Annual events the Netherlands

In my country we love annual events and music festivals. That’s why we celebrate everything from blooming tulips to live music!

There are many Dutch festivals to choose from. Colorful to quirky Dutch celebrations, as well as world-renown Dutch music festivals, held in abunce throughout the summer months, mostly outdoors!

Several festivals in the Netherlands have been celebrated for decades, and have strong cultural ties to their local regions, far beyond the main festivals in Amsterdam. Here come the nicest and most note-worthy celebrations summed up for you:

January

• 1 January: New Year’s Day dive (Nieuwjaarsduik)

• 23 January–3 February: Rotterdam International Film Festival

February

• 19-21 February: Carnaval celebrated mainly in the south of the Netherlands

March

• 3–5 March: Carnival (Mardi Gras), Maastricht

• 13 March: Festival of trees (Boomfeestdag)

• 11–27 March: National Restaurant Week

• 23 March-14 May: Opening of Keukenhof, Lisse - one of the world's largest flower exhibitions

April

• 7-9 April: Paaspop Festival, Schijndel

• 13 April–7 July: World Press Photo exhibition

• 10–14 April: Flower Parade (Bloemencorso), Noordwijk to Haarlem

• Half April-Half May: Flower fields are blooming all around the country

• April 27: King’s Day (Koningsdag)

May

• 4 May: Remembrance Day (Herdenkingsdag)

• 5 May: Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag)

• 11–12 May: National Mill Day (Nationale Molendag)

• 20 May: Lakedance festival, Best

• 28 May: 7th Sunday Dance Festival, Erp

• 29 May–23 June: Holland Festival, Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, and Utrecht

June

• 3-4 June: Amsterdam Open Air Festival

• 8–10 June: Pinkpop in Landgraaf

• 15 June: Flag Day (Vlaggetjesdag), Scheveningen

• 24 June: Indian Summer Festival, Noord-Schaarwoude

July

• 12–14 July: North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam

• 18-21 July: Nijmeegse vierdaagse in Nijmegen

• 21-23 July: Tomorrowland Festival, Boom

• 21-30 July: Tilburgse Kermis in Tilburg

• 24 July: Roze maandag in Tilburg

• 26–27 July: Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval)

• 29-30 July: Milkshake Festival, Amsterdam

August

• 27 July–4 August: Amsterdam Gay Pride

• 5 August: Canal Parade, closing for Gay Pride in Amsterdam

• 3-6 August: Solar Weekend Festival, Roermond

• 9–17 August: Scheveningen International Fireworks Festival (Vuurwerkfestival)

• 9–18 August: Amsterdam Canal Festival (Grachtenfestival)

• 12 August: Lakedance festival, Best

• 18-20 August: Latin Village Festival, Velsen

• 23–26 August: Jordaan Festival, Amsterdam

• 25-27 August: Mysteryland outdoor festival, Haarlemmermeer

September

• 16 September: A day at the park outdoor festival, Rotterdam

• 16 September: Summerlake outdoor festival, Woerden

October

• 2–3 October: Relief of Leiden (Leidens Ontzet)

• 18-22 October Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

November - December

• 16 November–5 December: St Nicholas (Sinterklaas), Amsterdam

• 1 December-22 January: Amsterdam light festival

• 25–26 December: Christmas