The culture of the Netherlands is complex and diverse. Commonly referred to as 'Holland,' it is actually just one country that is a part of The Kingdom of the Netherlands. If you want to present your Dutch colleagues or friends with a gift you'll want to learn about gift giving traditions in Netherlands to avoid misunderstandings.
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Holidays in Netherlands
03/08/2019
As a rule, the Dutch prefer to give and receive small gifts.
They are quite in-tune with the etiquette of reciprocity, therefore, it's better not to over-do-it with your gift to Netherlands. Though small, a gift should always be of high quality, but not too expensive.
The Dutch are wine-connoisseurs, so a wine basket is always a great choice for both personal and business gifts to the Netherlands, especially when accompanied with a gourmet gift basket.
Be very careful when selecting wine and keep in mind your recipients' tastes.
For such holidays and events as New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day, St. Nicholas' Day, weddings, or birthdays, when the Dutch gather together for big celebrations, a gourmet and wine gift is a great surprise!
If you want to send greetings to your male friends, business associates, colleagues, supervisors or others with seniority on New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter, Father's Day, Remembrance Day, or birthdays there's nothing more suitable than a Champagne gift or Tea and coffee gift.
When selecting an informal gift to the Netherlands for your loved ones, relatives, or acquaintances you are free to choose anything according to the taste of the recipient.
For children, dear ones, or someone with a sweet tooth, a beautifully decorated chocolate basket or fruit basket is the most suitable gift to the Netherlands.
A lovely bouquet of flowers or a luxurious flower basket in addition to a plush teddy bear, perfume, spa basket, or a box of Belgian chocolates will make a perfect romantic gift for women on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, her wedding day, or birthday.
When choosing a bouquet to the Netherlands you should keep in mind that white flowers are associated with funerals and aren't usually given as a gift.
Most Celebrated National Holidays in Netherlands
40 days after Easter - Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)
Ascension Day in the Netherlands is a religious holiday that celebrates the salvation of Christ after his death and rebirth. On this day, the Dutch attend church services or spend time with family and friends in the open air and enjoy the spring weather.
Gift Suggestions for Ascension Day in Netherlands : Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
December 6 - Saint Nicholas's Day (Sinterklaas)
Saint Nicholas's Day in the Netherlands is a favorite among children, and it is even more important than Christmas.
Before going to bed children leave their wooden shoes in a prominent place so that St. Nicholas can fill them with gifts.
St. Nicholas was the forerunner of Santa Claus and, like Santa Claus, he delivers gifts at night to obedient children. They wake up in the morning to find their shoes filled with gifts and chocolate or a lump of coal if they were naughty.
Gift Suggestions for Saint Nicholas's Day in Netherlands : Sweet-Gifts, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets,
December 25, 26 - Christmas Day (Kerstmis)
Christmas is one of the most important holidays for people belonging to the Christian faith. Christmas in Netherlands is celebrated for 2 days. On the eve of the first Christmas Day the Dutch attend church services and make a festive dinner.
Traditional Christmas foods in Netherlands include boiled chestnuts eaten with butter and salt, marzipan, different kinds of puddings as desserts, and Kerstkrans (Christmas cookies). People also sing Christmas carols and read their favorite Christmas tales.
The second Christmas Day is spent in leisurely activities, which may include attending concerts and plays, having dinner in a nice restaurant, or spending time with family and friends.
Gift Suggestions for Christmas Day in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Corporate-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
January 1 - New Year's (Nieuwjaar)
New Year's Day in Netherlands is celebrated on January 1st according to the Gregorian calendar.
The Dutch, residing in the heart of Europe, have their own style of celebrating the holiday. Unique among the various New Year traditions in the Netherlands is swimming in the cold North Sea; this is thought to bring good luck and health in the upcoming year.
It's also customary to burn Christmas trees in street bonfires and hold big fireworks displays. This is supposed to drive away the bad spirits of the preceding year.
There is a belief that ring-shaped objects symbolize success, and that is why there is a custom of eating deep-fried donuts (oliebollen) on New Year's Day.Another tradition is to visit friends and family on New Year's Day and offer New Year's gifts.
Gift Suggestions for New Year's in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Corporate-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
February 14 - Valentine's Day (Nieuwjaar)
Valentine's Day originated in pagan times when people celebrated February 14th in honor of the Roman God of Fertility. Now Valentine's Day in the Netherlands is celebrated very much the same as it is anywhere else in the world.
Valentine's Day in the Netherlands is all about spending time with one's beloved, friends, and family members and exchanging cards, chocolates, romantic gifts, and flowers. The most popular flowers in Netherlands are, of course, tulips that can be given separately or in expensive designer bouquets.
