Christmas Day in the Netherlands
Christmas Day, or Eerste Kerstdag, falls on 25 December and is one of the Netherlands’ two official Christmas public holidays; the next day is Tweede Kerstdag.[1] The day is observed through church services, seasonal gatherings and food traditions, though the exact plans vary between households and places.[2]
Public holiday and time off
The Dutch public holiday calendar lists Eerste en tweede kerstdag, or Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as public holidays. The dates stay fixed at 25 and 26 December.[1]
Being an official public holiday does not by itself give every employee a legal right to a day off. Whether an employee has the day off, and how the day is paid, depends on the applicable collective labour agreement (CAO) or employment contract.[1] Schools are closed on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.[3]
How people observe the day
Christmas is marked in the Netherlands in religious and social ways. Churches in many places hold a midnight service on Christmas Eve, and local venues and churches host Christmas carol concerts during the season.[2]
Christmas customs can vary by household and town. In the wider Christmas season, the Netherlands’ tourism board highlights local festive activities and light displays, from candlelight processions to larger city routes. Its guide notes that celebrations differ somewhat from one city or village to another.[2]
Food and seasonal customs
Kerststol, a sweet fruit bread filled with almond paste, is a familiar Dutch Christmas-season food. Another popular gathering meal is gourmetten: people cook bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables on a shared tabletop grill. The tourism board describes both as part of the Dutch Christmas table and seasonal food customs.[2]
Gift giving is also shaped by the place of Sinterklaas in the Dutch calendar. The tourism board says presents are usually exchanged on 5 December for Sinterklaas, so Christmas is not the main gift-giving day for everyone.[2]
What is open
Shop opening on public holidays is decided by municipalities. The national guidance says shops are generally expected to close on public holidays, including Christmas Day, but municipalities may permit them to open. Some shops, such as those in hospitals and filling stations, have a national exemption.[4]
Check local shop listings before setting out, since opening permission and actual hours can vary. Check opening hours and service times directly with the bank, government office or transport operator before you go.[4]
Frequently asked questions
When is Christmas Day in the Netherlands?
It is on 25 December. The following day, 26 December, is Tweede Kerstdag; both are listed as official public holidays.[1]
Do employees automatically get the day off?
No. Whether Christmas Day is a day off depends on the employee’s collective labour agreement or employment contract.[1]
Are schools closed on Christmas Day?
Yes. Government guidance lists both Eerste kerstdag and Tweede kerstdag as school-closure days.[3]
Are shops open on Christmas Day?
Municipalities decide whether shops may open on public holidays. Shops are generally expected to close, but local permission and national exemptions mean opening varies; check locally.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for Christmas Day in Netherlands:
- Public holidays in the Netherlands- Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, SZW
- Christmastime in the Netherlands- Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
- On which public holidays are schools closed in the Netherlands?- Government of the Netherlands
- When are shops open in the Netherlands?- Government of the Netherlands