King’s Day (Public holiday)
King’s Day (Koningsdag) celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday with parties, music, markets, and everyone wearing orange, especially in Amsterdam.
Carnival (Cultural holiday)
Carnaval is a lively, colorful festival celebrated in the southern Netherlands, especially in Maastricht and Den Bosch, marking the start of Lent. It features parades, costumes, music, and street parties.
Karneval / Fasching
A series of cultural events revolving around costumes and parades. In particular the areas of the Rhineland with Cologne and Düsseldorf as well as the region of Mainz and Wiesbaden are known for their Carnival.
Evening of St. Martin
Every year, on November 10, it is the Evening of St. Martin – an evening in memory of the bishop Martin of Tours, who did not want to be a bishop. Many Danes celebrate Mortens Aften by eating duck or goose in the company of friends and/or family, the evening before Mortens Day on November 11.
