a long weekend with barely any extra vacation days.
In 2026, Nieuwjaarsdag is on a Thursday. Take off Friday, January 2, and you get a four-day weekend to kick off the year in Amsterdam. Easter brings another chance: Goede Vrijdag through Tweede Paasdag (April 3-6) gives you Friday to Monday off—if your employer observes Good Friday, you’re set.
The best stretch in 2026 comes with Koningsdag and the early May cluster. Koningsdag is Monday, April 27, so you get a three-day weekend. Hemelvaartsdag on Thursday, May 14, lets you take Friday, May 15, for another four-day break. NL Compass’s bridge-day guide shows how using these “bridge days” can turn 19 vacation days into 36+ days off. Tweede Pinksterdag on Monday, May 25, wraps up a pretty epic spring.
In 2027, the pattern shifts. Koningsdag falls on a Tuesday, so if you take Monday, April 26 off, you get four days. Hemelvaartsdag is Thursday, May 6, and another Friday bridge day is possible. Easter moves to late March, giving you a long weekend at the month’s end.
If you’re coming from the US, spring 2026 stands out—so many holidays cluster between April and May that it’s hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the official public holidays in the Netherlands in 2026?
The Netherlands has 10 official public holidays in 2026: New Year’s Day (January 1), Good Friday (April 3), Easter Sunday (April 5), Easter Monday (April 6), King’s Day (April 27), Ascension Day (May 14), Whit Sunday (May 24), Whit Monday (May 25), Christmas Day (December 25), and Boxing Day (December 26). Liberation Day isn’t a day off in 2026.
What are the official public holidays in the Netherlands in 2027?
In 2027, the same holidays show up, but the dates change. Good Friday moves to March 26, Easter to March 28 and 29, Ascension Day to May 6, and Whit Sunday and Monday to May 16 and 17. Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Saturday and Sunday in 2027, so there are fewer weekday closures.
Is Liberation Day a public holiday in the Netherlands in 2026, and who gets it off?
Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) on May 5 isn’t a full public holiday in 2026. It’s only a day off every five years—the last was 2025, the next is 2030. Some employers offer a half or full day off through their CAO, but most people work as usual.
Which public holidays fall in May 2026 in the Netherlands, and what are the exact dates?
May 2026 brings two official public holidays: Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag) on Thursday, May 14, and Whit Monday (Tweede Pinksterdag) on Monday, May 25. Whit Sunday (Eerste Pinksterdag) is May 24. Liberation Day on May 5 is observed but isn’t a day off in 2026.
How many public holidays are there in the Netherlands in 2026?
There are 10 official public holidays in the Netherlands in 2026. If you count Liberation Day, even though most don’t get it off, the number goes up to 11. The actual days off you get depend on your contract or CAO.
How can I maximize vacation days in the Netherlands in 2026 using bridge days around public holidays?
If you’re looking to stretch your vacation days in the Netherlands for 2026, try using “bridge days” (brugdagen). Basically, you take a day off right after a Thursday holiday, usually the Friday, and—voilà—you get a four-day weekend.
For example, take Friday, January 2 off after New Year’s Day. Then do the same on Friday, May 15 after Ascension Day. That way, you instantly score two long weekends without burning too many days.
The spring stretch is particularly handy. Between Koningsdag (April 27) and Whit Monday (May 25), you can really stack your time off if you plan right.
Honestly, NL Compass’s vacation planning guide lays it all out. With a bit of clever bridge-day planning, you can almost double your days away from work.
