Whether you’re going for holidays or intend to relocate to the Netherlands, it might be very useful to know the opening hours of shops, businesses and tourist attractions in advance. On public holidays, most of the establishments close down, apart from restaurants, bars and hotels.
Generally, small businesses and shops stay closed on Monday mornings until noon. Supermarkets are open Monday to Friday from 8/9 am to 7/8pm and Saturday from 8/9am to 5/6pm.
Pharmacies are open during regular business hours form Monday to Friday between 8/9 am and 5:30/6 pm. On nights and weekends, pharmacies are open on a rotation schedule but some cities may have a pharmacy which is open 24hrs/7 days a week.
Shops stay open till 6pm and may open on Thursday or Friday evening (koopavond):
Amsterdam – every Thursday until 9 p.m. (city centre)
The Hague – every Thursday until 9 p.m. (city centre, Scheveningen and Kijkduin)
Rotterdam – every Friday until 9 p.m.
Maastricht – every Thursday until 9 p.m.
Utrecht – every Thursday until 9 p.m.
Most of the main cities in the Netherlands offer Sunday shopping on weekly or monhtly basis:
Amsterdam – every week from 12 a.m. to 7 p.m. (city centre)
The Hague – every week from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. (city centre, Scheveningen and Kijkduin)
Rotterdam – every week from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maastricht – every first Sunday of each month from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Utrecht – every first Sunday of each month from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Museums are closed on Christmas and New Year. Otherwise open daily from 10am to 5/6pm. As there might be some slight difference form one museum to another, we suggest you to check the particular museum web site before making any visiting plans.
Public holidays
January 1, New Year’s Day (Nieuwjaar)
Good Friday (Goede vrijdag) – many shops are open
Easter Sunday (Paasdag) and Monday (Tweede Paasdag)
April 30th, Queen’s day – many shops in small villages are closed
May 5th, Liberation Day (Nationale Bevrijdingsdag)
Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag) – it is the 40th day of Easter and is always on a Thursday.
Pentecost also known as Whit Sunday (Pinksterdag)
Whit Monday (Tweede Pinksterdag) – the second day of Pentecost. It falls on a Monday seven weeks after Easter Monday.
December 25, Christmas Day (Eerste Kerstdag)
December 26, 2nd Christmas Day (Tweede Kerstdag)