Public holiday in Netherlands
Liberation Day in Netherlands
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Liberation Day in the Netherlands marks the end of German occupation in 1945 and the country’s freedom after the Second World War. It is a nationwide public holiday on 5 May in the years listed in the calendar.
About Liberation Day in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Liberation Day is the annual national day linked to the end of the Second World War occupation and the restoration of freedom in 1945. It is observed nationwide and is especially close in meaning to Remembrance Day on 4 May, which commemorates the war dead the day before. The two dates are commonly understood as a pair: remembrance on one day, liberation and freedom on the next.
History
Liberation Day commemorates 5 May 1945, when the German occupation of the Netherlands ended. The holiday was established to mark that liberation and the return of national freedom after the war.
Traditions
A central national custom is the Liberation Day torch relay, which carries a flame from Wageningen to other parts of the country as a symbolic start to the day’s commemorations and festivals. Many communities also hold speeches, concerts and public events focused on freedom and democracy.
How Liberation Day is celebrated in Netherlands
The day is marked by official ceremonies, local celebrations and large open-air events in many places. It is also associated with the Liberation Day Festivals, which feature music and cultural programming in cities across the country.
Interesting facts
In the Netherlands, 5 May is a public holiday every five years for most employees, while in other years it is not automatically a day off for everyone. The calendar entries provided here list it as a public holiday in 2026 and 2027.
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.