Welcome to
the Netherlands

Culture & leisure

Dutch culture has its own character. We try to give you some guidance here. We have listed the official Dutch holidays. And an overview of useful websites will help you get ahead online.

The Dutch

culture

The Netherlands has its own customs, habits and traditions.
As an international, you will undoubtedly encounter typical Dutch things.
You may not always understand them immediately.
Or you might just be used to something completely different.

Because we speak to many expats, we have some experience with cultural differences.
By way of a brief introduction to Dutch culture, we have listed some primal Dutch things.

The Dutch are a down-to-earth people, straightforward and we love bikes!
Furthermore, we are thrifty and have everything well insured.
Because we are a small country, we have always sought connections with other countries.
Thus, we speak several languages and are a trading country.

Very Hollandish

Typically Dutch
  • Directness (honest or blunt)
  • Punctual (arriving on time and a deal is a deal)
  • Consultation (‘poldering‘ to consensus).
  • Complaining (about prices and the weather)
  • Clean (from streets to window sills)
  • Ordinary (is crazy enough)
  • Economical (not a penny too much)
  • Task-oriented (not who but what)
  • Individualistic (independent instead of together)
  • Open & friendly,
    but also agenda & plans
Dutch food
  • Herring (raw fish with onion)
  • Stroopwafels (like sweet cake)
  • Peppernuts (with St. Nicholas)
  • Hutspot (with bacon and gravy)
  • Mashed potatoes (potatoes, vegetables and mash them up)
  • ‘Febo’ (croquette from the wall)
  • Chocolate sprinkles (nice and messy)
  • Licorice (you either love it or hate it)
Dutch customs and traditions
  • ‘Oliebollen’ with New Year’s Eve
  • Bread at lunch
  • Setting off fireworks on New Year’s Eve
  • Rusks with ‘muisjes’ (‘mice’) at births
  • ‘Sinterklaas’ and ‘Pakjesavond’ (St. Nicolas and ‘Presents Eve’)
  • Collecting coupon stamps
  • Elfstedentocht (Ice skating tour)
  • (Nijmegen’s) 4Days Marches
  • Doing everything by bicycle
  • Swimming diploma
  • Congratulations to the birthday person (Congratulating everyone on birthdays, not just the birthday person)

Public holidays 2024 🎉 

  • 🍾 Nieuwjaarsdag (New Year’s Day): Monday 1 January 2024
  • ✝ Goede vrijdag (Good Friday): Friday 29 March 2024
  • 🐣 Eerste en tweede paasdag (Easter Sunday and Easter Monday): Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April 2024
  • 👑 Koningsdag (King’s Day): Saturday 27 April 2024
  • 🎈 Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day): Sunday 5 May 2024
  • ☁ Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension Day): Thursday 9 May 2024
  • 🌼 Eerste en tweede pinksterdag (Whit Sunday and Whit Monday): Sunday 19 and Monday 20 May 2024
  • 🎄 Eerste en tweede kerstdag (Christmas Day and Boxing Day): Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December 2024

More information: Which days are official public holidays in the Netherlands? | Government.nl

Testimonials

Anna Maria - Griekenland
Maria Anna from Greece
Without expectations, Anna Maria came to the Netherlands. She surrounds herself with people from different countries. Sharing her own culture with others helped her feel at home in the Netherlands.
Loes-large
Immigration Advisor Loes
“By providing information and answers you can reassure expats, it’s not nothing to leave home and hearth for a job in the Netherlands!”