| Public Holidays |
2012 |
| New Year's Day |
1 January |
| Good Friday |
6 April |
| Easter Sunday and Easter Monday |
8 and 9 April |
| Queen's official birthday |
30 April |
| Liberation Day |
5 May |
| Ascension Thursday |
17 May |
| Whitsunday and Whitmonday (Pentecost) |
27 an 28 May |
| Liberation of Groningen |
28 August |
| Christmas Day |
25 December |
| Boxing Day |
26 December |
In the Netherlands, most holidays are related to the Christian calendar. The university services and buildings will be closed on public holidays. During the holidays in the academic year the university will keep their services open, but they may be limited.
One famous local holiday in Groningen is the celebration of the raising of the Siege of Groningen in the year 1672: this day is celebrated on 28 August. It is known as ‘Gronings Ontzet’ or ‘Bomm’n Berend’, named after the Bishop of Münster, Berend van Galen, who besieged Groningen, causing a lot of damage. He then unexpectedly lifted the siege.
