Dutch culture and local events

At noon on the first Monday of each month, national sirens sound for one minute and twenty six seconds. These are heard all across the country and are a scheduled test to ensure that the sirens are working, without alarming the citizens and taking them by surprise. Should the sirens sound at another time, you should go indoors and close all windows and doors. If your phone number is registered, you will also get a text and alarm sound with information from the Government. The sirens are never tested on a national or religious holiday or Remembrance Day, even if they fall on the first Monday in the month.

Amongst celebrations with friends and family, New Years'Eve is the one time of the year that people are permitted to set off their own fireworks! Throughout the year this is limited to professionals, but while ringing in the New Year, it is common for the sky to be filled with bright lights and sounds all across the country. Most fireworks will occur around midnight and continue for an hour or more. Please be aware that there are also occasional fireworks earlier this day. Moreover, in the near future it might get to the point that, by law, only professionals are permitted to set fireworks.

Carnival is a big event for southern cities, and Maastricht does not miss out on this! For three days in February (or early March) the people of Maastricht gather to celebrate Carnival together, dressing up in colourful costumes and make-up, participating in parades, brass bands, singing songs and drinking beer (and everything else really) all around the city. This is such a big event that shops (other than supermarkets and Carnival shops) all close. Schools also close for the week, and at UM no education is planned during this time either.

The Carnival season is officially opened on 11 November, once again this is celebrated with parades, brass bands, and partying around the city.

For more information about Carnival in Maastricht check out the special pages of municipality of Maastricht.

King’s Day is a national holiday marking the King’s birthday. All over the country, people take part in Koningsdag wearing orange or red, white and blue clothing, visiting flea markets in parks (vrijmarkt), going to concerts and local gatherings. As with Carnival, beer is often the drink of choice for King’s Day celebrations. 

On this National Remembrance day, citizens observe 2 minutes of silence at 8pm, and flags are flown at half-mast from 6pm until sunset. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of the Second World War. 

On Liberation day the Dutch celebrate their freedom. Although this is only a national holiday with all shops beings closed every five years (last one was on 2020), UM is always closed on Liberation Day. 

For more information please see the 4 en 5 mei website. (right click to translate to English)