Halloween

Halloween History

Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly celebration that primarily takes place in North America and other parts of the world. Stemming from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, the observance combines fun, light-hearted traditions with ties to the supernatural. Some of its most essential aspects include dressing up in costumes, attending parties, carving pumpkins to make jack-o'-lanterns, decorating homes, and going trick-or-treating.

Although Halloween has its roots in the Celtic lands of Ireland and the United Kingdom, the holiday has found its way to various places across the globe, including the Netherlands. Historically, the Dutch people have their own set of celebrations during autumn called St. Maarten, which shares certain similarities with Halloween; however, the influence of American culture has helped popularize Halloween in the Netherlands. Stores across the country now sell decorations and costumes, and different events, such as themed parties, festivals, and haunted tours, take place to observe Halloween.

Halloween is observed in the Netherlands in various ways, combining traditional St. Maarten celebrations and modern Halloween customs. Dutch children often dress up in costumes and go door-to-door, though instead of trick-or-treating, they collect candies and other sweets while singing St. Maarten songs. Meanwhile, adults attend themed costume parties and engage in various Halloween-related activities. In recent years, some Dutch towns and cities have started to host organized events like Halloween festivals showcasing street theatre, parades, and other festivities. The Dutch people generally observe Halloween on the same day as the rest of the world: October 31st.

Halloween facts

• According to Google Trends’ , the top Halloween costumes of 2023 include Barbie, Spiderman, and Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family.
• In early Celtic celebrations, turnips or other root vegetables were used in place of pumpkins. A burning lump of coal was placed inside the hollowed out vegetable and carried during the festivities.
• Commercial influence is a significant reason behind the growing popularity of Halloween in the Netherlands. The Dutch economy benefits from the Halloween season because of an increase in sales of decorations, costumes, candy, and special events tickets.
• Unlike in some countries where Halloween is heavily focused on activities for children, in The Netherlands, Halloween is often celebrated by teenagers and adults with parties and events.

In the News and Trending in Netherlands for Halloween

Top things to do in Netherlands for Halloween

• Dress up in your favorite costume.
• Go trick-or-treating.
• Organize a Halloween-themed costume party at home. Encourage your guests to dress up in spooky costumes, and have a contest for the best costume. Play Halloween-themed games and enjoy festive snacks and drinks.
• Gather your friends or family and have a scary movie marathon. Watch classic horror films or enjoy Halloween-themed movies while munching on popcorn and Halloween-themed snacks.