What's on
What's on in the Netherlands
Events worth planning a trip around. We check each date with the organiser, but confirm before you book.
November 2026
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5 Nov – 8 Nov
Music · Utrecht
Le Guess Who?
A four-day international music festival in Utrecht, with guest curators and acts from music scenes around the world. Worth a long weekend in the city if you like finding artists you haven't heard yet.
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7 Nov – 14 Nov
Arts · Eindhoven
GLOW Eindhoven
For eight November nights Eindhoven becomes a walking route of light art, under the 2026 theme Connect. You follow the route through the city after dark, and there's a separate ticketed part at the Philips Stadium.
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13 Nov – 3 Jan 2027
Market · Valkenburg aan de Geul
Kerststad Valkenburg
A small Limburg town gives itself over to Christmas for seven weeks. The draw is shopping for gifts at stalls inside its underground caves, with lights and miniature villages, then wandering the decorated streets above ground.
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15 Nov
Tradition · Amsterdam
Sinterklaas Intocht Amsterdam
Stand among Dutch families in central Amsterdam to watch Sinterklaas and his helpers arrive, the city's 88th edition of this Sunday welcome. It's the most child-centred day of the Dutch holiday season, so go early for a view.
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26 Nov – 17 Jan 2027
Arts · Amsterdam
Amsterdam Light Festival
Walk or take a boat past light artworks placed along Amsterdam's canals after dark. The 15th edition runs for over seven weeks through the winter, so it fits most December or January city breaks.
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27 Nov – 27 Dec
Market · Maastricht
Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof
Maastricht's main square becomes a month-long winter fair, with a Christmas market, rides and food stalls under thousands of lights. Entry costs nothing, and the food side stays open late after the gift stalls shut at 22:00.
Free entry Official site Our guide
December 2026
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11 Dec
Tradition · Gouda
Gouda bij Kaarslicht
Gouda's 71st candlelit evening fills the old centre with a day-long programme that builds to a ceremony around a Christmas tree. With the town hall under renovation, the 2026 focus moves to the Waag.
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12 Dec – 13 Dec
Festival · Deventer
Dickens Festijn
Over 950 costumed characters from Charles Dickens's novels fill the old Bergkwartier in Deventer for one weekend. You stroll through their Victorian England on a timed ticket, so choose your slot in advance.
EUR 7.50 in advance, EUR 9 at the door, children up to 7 free Official site Our guide
January 2027
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1 Jan 2027 12:00
Tradition · Scheveningen
Unox Nieuwjaarsduik Scheveningen
Start the year by running into the North Sea with a crowd at the largest of the Dutch New Year's dives. Gates and ticket sales open at 10:30, and the plunge is at noon, so bring swimwear, a towel and warm clothes.
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13 Jan – 16 Jan 2027
Music · Groningen
ESNS Eurosonic Noorderslag
Groningen's January showcase of new European bands, run alongside a music industry conference. Come to catch acts before they get big, on stages around the city.
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28 Jan – 7 Feb 2027
Arts · Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Eleven days of film in Rotterdam at the turn of January and February, including world premieres. Check the 2027 programme and build a winter city break around the screenings you want.
February 2027
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7 Feb – 9 Feb 2027
Tradition · 's-Hertogenbosch
Carnaval in Oeteldonk
For three days 's-Hertogenbosch takes the carnival name Oeteldonk, with a prince's arrival and a big street parade among the events. Come for the street life, and check the Agenda on the official site for what's on each day.
March 2027
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13 Mar – 18 Mar 2027
Arts · Maastricht
TEFAF Maastricht
Art and antiques dealers from around the world bring their stock to Maastricht for this fine art fair, covering 7,000 years of objects. Buy a ticket and browse, even with no plan to buy.
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18 Mar – 9 May 2027
Festival · Lisse
Keukenhof
The spring garden in Lisse opens for under eight weeks in 2027. Spend a day walking among millions of flowers and the flower shows, from 08:00 to 19:00 daily, with last entry at 18:15.