Gift Suggestions for Valentine's Day in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
between March 22 and April 25 - Easter (Pasen)
The celebration of Easter in the Netherlands is very similar to that in other Western countries. Christians attend special Easter services in churches, and families prepare a festive meal that includes boiled, poached, or fried eggs; paasstol (bread filled with raisins, nuts, and marzipan); smoked fish; butter shaped like a lamb or bunny; and chocolates in the shapes of eggs or hares.
Children spend the morning decorating Easter eggs and hunting chocolate eggs that have been hidden by the Easter Bunny. The day after Easter Sunday is usually spent outdoors in parks or in the countryside.
Gift Suggestions for Easter in Netherlands : Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Basket, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
April 30 - Queen's Day (Koninginnedag)
Queen's Day is Holland's favorite national holiday; it celebrates the birthday of the Queen. The festivities start on the evening before Queen's Day and last throughout the next day.
On this holiday people dress in orange and attend specially organized 'freemarkets' (flea markets), musical performances, and open-air concerts.
Gift Suggestions for Queen's Day in Netherlands : Flowers, Sweet-Gifts,
May 4 - Remembrance of the Dead (Dodenherdenking)
Remembrance of the Dead in the Netherlands commemorates all those who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of World War II
Gift Suggestions for Remembrance of the Dead in Netherlands : Flowers, Sweet-Bouquets,
May 2nd Sunday - Mother's Day (Moederdag)
During Mother's Day in the Netherlands people pay tribute to mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds. The Dutch love to make surprises for their mothers on the morning of Mother's day. Children make special gifts and cards and buy flowers.
No celebration is complete without the flowers, and these are ordered weeks before the celebration day. The Dutch regard carnations as well as roses and tulips as Mother's Day flowers and prefer them to any other flowers on this day.
Gift Suggestions for Mother's Day in Netherlands : Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
June 3d Sunday - Father's Day (Vaderdag)
Father's Day is a day to honor fathers for everything they have done for their children. The Dutch take this opportunity to express gratitude to their fathers by telling them how much they are loved and appreciated.
Generally, children present their fathers with a bouquet of flowers, a greeting card, a gift basket, or a personalized gift. Nowadays, people in the Netherlands also celebrate this occasion with their grandfathers, fathers-in-law, uncles, stepfathers, or other men who are caring and protective in their lives.
Gift Suggestions for Father's Day in Netherlands : Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
They are quite in-tune with the etiquette of reciprocity, therefore, it's better not to over-do-it with your gift to Netherlands. Though small, a gift should always be of high quality, but not too expensive.
The Dutch are wine-connoisseurs, so a wine basket is always a great choice for both personal and business gifts to the Netherlands, especially when accompanied with a gourmet gift basket.
Be very careful when selecting wine and keep in mind your recipients' tastes.
For such holidays and events as New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day, St. Nicholas' Day, weddings, or birthdays, when the Dutch gather together for big celebrations, a gourmet and wine gift is a great surprise!
If you want to send greetings to your male friends, business associates, colleagues, supervisors or others with seniority on New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter, Father's Day, Remembrance Day, or birthdays there's nothing more suitable than a Champagne gift or Tea and coffee gift.
When selecting an informal gift to the Netherlands for your loved ones, relatives, or acquaintances you are free to choose anything according to the taste of the recipient.
For children, dear ones, or someone with a sweet tooth, a beautifully decorated chocolate basket or fruit basket is the most suitable gift to the Netherlands.
A lovely bouquet of flowers or a luxurious flower basket in addition to a plush teddy bear, perfume, spa basket, or a box of Belgian chocolates will make a perfect romantic gift for women on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, her wedding day, or birthday.
When choosing a bouquet to the Netherlands you should keep in mind that white flowers are associated with funerals and aren't usually given as a gift.
Most Celebrated National Holidays in Netherlands
40 days after Easter - Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)
Ascension Day in the Netherlands is a religious holiday that celebrates the salvation of Christ after his death and rebirth. On this day, the Dutch attend church services or spend time with family and friends in the open air and enjoy the spring weather.
Gift Suggestions for Ascension Day in Netherlands : Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
December 6 - Saint Nicholas's Day (Sinterklaas)
Saint Nicholas's Day in the Netherlands is a favorite among children, and it is even more important than Christmas.
Before going to bed children leave their wooden shoes in a prominent place so that St. Nicholas can fill them with gifts.
St. Nicholas was the forerunner of Santa Claus and, like Santa Claus, he delivers gifts at night to obedient children. They wake up in the morning to find their shoes filled with gifts and chocolate or a lump of coal if they were naughty.
