The Big Three
If you can move your visit by a week, three events transform Volendam into something more than a daytime tourist stop. None requires tickets in advance, all are free to attend, and all favour visitors who stay overnight.
Volendammer Kermis
Late August (typically last weekend)
The annual fair - five days of fairground rides, herring stalls, palingsound concerts on the harbor stage, and a high proportion of locals out in traditional costume. Loud, busy, and the most local-feeling event of the year.
Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day)
Mid-June
Marks the opening of the Hollandse Nieuwe herring season. Boats fly orange flags, the first new-catch barrel is auctioned, and harbor stalls drop prices to celebrate. Half-day event but the herring is at peak quality this week.
Visserijdagen (Fishery Days)
Mid-July
A weekend celebrating the IJsselmeer fishery: traditional botter sailing-boat parade, demonstrations of net-mending and eel-smoking, music on three stages. Less crowded than the Kermis, more focused on heritage.
2026 Calendar
March
- Late March: Marken Express ferry season opens
- Late March: Hotel terraces and harbor stalls return to full hours
April
- 27 April - Koningsdag (King's Day): National holiday. Volendam runs a smaller version of the orange-themed street parties seen elsewhere; the harbor is busy from late morning. Bus service runs reduced timetable.
- 4 May - Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day): 8 pm two-minute silence at the war memorial near the Dijk; restaurants observe a quiet hour
- 5 May - Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day): Local bands perform at the harbor
May - June
- Spring sailing series: Traditional botter boats race on the Gouwzee on Saturdays - watch from the Dijk or the Marken ferry
- Mid-June - Vlaggetjesdag: Hollandse Nieuwe herring season opens (date set annually based on fish maturity, usually around 12-14 June in 2026)
July
- Mid-July - Visserijdagen: Two-day fishery festival, traditionally the second weekend of July
- July weekends - Harbor Concerts: Free open-air palingsound performances on the bandstand, Saturday evenings
- Late July - costume Sundays: Locals turn out in traditional dress on selected Sundays in summer (informal)
August
- Early August - National Sailing Week: Knots of historic boats moored along the Volendam dike
- Last weekend of August - Volendammer Kermis: The big one. Five days of fair, music, fireworks (closing Tuesday evening). Hotels in Volendam are typically 80-100% full this week - book several months ahead.
September - October
- September - Open Monumentendag (Heritage Days): Second weekend; historically closed buildings open for free, including parts of Hotel Spaander not normally accessible
- Late October - Marken Express last sailing: Ferry season ends; service stops until late March
November - December
- Sinterklaas (5 December): Saint Nicholas arrives at the harbor in mid-November, parades through the village. Locally significant; small crowds compared to Amsterdam's version.
- Volendam Kerstmarkt (Christmas market): Mid to late December weekends, lights along the Dijk, mulled wine stalls and a small ice rink near the harbor
- 31 December - Oudejaarsavond: Quiet on the harbor; locals celebrate at home or at private cafés
FC Volendam Home Matches
Match days bring 5,000-6,000 fans to the Kras Stadion, 500 m from the harbor. The village is busier and louder before kick-off and parking near the Dijk fills up fast. If you want to attend, tickets are sold via fcvolendam.nl from about a week before each match. FC Volendam page has the current season schedule.
When to Avoid Visiting
- Kermis week (last week of August) if you want a quiet visit. The harbor is unrecognisable.
- Saturdays in July-August in general - peak day-trip volume from Amsterdam coaches.
- Koningsdag (27 April) if you don't want crowds or limited bus service.
- The week between Christmas and New Year - some restaurants close, the ferry doesn't run, weather is often grim. Hotel rates do drop, though.
How to Confirm Dates
Most events listed here recur annually but exact dates shift. The reliable sources for current-year confirmation:
- VVV Volendam tourist office - haven side of Zeestraat, open daily
- The municipality's events page (Edam-Volendam gemeente)
- Posters on the Dijk - low tech but always current
If you're planning around a specific event, email the local tourism office a month ahead to confirm. Dates here are accurate as of early 2026 but anything more than a month out should be re-checked.