AboutAnneke Oosterink Expertise Customs and daily life in general. More specifically, schools and universities. I know a lot about the way people live here.
Experience Schools and Universities, daily life and customs
Question I plan to visit Amsterdam in early May, and would like to know if shops, banks, bars, coffeeshops, museums and restaurants are open on May 4, Dodenherdenking, and May 5, Bevrijdingsdag. If they are open, could you please tell me the approximate times they do open and close?
Are these days official national holidays? I read that Bevrijdingsdag is a national holiday every year with time off work. But I also read that workers get time off work only once every five years. Then I later read that they recently made it a national holiday every year instead of once every five years for workers. Which is correct? Can I still shop, go to the museum, and let loose on these days, even if it's just for a short time?
What special events are happening on these days?
Answer Hello J,
Both days are National Holidays, and that means that shops, museums and the like are probably closed. Whether restaurants and bars are closed depends on what the owner of bar or restaurant wants to do. For specifics per shop, bar or restaurant, the only thing to do is check their website.
On Dodenherdenking there are probably very few people partying. It is a day to commemorate the dead, and the queen, the prime minister and representatives of the army and the Dutch children will lay wraths on Dam Square at the big monument. There will be a two minute silence on eighty o'clock in the evening.
On Bevrijdingsdag there will be several parties, and concerts. You should have no trouble then, to find a place to have some fun. Every city will have some sort of party.
I hope this is what you wanted to know, if there is anything else you need to know, just contact me.