Gift Suggestions for Saint Nicholas's Day in Netherlands : Sweet-Gifts, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets,
December 25, 26 - Christmas Day (Kerstmis)
Christmas is one of the most important holidays for people belonging to the Christian faith. Christmas in Netherlands is celebrated for 2 days. On the eve of the first Christmas Day the Dutch attend church services and make a festive dinner.
Traditional Christmas foods in Netherlands include boiled chestnuts eaten with butter and salt, marzipan, different kinds of puddings as desserts, and Kerstkrans (Christmas cookies). People also sing Christmas carols and read their favorite Christmas tales.
The second Christmas Day is spent in leisurely activities, which may include attending concerts and plays, having dinner in a nice restaurant, or spending time with family and friends.
Gift Suggestions for Christmas Day in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Corporate-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
January 1 - New Year's (Nieuwjaar)
New Year's Day in Netherlands is celebrated on January 1st according to the Gregorian calendar.
The Dutch, residing in the heart of Europe, have their own style of celebrating the holiday. Unique among the various New Year traditions in the Netherlands is swimming in the cold North Sea; this is thought to bring good luck and health in the upcoming year.
It's also customary to burn Christmas trees in street bonfires and hold big fireworks displays. This is supposed to drive away the bad spirits of the preceding year.
There is a belief that ring-shaped objects symbolize success, and that is why there is a custom of eating deep-fried donuts (oliebollen) on New Year's Day.Another tradition is to visit friends and family on New Year's Day and offer New Year's gifts.
Gift Suggestions for New Year's in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Corporate-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
February 14 - Valentine's Day (Nieuwjaar)
Valentine's Day originated in pagan times when people celebrated February 14th in honor of the Roman God of Fertility. Now Valentine's Day in the Netherlands is celebrated very much the same as it is anywhere else in the world.
Valentine's Day in the Netherlands is all about spending time with one's beloved, friends, and family members and exchanging cards, chocolates, romantic gifts, and flowers. The most popular flowers in Netherlands are, of course, tulips that can be given separately or in expensive designer bouquets.
Gift Suggestions for Valentine's Day in Netherlands : Champagne-Gifts, Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
between March 22 and April 25 - Easter (Pasen)
The celebration of Easter in the Netherlands is very similar to that in other Western countries. Christians attend special Easter services in churches, and families prepare a festive meal that includes boiled, poached, or fried eggs; paasstol (bread filled with raisins, nuts, and marzipan); smoked fish; butter shaped like a lamb or bunny; and chocolates in the shapes of eggs or hares.
Children spend the morning decorating Easter eggs and hunting chocolate eggs that have been hidden by the Easter Bunny. The day after Easter Sunday is usually spent outdoors in parks or in the countryside.
Gift Suggestions for Easter in Netherlands : Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Basket, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
April 30 - Queen's Day (Koninginnedag)
Queen's Day is Holland's favorite national holiday; it celebrates the birthday of the Queen. The festivities start on the evening before Queen's Day and last throughout the next day.
On this holiday people dress in orange and attend specially organized 'freemarkets' (flea markets), musical performances, and open-air concerts.
Gift Suggestions for Queen's Day in Netherlands : Flowers, Sweet-Gifts,
May 4 - Remembrance of the Dead (Dodenherdenking)
Remembrance of the Dead in the Netherlands commemorates all those who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of World War II
Gift Suggestions for Remembrance of the Dead in Netherlands : Flowers, Sweet-Bouquets,
May 2nd Sunday - Mother's Day (Moederdag)
During Mother's Day in the Netherlands people pay tribute to mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds. The Dutch love to make surprises for their mothers on the morning of Mother's day. Children make special gifts and cards and buy flowers.
No celebration is complete without the flowers, and these are ordered weeks before the celebration day. The Dutch regard carnations as well as roses and tulips as Mother's Day flowers and prefer them to any other flowers on this day.
Gift Suggestions for Mother's Day in Netherlands : Flowers, Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, SPA-Gifts, Sweet-Bouquets, Sweet-Gifts, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,
June 3d Sunday - Father's Day (Vaderdag)
Father's Day is a day to honor fathers for everything they have done for their children. The Dutch take this opportunity to express gratitude to their fathers by telling them how much they are loved and appreciated.
Generally, children present their fathers with a bouquet of flowers, a greeting card, a gift basket, or a personalized gift. Nowadays, people in the Netherlands also celebrate this occasion with their grandfathers, fathers-in-law, uncles, stepfathers, or other men who are caring and protective in their lives.
Gift Suggestions for Father's Day in Netherlands : Fruit-Baskets, Gourmet-Gift-Baskets, Tea-Coffee-Gifts, Wine-Gift-Baskets,