Most people celebrate kerstavond on the 24th of December and Kerstmis on the 25th of December, but one day of joy is not enough for the Dutch and the Netherlands also celebrates Tweede Kerstdag (Second Christmas Day) on the 26th of December. But why does the Netherlands have two days of Christmas?

Well actually, there used to also be a Derde Kerstdag and a Vierde Kerstdag in the Netherlands. These were official holidays and people were not allowed to work!

During the early centuries of Christianity, many existing celebrations like the Jul fest or Mid Winter Fest were integrated into the Christmas celebratory period and the various Christmas days became dedicated to different saints. Tweede Kerstdag became dedicated to Sint Stefanus (Saint Stephen), the first martyr within Christianity.

During the Synod of Mainz in 813, it was decided that Kerstmis would be celebrated over four days, each with its own focus. Eerste Kerstdag was clearly going to be dedicated to the Birth of Jezus. Tweede Kerstdag celebrated the animals and farmers would gallop their horses through town to ensure that they wouldn’t get sick during the next year. Vierde Kerstdag became a children’s celebration.

Four days of Christmas was even too much joy for the Dutch and over time this was reduced to only two days. The Dutch nearly even lost the Tweede Kerstdag but the church fought for this day and it was preserved. The church wanted people to come to church for two days, like with Easter and Pentecoste.

WHAT DO YOU DO DURING THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS?

Some people will go shopping, but most people will celebrate more Kerstmis of course! Often you celebrate Eerste Kerstdag with one side of your family and Tweede Kerstdag with the other side of your family, like the in-laws.

Kerstmis is a joyous time in the Netherlands, and het kerstfeest focusses on being together as a familie. Although some children will find cadeautjes underneath the kerstboom, there is not as much focus on the giving of presents like with the Dutch celebration of Sinterklaas. The focus is on being together as a familie and having a nice kerstdiner with the people that you love and cherish.

THE DUTCH CHRISTMAS DINNER - GOURMETTEN

A lot of Dutch families will be enjoying gourmetten for het kerstdiner. Gourmetten is done on a slow-cooking table grill on which you can cook a wide range of things from meats, fish, vegetables, omelettes to melting cheese, toasting bread and little pancakes! Everyone also gets their own little pan, so you can eat what you prefer!

The great thing about gourmetten is that it is not one person cooking het kerstdiner for hours, but everyone is cooking their own food at the table. It is a full evening of fun and a great way for the family to spend time together. Be careful though, as someone may steal your food!

MORE FROM DUTCH 4 BEGINNERS

DUTCH LESSONS VIA SKYPE

Want to study Dutch with an experienced Dutch tutor from the comfort of your home? Dutch 4 Beginners provides Dutch lessons online via Skype

DUTCH LANGUAGE TESTS

Try these Dutch language tests to assess your knowledge of the Dutch language and find out what Dutch grammar topics to study next

LOOKING FOR AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS GIFT?

Give the gift of the Dutch language this Christmas with a Dutch language gift voucher for Dutch lessons with Dutch 4 Beginners!