Whit Monday in the Netherlands
Whit Monday, known in Dutch as Tweede Pinksterdag, is an official public holiday in the Netherlands. It follows Pentecost Sunday, but whether employees get the day off depends on their employment terms.[1]
A second day of Pentecost
Whit Monday is the second day of the Netherlands’ two-day Whitsun period: the Sunday and Monday known as Eerste and Tweede Pinksterdag. In Christian tradition, Pentecost recalls the Holy Spirit’s coming to the apostles; it also marks the end of the Easter season, counted as fifty days from Easter Sunday.[1][2]
The Monday has a specific place in Dutch Catholic practice. The National Council for Liturgy notes that worshippers in some places in the Netherlands have a custom of attending Mass on the Monday after Pentecost. The council says that the Catholic Church now observes Mary, Mother of the Church, on that day.[2]
Public holiday, but not a guaranteed day off
The Dutch government lists Whit Monday among the country’s official public holidays. That status does not automatically give every employee a day off: the applicable collective labour agreement, known as a CAO, or the employment contract sets whether the employee is off and how pay is handled.[1][3]
Schools are in principle closed on Tweede Pinksterdag, according to the Dutch government. For employees and families, the practical effect therefore depends on workplace arrangements, while school pupils can generally expect a day without lessons.[4]
Shops and planning
Shops must generally close on public holidays, including Whit Monday, but municipalities may allow them to open. Some types of shops, including pharmacies and shops at railway stations, are exempt from the Trading Hours Act. Opening times can therefore differ by municipality and by shop; check locally before setting out.[5]
The holiday itself follows Pentecost Sunday, so its calendar date changes from year to year. The government’s holiday information identifies the paired Sunday and Monday as Whit Sunday and Whit Monday; the site's calendar gives the Monday date for each listed year.[1]
Whit Monday in the Netherlands: FAQs
Is Whit Monday an official public holiday in the Netherlands?
Yes. The Dutch government lists Whit Monday, or Tweede Pinksterdag, as an official public holiday.[1]
Do employees automatically get the day off?
No. Dutch law does not guarantee a day off on public holidays; check the applicable CAO or employment contract.[1]
Are schools closed on Whit Monday?
Schools are in principle closed on Tweede Pinksterdag, according to the Dutch government.[4]
Can shops open on Whit Monday?
Municipalities may allow shops to open on this public holiday, and some shop types are exempt from the usual restrictions. Check local opening information.[5]
Sources and references
Sources used for Whit Monday in Netherlands:
- Which days are official public holidays in the Netherlands?- Government of the Netherlands
- Pinksteren en Tweede Pinksterdag- Nationale Raad voor Liturgie
- Public holidays in the Netherlands- Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, SZW
- Op welke feestdagen is mijn kind vrij van school?- Rijksoverheid
- Trading hours- Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO