| Jan 1 |
New Year's Day |
Belg. & Neth. |
| Feb |
Carnival (Mardi Gras) |
Belg. & Neth. |
| March 20-May 18 |
Spring Flower Show
(huge gardens in bloom; www.keukenhof.nl) |
Keukenhof Gardens (near Lisse, Neth.) |
| March 23 |
Easter Sunday |
Belg. & Neth. |
| March 24 |
Easter Monday |
Belg. & Neth. |
| April 26 |
Bloemencorso (25-mile flower parade; www.bloemencorso.info)
|
Noordwijk to Haarlem, Neth. |
| April 30 |
Queen's Day (street fairs, parades, fireworks) |
Neth. |
| May 1 |
Labor Day (some closures) |
Belg. & Neth. |
| May 1 |
Ascension Day (religious festival) |
Belg. & Neth. |
| May 1 |
Procession of the Holy Blood (religious procession) |
Bruges, Belg. |
| May 4 |
Remembrance of World War II Dead (Dodenherdenking) |
Neth. |
| May 5 |
Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) |
Neth. |
| May 7-12 |
Art Amsterdam (formerly Kunst RAI contemporary art exhibition; www.kunstrai.nl) |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| May 11-12 |
Pentecost (Whitsun) and Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday; religious festivals) |
Belg. & Neth. |
| May 12 |
National Windmill Day (sails whirl, many mills open to public) |
Neth. |
| May 31-June 22 |
Holland Arts Festival (concerts, theater, etc.; www.hollandfestival.nl) |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| June 14-21 |
Amsterdam Roots Festival, Oosterpark (ethnic food, music, world culture; www.amsterdamroots.nl) |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| June 20 |
Grachtenloop (run around canals; www.grachtenloop.nl) |
Haarlem, Neth. |
| July 1 & 3 |
Ommegang Pageant (historic costumed parade to Grand Place; www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/Ommegang.htm) |
Brussels, Belg. |
| July 11-13 |
North Sea Jazz Festival (www.northseajazz.nl) |
Rotterdam, Neth. |
| July 21 |
Independence Day (parades, fireworks) |
Belg. |
| Aug 14-17 |
Carpet of Flowers (held only in even years; www.flowercarpet.be) |
Brussels, Belg. |
| Aug 15 |
Feast of the Assumption (religious festival) |
Belg. |
| Aug 16-24 |
Prinsengracht Canal Festival (music and other festivities; www.grachtenfestival.nl) |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| mid-Aug |
SAIL Amsterdam, held every five years, next in 2010 (tall ships and other historic boats; www.sail.nl) |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Sept 19-21 |
Jordaan Festival (neighborhood street party; www.jordaanfestival.nl)
|
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Oct 9 |
Yom Kippur (Jewish holiday, some closures) |
Netherlands |
| Nov 1 |
All Saints' Day |
Belg. |
| Nov 11 |
Armistice Day (banks closed) |
Belg. |
| Mid-Nov |
Sinterklaas ("Santa Claus") Procession |
Amsterdam, Neth. |
| Early Dec-Jan 1 |
"Winter Wonders" European Christmas Market (www.plaisirsdhiver.be) |
Brussels, Belg. |
| Dec 5 |
St. Nicholas' Eve (Sinterklaasavond; presents for children) |
Belg. & Neth. |
| Dec 25 |
Christmas |
Belg. & Neth. |
| Dec 26 |
"Second Day" of Christmas (Tweede Kerstdag) |
Neth. |
