New Year’s Day in the Netherlands
New Year’s Day, or Nieuwjaarsdag, is an official public holiday in the Netherlands and falls on 1 January. Its clearest local hallmark is the Nieuwjaarsduik: a winter swim held at Scheveningen and elsewhere, followed by hot pea soup at the Scheveningen event.[1][2]
Public holiday and time off
The Netherlands lists New Year’s Day among its official public holidays. However, the holiday does not by itself give every employee a legal right to a day off. Whether someone is off work, and the arrangements that apply, depend on their collective labour agreement (CAO) or employment contract.[1][4]
The official guidance cited here does not set out a general substitute day when 1 January falls on a weekend. Check the relevant CAO or employment contract for workplace arrangements; the holiday’s official status does not itself promise an additional day off.[1][4]
The New Year’s dive
One Dutch way to mark the day is the Nieuwjaarsduik, or New Year’s dive. At Scheveningen, participants enter the cold North Sea together; the event’s local tourism page describes a collective warm-up before the swim and hot pea soup afterward. The Scheveningen dive began in 1965 with seven participants, according to the same source.[2]
The custom is not confined to one beach. The Amsterdam tourism organization describes an annual New Year’s swim at Zandvoort aan Zee, where people can also watch from the shore and have pea soup. These examples show how the swim is observed at different coastal locations; details depend on the local event.[3]
What to expect on 1 January
The dive is an outdoor activity, while the day may also be spent quietly or with other seasonal outings. The Amsterdam tourism guide lists museums, cinemas, ice rinks and New Year’s Day parties among options in the city. Opening arrangements vary by venue, so check directly before making plans.[3]
Shops, schools and planning
Shops are generally required to close on public holidays, including New Year’s Day, but municipalities can allow them to open. This means that opening hours can differ between places; check locally if you need a particular shop.[5]
Schools are listed as closed on New Year’s Day. Government guidance advises parents to check with their child’s school for its specific closure dates. If travelling to an event or attraction, confirm its opening and transport arrangements with the relevant provider.[6]
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year’s Day in the Netherlands?
It falls on 1 January and is listed as an official public holiday in the Netherlands.[1]
Does everyone get the day off work?
Are shops open on New Year’s Day?
Shops are generally required to close, but municipalities may allow them to open. Check the local rules and the shop’s own hours.[5]
What is the Nieuwjaarsduik?
It is a New Year’s Day winter swim. At Scheveningen, the local event includes a group warm-up before entering the North Sea and hot pea soup afterward.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Netherlands:
- Which days are official public holidays in the Netherlands?- Government of the Netherlands
- Unox New Year's Dive- The Hague & Partners
- Tips for New Year's Day in Amsterdam- I amsterdam
- Public holidays in the Netherlands- Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
- Trading hours- Business.gov.nl
- On which public holidays are schools closed in the Netherlands?- Government of the Netherlands