The Netherlands has a lively festival calendar, and the Dutch throw themselves into celebrations with an enthusiasm that can surprise visitors who associate them mainly with pragmatism.
King's Day (Koningsdag), 27 April, is the biggest party of the year. The entire country turns orange — literally, in clothing, face paint, and decorations — to celebrate the king's birthday. Amsterdam's canals fill with boats, the streets become one enormous outdoor market (vrijmarkt, where anyone can sell anything), and music plays everywhere. It is genuinely one of the great street parties in Europe. If the 27th falls on a Sunday, it's celebrated on the 26th.
Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag), 5 May, marks the end of the Second World War occupation. It follows directly from Remembrance Day on 4 May, when the whole country falls silent at 8pm to remember the dead. The contrast between solemnity one evening and celebration the next is very Dutch.
Amsterdam Gay Pride is held over a long weekend in late July or early August, centred on the famous Canal Parade: dozens of decorated boats carrying DJs and dancers through the 17th-century canal ring. One of the largest and most exuberant Pride events in the world.
Lowlands, held in August at Biddinghuizen in Flevoland, is the Netherlands' best music festival — three days, around 55,000 attendees, and a reliably strong lineup across rock, electronic, and alternative music.
The Keukenhof Flower Parade (Bloemencorso) takes place in mid-April, starting in Noordwijk and ending in Haarlem, with floats and vehicles entirely covered in fresh flowers. Spectacular if you happen to be near the route.
Sinterklaas, in early December, is actually more important to Dutch children than Christmas. The bishop saint arrives by steamboat from Spain in mid-November and rides around on a white horse leaving gifts until December 5th (pakjesavond). Christmas itself is celebrated, but is quieter and more domestic.