The year in Zaandam

Nov 2026 – Sep 2027 · 6 moments

The big moments of the year in Zaandam: Sinterklaas arrives, Christmas markets, King's Day and more, with their dates.

November2026
14Nov

Sinterklaas arrives

Saturday 14 November 2026

Sinterklaas arrives in Zaandam on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 13:00, at the kade van de Burcht. All children's activities are free.

December2026
Decusually

Christmas markets

Usually in December (in 2025: 7 to 21 December)

Christmas markets across the Zaan towns. Last year the Bullekerk in Zaandam ran a Dickens-style winter market, and Krommenie, Zaandijk and Koog aan de Zaan had their own.

April2027
27Apr

King's Day

Tuesday 27 April 2027

Free vrijmarkten and music in the Zaan towns, and a free jazz festival in the Bullekerk last year. Koningsnacht is the evening before.

May2027
Mayusually

PinksterZaan

Whit Monday weekend in May (in 2026: Thursday 21 and Monday 25 May)

A historic day on the Zaanse Schans that remembers 1574, when the Zaan people drove out the Spanish soldiers: soldiers' camps, old crafts, street theatre and a cannon shot every hour. Free to visit.

September2027
Sepusually

Zaandam fair

Early September (in 2026: 4 to 13 September)

A funfair in Zaandam, on the Burcht, for about ten days in early September.

Sepusually

NN Dam tot Damloop

Usually the third weekend of September

Runners cover ten English miles from Amsterdam to the finish on the Peperstraat in Zaandam. Damloop by night, a five-mile evening run, is part of the weekend.