Published December 23, 2024
December is a month full of festive events in the Netherlands, kicking off on the 5th of December with the celebration of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas). After Saint Nicholas leaves The Netherlands and goes back to his home country Spain, the Christmas spirit usually rises up in the country. At the end of the year, after Christmas, Dutchies celebrate New Year’s like no other. Read all about the Dutch festive activities with the holidays just around the corner.
The tradition of Sinterklaasavond (Saint Nicholas' evening) on December 5th includes the exchange of gifts, often accompanied by poems and jokes. This celebration is essentially the Dutch version of Christmas gift-giving, although it is a separate holiday from Christmas itself. The end of Sinterklaas marks the beginning of the lead-up to Christmas, and that's when Christmas trees start to appear. It’s common in the Netherlands for each household to get a Christmas tree and decorate it with lights and ornaments. You'll also see trees in many public places.
You may already notice some Christmas decorations at the office. Before the holidays begin, most offices like to put up Christmas trees and festive lights. It’s also common to have some sort of Christmas celebration with your colleagues. Not every company organizes a big party; some might only have an ugly Christmas sweater day, a small Christmas lunch, or Christmas drinks. Most companies will host Christmas drinks or even a Christmas dinner around mid-December. These are often informal gatherings where colleagues enjoy mulled wine (glühwein), hot chocolate, or a beer, along with plenty of seasonal snacks.
You will also likely receive a kerstpakket, a traditional Christmas gift package given by employers to employees during the holiday season. It’s a popular and much-anticipated part of Dutch workplace culture. Inside the kerstpakket, you can expect items like kerststol (a sweet bread, often filled with dried fruit, nuts, and marzipan), wine, cheese (high-quality Dutch cheeses like Edam or Gouda), and personal care items (such as lotions, candles, or bath products). The kerstpakket is eagerly awaited and fosters a sense of goodwill and appreciation in the workplace. Many employees also exchange kerstpakketten with family members or enjoy the treats and products during the holidays. Sometimes companies have other sorts of gifts for their employees at the end of the year.
On Christmas Eve, many Dutch people have an intimate dinner with their immediate family members. It's not widely celebrated with large parties as in some other countries, but some people attend church services or enjoy time with loved ones. Dutch people often split Christmas Day and Boxing Day (the second day of Christmas) between their own family and the family of their in-laws. For example, Christmas Day might be celebrated with your own parents, and on Boxing Day, you visit your in-laws. If you don’t have in-laws, Boxing Day is often spent with friends. Some people also go to restaurants or cafés to enjoy a meal or spend time in the community.
The traditional Dutch Christmas dinner often includes roast meats, vegetables, and potatoes, along with dishes like gourmetten (a fun, interactive Dutch-style fondue or mini-grill meal), where small cuts of meat and vegetables are cooked on a tabletop grill in the middle of the table. Family and friends may exchange presents, though it’s not as emphasized as in other countries like the United States. In some families, the gift exchange happens on Christmas Eve, while in others it’s done on Christmas Day.
For some Dutch people, Christmas holds religious significance, and they attend church services, particularly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. These services are often beautiful and celebratory, with choirs singing Christmas carols and people reflecting on the birth of Christ.
In the Netherlands, New Year’s Eve (known as Oud en Nieuw) is celebrated with a mix of festive traditions, family gatherings, and public celebrations. Families often stay home, sharing a good meal, playing games, watching television, counting down to midnight, and then going outside to watch or light fireworks. A traditional treat eaten during New Year’s is oliebollen, deep-fried dough balls typically filled with raisins or apples and dusted with powdered sugar. They are enjoyed by many as a festive snack and are sold by bakeries or street vendors, but families also make them at home.
When watching television, it’s common to tune in to the Eindejaarsconference. This is a popular Dutch tradition that airs on December 31st. The show is a New Year’s Eve comedy program (Oudejaarsconference) known for its satirical and humorous look at the events of the past year, covering both national and international news. At midnight, the countdown clock appears on television, and the countdown to midnight is a big moment, with people eagerly waiting for the clock to strike twelve. At this moment, it’s common for people to give each other a kiss on the cheek, wish one another "Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!" (Happy New Year), and celebrate with fireworks and cheers.
Younger people often gather with family for dinner or have dinner with friends before heading to one of the many New Year’s Eve parties organized in larger cities and local pubs.
While New Year’s Day is generally a quieter affair for most, as many people recover from their festivities, some regions in the Netherlands (like Scheveningen, a beach resort town) participate in the Nieuwjaarsduik (New Year’s Dive), where brave individuals run into the cold sea water on New Year’s Day, usually to raise money for charity.
Now it’s time to dive into the new year ourselves - enjoy celebrating the holidays like a true Dutchie!
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