Public holiday in Netherlands
Christmas Day in Netherlands
Friday, December 25, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Christmas Day is a nationwide public holiday in the Netherlands on 25 December. It is one of the two Christmas holidays observed in the country and is widely used for family time and quiet private celebrations.
About Christmas Day in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Christmas Day is a national public holiday observed across the country. It falls within the year-end holiday period, together with Boxing Day, which many Dutch people also treat as part of Christmas. The day is typically associated with time at home, festive meals and a slower pace of public life than on an ordinary weekday.
Traditions
Dutch Christmas meals often feature roast meat, game, or seafood, alongside festive breads and sweet baked goods. Many households decorate a Christmas tree and use candles or other winter lights at home. Church attendance is still part of the day for some families, especially among Christians, though Christmas in the Netherlands is also widely observed in a secular family setting.
How Christmas Day is celebrated in Netherlands
Christmas Day is commonly spent with close family or friends, often around a long meal or a later breakfast or brunch. Many people keep the day quiet, staying at home, exchanging gifts, visiting relatives, or going for a walk. Public events are limited compared with ordinary days, and much of the emphasis is on private gatherings rather than large public celebrations.
Interesting facts
In the Netherlands, the Christmas period is commonly treated as two separate public holidays: Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Dutch name for Boxing Day is Tweede Kerstdag, literally “Second Christmas Day.”
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2026: Government of the Netherlands · checked 20 Oct 2026
- 2027: Government of the Netherlands · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.