Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year History

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is based on the lunar calendar, marking the beginning of a new year and the arrival of spring. It is a time for family gatherings and festivities that involve various traditions, such as the giving of red envelopes filled with money, feasting on special dishes that symbolize good fortune, honoring ancestors, and various leisure activities like lion and dragon dances, lantern parades and firecrackers.

The celebration has evolved over thousands of years. Historically, the Chinese New Year was a time to honor deities and ancestors and to purge the previous year's bad fortune. The holiday is rooted in China's agrarian past, relating to the cycle of planting and harvest. In recent years, it has become known in The Netherlands, courtesy of the sizeable Chinese community that has brought an array of traditions to the country. Many similarities can be found between Chinese New Year and its Dutch equivalent, such as the emphasis on family, good food, and the welcoming of a prosperous new year.

In The Netherlands, the Chinese celebrate the New Year with great enthusiasm. Celebrations are often centered in major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, where a variety of Chinese cultural activities take place. One key feature is the traditional dragon and lion dance parade, which attract locals and tourists alike for their vibrancy and symbolism. Other rituals like setting off firecrackers and hosting banquets reflect the home traditions and are designed to drive away evil spirits and usher in a year of good fortune. The dates of the festival vary, aligning with the lunar calendar, which usually lies between January 21st and February 20th.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 Chinese New Year in Netherlands

• The Year of 2026 marks the arrival of the Fire Horse, a zodiac combination that occurs only once every 60 years and is traditionally associated with intense passion, rapid change, and a powerful drive for personal freedom.
• The city of The Hague hosts the official National Chinese New Year Celebration at the Atrium City Hall, where the festivities are uniquely split into a national opening ceremony and a local parade in the historic Chinatown district a week later.
• In Rotterdam, the Zodiac Project transforms the city’s streets into an interactive art gallery, featuring large-scale installations and creative works that interpret the characteristics of the horse through a modern Dutch lens.
• Culinary enthusiasts in the Netherlands often seek out Nian Gao, a sticky rice cake whose name is a homophone for "getting higher every year," symbolizing a hope for promotions or personal growth in the coming months.
• The Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple on Amsterdam’s Zeedijk serves as the spiritual heart of the celebrations, being the largest traditional Chinese Buddhist temple built in the palace style in Europe.
• A highlights of the Amsterdam festivities is the Lion Dance, an energetic performance where practitioners from local martial arts schools mimic the movements of a lion to the sound of deafening drums to chase away Nian, a mythical beast.
• Many Dutch families and foodies gravitate toward Dim Sum brunch traditions during the festival, specifically looking for Jiaozi dumplings because their shape resembles ancient silver ingots and is said to bring wealth.
• The celebration in Rotterdam is known for being one of the most extended in the country, often spanning two full weeks and culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at the Kop van Zuid waterfront.
• Cultural exchange is further highlighted by the Happy Chinese New Year concert series, which often features collaborations between internationally renowned Chinese soloists and emerging Dutch musical talents.
• For those born under the sign of the Horse, 2026 is considered their Ben Ming Nian or "zodiac birth year," a time when tradition suggests they should wear red clothing or accessories to ward off potential unlucky energy from the deity Tai Sui.

In the News and Trending in Netherlands for Chinese New Year

Top things to do in Netherlands for Chinese New Year

• Clean your house. It is customary for Chinese to clean their homes in preparation for the New Year and the fresh start.
• Get together with friends and create a long dragon on sticks. One person gets to create the head, and the others can create the long flowy tail. Remember to use bright colors.
• Watch a film to learn more about Chinese culture:
  Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth - A BBC documentary following the celebrations of Chinese New Year across the country.
  The Search for General Tso - A tongue-in-cheek documentary about Chinese food culture around the world, including in Western nations.
• Chinese New Year Gala Dinner: Organized by the Netherlands-China Business Council and held in Utrecht, this is a large event aimed at fostering cultural and business ties between the two countries. It usually features speeches, a traditional Chinese banquet dinner, and a variety of entertainment including music and dance performances.