New Year’s Eve is a big party in Holland every year. Most people spend the evening with friends or family, watch the famous ‘New Year’s Eve conferences’ and drink plenty of champagne while eating greasy oliebollen (a traditional Dutch pastry: deep-fried dough balls with raisins) and apple beignets. Until the fireworks explode at midnight...
In Holland everyone is allowed to buy their own supply of fireworks to light up the sky, which many people do enthusiastically. Millions of euros are spent every year so it’s a real spectacle. While fireworks are officially allowed for one hour on New Year’s Eve, there is a lot of popping and banging throughout the day and night.
If you are in Holland on January 1st, you can participate in an extraordinary tradition: The New Year’s Dive. The morning of New Year’s Day begins with a refreshing dip into the sea or lake in over 200 locations. The biggest event with the greatest number of participants can be found in Scheveningen.
