Keti Koti 2027 in the Netherlands

Keti Koti is on 1 July every year, the day in 1863 on which slavery ended in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean. In 2027 that is Thursday 1 July. The national commemoration is held that day; festivals, parades and dialogue tables run in the days around it, and in some cities from the week before.

Keti Koti means "broken chains" in Sranan Tongo (keti is chain, koti is cut). It marks the end of slavery and is both a commemoration and a day of freedom: many people remember their ancestors in the morning and celebrate together later, often in kotomisi, angisa or pangi in the colours of the occasion. Many families add a shared meal.

With the national commemoration of the slavery past, Bigi Spikri parades ("big mirror", the procession in traditional dress), festivals with music and food, dialogue tables where people with different histories eat together and talk, concerts, theatre and readings. The list marks free events.

No. Keti Koti is a national day of commemoration in the Netherlands but not a public holiday; employers and schools are not obliged to give the day off, though some do. In Suriname it is a public holiday.

The largest are in Amsterdam, where the national commemoration is held, and in Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, with more in Zaandam, Almere, Dordrecht and smaller towns. The cities on this page show how many events each city has.