Public Holidays in the Netherlands
St. Martin's Day
Saint Martin (Sint Maarten) is celebrated on 11 November in various places in the country. Children walk past the doors with lanterns - similar to Germany - sing and receive sweets or fruit. St. Martin's Day is not a public holiday, but is special in honour of Martin of Tours. There are various theories about the origin of this day and the customs.
Sint Maarten is a celebration held every year on 11 November in the Netherlands, Flanders, northern France and parts of Germany. Each region has its traditions. Saint Martin is celebrated in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Limburg but much less so in the areas of Friesland and Noord-Brabant. St. Martin's processions are often held over a weekend.
The tradition is that children with lanterns pass by the doors and sing songs, after which they are rewarded with sweets. In many songs, little attention is paid to the religious background. The songs often have a humorous character and parodic or satirical lyrics are added to the repertoire yearly. Other traditions are the lighting of bonfires and the organisation of St. Martin's parades. Children make lanterns or entire light installations in kindergartens (kinderdagverblijven) and schools. In Utrecht, where Saint Martin is the patron saint, a Saint Martin Foundation was set up to promote Utrecht as a Saint Martin city.
Incidentally, the date itself is derived from the burial of Bishop Martin of Tours on 11 November 397. It is, therefore, the name day of Martin of Tours and is also called Sint-Martinus, Sinte-Marten, Sinter Merte or Sinte-Mette in the Netherlands.
Saint Martin in the Netherlands:
Sint-Maarten 2023 | Saint Martin 2023 | Saturday, 11th November 2023 |
Sint-Maarten 2024 | Saint Martin 2024 | Monday, 11th November 2024 |
Sint-Maarten 2025 | Saint Martin 2025 | Tuesday, 11th November 2025 |
Sint-Maarten 2026 | Saint Martin 2026 | Wednesday, 11th November 2026 |
Sint-Maarten 2027 | Saint Martin 2027 | Thursday, 11th November 2027 |
Sint-Maarten 2028 | Saint Martin 2028 | Saturday, 11th November 2028 |
Sint-Maarten 2029 | Saint Martin 2029 | Sunday, 11th November 2029 |
Sint-Maarten 2030 | Saint Martin 2030 | Monday, 11th November 2030 |
Sint-Maarten 2031 | Saint Martin 2031 | Tuesday, 11th November 2031 |
Sint-Maarten 2032 | Saint Martin 2032 | Thursday, 11th November 2032 |
Sint-Maarten 2033 | Saint Martin 2033 | Friday, 11th November 2033 |
Sint-Maarten 2034 | Saint Martin 2034 | Saturday, 11th November 2034 |
Sint-Maarten 2035 | Saint Martin 2035 | Sunday, 11th November 2035 |