The Dutch calendar is more than Sinterklaas and King’s Day. The Netherlands is a diverse society, and its communities bring their own celebrations. Knowing the main ones, and how to acknowledge them warmly, is part of living here well.
Islamic feasts: Suikerfeest and Offerfeest
- Suikerfeest (het Suikerfeest) is the Dutch name for Eid al-Fitr, the festival ending Ramadan (de Ramadan, the month of fasting). The name means “sugar feast”, after the sweets shared. It is widely observed by the country’s large Muslim community with family gatherings, food and visiting.
- Offerfeest (Eid al-Adha) is the other major Islamic feast.
Neither is a national public holiday, but many employers let staff take the day as leave, see types of leave.
Keti Koti (1 July)
Keti Koti (meaning “broken chains” in Sranantongo) is commemorated on 1 July and marks the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean in 1863. It is increasingly widely observed, ceremonies, music, food, especially in cities with Surinamese and Antillean communities, and there is ongoing debate about making it a national holiday. As of now it is not a nationwide day off, though Amsterdam and some employers recognise it. The food connects to the Surinamese kitchen.
Other community celebrations
| Celebration | Community |
|---|---|
| Divali / Diwali | Hindu (festival of lights) |
| Chinees Nieuwjaar | Chinese New Year |
| Holi | Hindu (spring/colour festival) |
These are celebrated by their communities and increasingly visible in Dutch cities. Tourism and culture sites like Holland.com note the growing public profile of several.
How to acknowledge them
You do not need to know every tradition. A warm, simple gesture is enough:
- Fijne feestdag! (Have a nice holiday/celebration!)
- Eid Mubarak , widely used for the Islamic feasts.
- Vier jij Suikerfeest? (Do you celebrate Suikerfeest?) , asked with genuine interest.
This is the same warmth behind congratulating people and good neighbourliness. Onze Taal notes Suikerfeest and Offerfeest are the established Dutch names, and newcomer guides like IamExpat cover the growing public recognition of Keti Koti and other community days.
Where it connects
These holidays sit with the rest of the Dutch festive calendar, Sinterklaas, Christmas and oud en nieuw, 4 and 5 May, and the food of the Surinamese and Indonesian kitchens.
The bottom line
The Netherlands celebrates far more than its traditional festivals: Suikerfeest (Eid al-Fitr) and Offerfeest for Muslims, Keti Koti (1 July) for the end of slavery, plus Divali, Holi and Chinese New Year. Most are not public holidays, but acknowledging a colleague’s or neighbour’s celebration with a warm Fijne feestdag! or Eid Mubarak is a kind, easy way to belong in a diverse society.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the words to acknowledge community holidays, Suikerfeest, Keti Koti, fijne feestdag, in five-minute lessons, so you can mark a colleague’s or neighbour’s celebration warmly.
Frequently asked questions
What is Suikerfeest in the Netherlands?
Suikerfeest is the Dutch name for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting) for Muslims. The word means sugar feast, after the sweets shared to celebrate. It is widely observed by the Netherlands’ large Muslim community with family gatherings, special food and visiting. The other major Islamic feast is Offerfeest (Eid al-Adha). Neither is a national public holiday, but many employers allow staff to take the day as leave.
What is Keti Koti and when is it?
Keti Koti (meaning ‘broken chains’ in Sranantongo) is commemorated on 1 July and marks the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean in 1863. It is increasingly widely observed, with ceremonies, the bigi spikri, music and food, especially in cities with Surinamese and Antillean communities, and there is ongoing debate about making it a national holiday. As of now it is not a nationwide day off, though Amsterdam and some employers recognise it.
How do I acknowledge a colleague’s or neighbour’s celebration in Dutch?
A warm, simple gesture goes a long way. You can say Fijne feestdag! (have a nice holiday), or for the Islamic feasts the community often uses Eid Mubarak. Asking with genuine interest, Vier jij Suikerfeest? (do you celebrate Suikerfeest?), is friendly. You do not need to know every tradition; acknowledging that someone has a celebration, and wishing them well, is the kind, inclusive thing to do in a diverse society.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for a diverse, multicultural society?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the vocabulary and warm phrases for the Netherlands’ many celebrations, Suikerfeest, Keti Koti, fijne feestdag, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so you can acknowledge and join in across a diverse society.
