New Year's Day, known as Nieuwjaarsdag in Dutch, is widely celebrated in the Netherlands on the 1st of January, according to the Gregorian calendar. This national holiday is the first day of the year and it signifies fresh beginnings and opportunities. Traditionally, it's a day of giving cards, exchanging New Year wishes, and spending time with family and friends. It is also popular for people to reflect on the past year and make plans or resolutions for the coming one.
Fireworks play a significant part in the Netherlands's New Year's Day celebration. The skies light up with colorful displays on New Year's Eve, which continue into the early morning of New Year's Day. Dutch people not only enjoy professional public firework displays but it is also a tradition for many citizens to light their own fireworks. Another unique tradition on this day is New Year's Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik), where thousands of people run into the North Sea, despite the chilly weather. This event is particularly popular in the coastal town of Scheveningen.
Food is another important part of the New Year's Day celebrations in the Netherlands. Oliebollen, similar to a doughnut but without the hole, is a traditional Dutch pastry eaten on New Year's Eve and Day. Typically filled with raisins and dusted with powdered sugar, it is usually enjoyed with a glass of champagne. In addition, New Year's Day is a public holiday in the Netherlands, thus many businesses, schools, and offices are shut down to allow everyone to ring in the new year with their loved ones.