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26 Mar – 24 Sep 2027 10:00
Market · Alkmaar
Alkmaar Cheese Market
Every Friday morning from spring to autumn, porters haul cheeses across the Waagplein while traders bargain and the crowd looks on. Come for the 10:00 bell and stay until it ends at 13:00.
April 2027
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14 Apr – 18 Apr 2027
Tradition · Noordwijk
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek
Floats covered in hyacinths travel 42 kilometres from Noordwijk to Haarlem on the Saturday of this five-day spring festival. Pick one village along the route, get there by public transport or bike, and watch from the roadside or a covered stand.
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27 Apr 2027
Tradition · Lelystad
Koningsdag (King's Day)
The national holiday for the King's birthday. In 2027 the royal family spends the day in Lelystad, Flevoland, so that's where to go if you hope to see them. Anywhere else, check the programme of the town you're staying in.
May 2027
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6 May – 9 May 2027
Music · Breda
Breda Jazz Festival
Four days of jazz in Breda, in its 55th edition, which the organiser calls the oldest and largest four-day jazz festival in Europe. Plan a spring long weekend in the city around it.
June 2027
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11 Jun – 20 Jun 2027
Arts · Terschelling
Oerol
For ten days in June, Terschelling in the Wadden Sea turns into a stage for plays, art and parties. You go from one location to the next across the island rather than sitting in one theatre.
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18 Jun – 20 Jun 2027
Music
Pinkpop
Three June days of live music on the Megaland site in Landgraaf, in the far south of the country. Check the programme and the organiser's stay options before you travel.
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25 Jun – 27 Jun 2027
Sport · Assen
TT Assen
Three days of motorcycle racing at the TT Circuit in Assen, in the north of the country. Buy your tickets from the circuit, and plan your stay around the race weekend.
July 2027
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9 Jul – 11 Jul 2027
Music · Rotterdam
NN North Sea Jazz Festival
Three days at Rotterdam Ahoy, with far more than the name suggests: blues, soul, funk, hip hop and R&B share the bill with jazz. Check the line-up as it's announced before choosing your tickets.
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20 Jul – 23 Jul 2027
Sport · Nijmegen
4Days Marches (Vierdaagse)
Over 45,000 walkers from more than 70 countries cover 30, 40 or 50 kilometres a day for four days around Nijmegen. Registration for 2027 isn't open yet; the organiser will post the details on its site.
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31 Jul – 8 Aug 2027
Festival · Amsterdam
Pride Amsterdam
Nine days of LGBTQIA+ events across Amsterdam, including a walk, park party, street parties and open-air film. The best known is the Canal Parade on Saturday 7 August, when the boat parade sails through the city's canals.
August 2027
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26 Aug – 29 Aug 2027
Food & drink · Maastricht
Preuvenemint
Four late-summer days of eating and drinking on Maastricht's Vrijthof, with no charge at the gate. Graze your way around the square at an event that also raises money for good causes.
Free entry Official site Our guide
September 2027
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September 2027 Exact dates not announced
Tradition
Corso Zundert
Twenty neighbourhoods of Zundert compete with huge dahlia-covered floats pushed through the streets by hand. It's normally the first Sunday of September, but the organiser hasn't posted the 2027 date yet.
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3 Sep – 5 Sep 2027
Festival · Rotterdam
Wereldhavendagen
Rotterdam's working port opens to the public for a weekend of unusual ships, harbour trips and shows on the water. 2027 is the 50th edition.
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10 Sep – 19 Sep 2027
Arts · Vlissingen
Film by the Sea
Vlissingen's seaside film festival, with film and literature as its main theme, reaches its 29th edition in 2027. Pair a few screenings with a few days in the town; the 2027 programme isn't out yet.
October 2027
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October 2027 Exact dates not announced
Tradition · Leiden
3 October: Leidens Ontzet
Leiden remembers the end of its 1574 siege with a funfair, herring, hutspot and hymn singing. It's held on 3 October, which falls on a Sunday in 2027, and the organiser hasn't yet posted that year's programme.
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23 Oct – 31 Oct 2027
Arts · Eindhoven
Dutch Design Week
For nine October days Eindhoven shows off new design across venues in the city. Use the festival app to plan your route between them, and allow more than one day if you can.