Public holiday in Netherlands
Whit Monday in Netherlands
Monday, May 25, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Whit Monday is a nationwide public holiday in the Netherlands, falling the day after Pentecost Sunday. It gives many people a long spring weekend, even though it is not tied to a single Dutch national event.
About Whit Monday in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Whit Monday is observed across the country as an official public holiday. It is the Monday following Pentecost Sunday and is commonly treated as a day off within the spring holiday period. Its practical relevance in the Netherlands is mainly as a nationwide non-working day in the calendar, rather than as a holiday centered on a single national ceremony. Because it follows a Sunday observance, it often extends the Pentecost weekend into a longer break for many people.
History
Whit Monday is part of the Christian Pentecost calendar and became established in the Netherlands through the country’s long Protestant and broader Christian cultural history. As Dutch society became more secular, the day remained on the public-holiday calendar even for people who do not observe it religiously.
Traditions
There are no uniquely Dutch ritual customs that are widely associated with Whit Monday itself. In practice, the day is often linked with family time, outdoor activities, and the broader late-spring holiday period that surrounds Pentecost.
How Whit Monday is celebrated in Netherlands
Many people use Whit Monday as a day off for resting, visiting family, or going out for a walk or day trip. Where events are held, they are usually local and informal rather than nationally standardized.
Interesting facts
Whit Monday is one of the Dutch public holidays that falls on a Monday by definition, since it is tied to Easter and Pentecost rather than to a fixed calendar date. It comes immediately after Whit Sunday, which is also known as Pentecost Sunday.
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.