Christmas is quickly approaching, but there’s one extremely creepy holiday to celebrate first before you take your stockings and tinsel out of storage. Halloween is coming. We’ve compiled a list of some of the largest and scariest Halloween events happening in the Netherlands this year.
History Of Halloween In The Netherlands
In reality, Scotland, more than 1000 kilometers distant, is where the Halloween custom first began. The Celts observed November 1st as the beginning of the new year thousands of years ago. This was the case since it signaled the beginning of winter and the end of summer. The distinction between the living and the dead was often thought to blur on October 31, the evening before the new year.
Historically, Dutch Halloween has less to do with ghosts and goblins or with remembering the deceased. The end of summer was historically observed on November 11th by Lowlanders in the past. St. Martin’s Day is a religious event during which youngsters knock on doors to ask for candy, and traditional hymns are sung (minus the evil tricks).
The Celtic (and American) versions of Halloween are much more common these days. Additionally, if you go to the grocery store on the weekend before the end of October, you could have to wait at the checkout behind someone wearing a zombie costume.
How To Celebrate Halloween In The Netherlands
Decorate your home
Making changes to your home for the spooky season is the simplest method to participate in Halloween celebrations. Stock up on some spider webs and skeletons and join in the Halloween fun. Many stores on the high street are currently selling spooky decorations.
Some pumpkins to carve
What better way to enjoy Halloween while also decorating your home than to carve some pumpkins and place a candle inside?
While your favorite American Halloween movies may have featured pumpkin carving, the custom originated in Ireland. However, there’s a catch! Pumpkins weren’t a thing in Ireland historically. Therefore, the original spooky lantern was a turnip.
From October 14 through November 2nd, you may attend a pumpkin carving session at any Center Parcs camping location in the Netherlands if you feel like taking a vacation inspired by Halloween.
Attend a creepy movie showing
This Halloween, check out the movies at your neighborhood theater if you truly want to be scared. Many movie theaters will host spooky Halloween-themed screenings.
For more cinema activities, visit websites like Eventbrite or Facebook. For example, the Ping Pong club in Utrecht is showing scary movies in an eerie old railroad shed.
See a movie indoors
We don’t blame you if you’d like to curl up inside and watch a horror movie with your feet up because the weather is growing colder.
Choose a timeless horror film like The Exorcist, or go with a more recent (and likely far scarier) title like The Prodigy or IT. Utilize all of the large candy bags that are available in the supermarkets.
Visit a party or the clubs
Check out one of the frightening club nights happening all throughout the Netherlands if you feel like putting on your dancing shoes and bringing your Halloween fervor to the next level.
Once more, a wonderful approach to finding out the specifics of what is happening in your town or city is to check out Facebook events or head to Eventbrite and type in the name of your local community. Try the Halloween event in Amsterdam hosted by the Erasmus Student Network if you want to spend Halloween making acquaintances with a diverse group of people. Or see what activities the international student society at your nearby university is planning this year.
Read more 8 Odd Facts About Passing Away in the Netherlands
Host your own event
Why not host a party at your home if you don’t feel like spending a lot of money until five in the morning in a stuffy club? In this manner, you can enjoy yourself with your closest friends while still getting to bed early enough to get up the next morning to study.
Play your favorite Halloween-themed tracks while you hang out with your pals over drinks, or just put on a movie and grab some popcorn.
Your first Halloween in the Netherlands will undoubtedly be enjoyable if you follow the advice above!
6 Spooktacular Halloween Events In The Netherlands In 2022
Spooky Days and Fright Nights at Walibi
One of the most well-known and well-attended Halloween events in the Netherlands, Spooky days Walibi is a true classic. Every year, Walibi presents Fright Nights, something a little scarier for the older Halloween enthusiasts. Spooky Days at Walibi is ideal for some festive family-friendly fun. In the first two weeks of October, the festivities take place every weekend. From October 15 through October 30, Spooky Days at Walibi take place every day.
Amsterdam Halloween at WesterUnie
For those who like to use Halloween as an excuse to dress up and party, the 13th annual Amsterdam Halloween is returning to WesterUnie this year. The greatest Halloween party in Amsterdam is said to be taking place on Saturday, October 29. This year’s theme is Return of the Mayans.
Crazy Sexy Cool Halloween In The Netherlands
Crazy Sexy Cool in Rotterdam is another event for people who are no longer considered children but yet want to celebrate the Halloween season. On Saturday, October 29, this enormous party will take over the Zuiderpark. No costume is too outrageous or raunchy in Crazy Sexy Cool party. Prepare yourself for enormous costumes and even bigger scares because anything goes!
Halloween Days and Nights at Toverland
Similar to Walibi, this theme park close to Eindhoven holds a variety of Halloween events throughout the entire month of October for all age groups. Bring the young ones to Halloween Days for some family-friendly shocks, or visit Toverland’s Halloween Nights for some properly terrifying haunted experiences and scare zones.
Halloween-Climbing at Fun Forest
Anyone who enjoys getting their heart rate up, not only through scary things but also through physical activity, should attend this event. For a Halloween climbing event, go to a Fun Forest Park in Almere, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, or Venlo (all of them are scheduled for either October 28 or 29).
Halloween Run In The Netherlands
Participating in this year’s Halloween Run in Almere Buiten is another physically active way to celebrate the holiday. This run isn’t your normal organized one, though. Oh no, be prepared to see horrifying clowns, zombies, and many other gruesome sights on Saturday, October 29. The 1-kilometer kids’ walk, the 2.5-kilometer adult walk, and the 5-kilometer run are the three options available.
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