August 2025: 7 things expats in the Netherlands need to know
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By Simone Jacobs
It’s the start of a new month! As the Netherlands continues to enjoy the summer season, there will be loads of events and festivals to make the most of the warmer weather. Here’s what everyone who lives and works in the Netherlands needs to know about in August 2025.
1. Schools in the Netherlands reopen after summer holidays
After lots of sunshine and family excursions, the summer holidays are set to come to an end for children across the Netherlands in August. Schools in the south will reopen their doors first on August 17, followed by those in the north on August 24 and, finally, schools in central regions will reopen on August 31.
Expect roads across the Netherlands to be busy around those dates, as holidaymakers return home in time to get their kids back to school.
2. Prime Video in the Netherlands to introduce ads
From August 26, 2025, Amazon will introduce limited ads to movies and series on Prime Video in the Netherlands. If users wish to go without ads when bingeing a show, they will now need to pay 3 euros extra per month, for a total of 8 euros monthly, to get an ad-free subscription.
3. Pride Amsterdam ends with a bang
The final weekend of Pride Amsterdam will end with a bang as the famous Canal Parade and the Closing Party kick off. The highlight of Pride Amsterdam, the Canal Parade, is set to take place on Saturday, August 2, with more than 80 decorated boats sailing along the canals in Amsterdam and thousands of cheering spectators.
It's worth noting as well that Uber and Bolt drivers have pledged to strike in the evening of August 2, so revellers should plan to take public transport home after the celebrations.
4. Loveland and Lowlands festivals take place in the Netherlands
On August 9 and 10, one of the biggest names in the Dutch festival calendar, Loveland, returns to the Dutch capital, as the major dance music festival takes over Sloterpark yet again!
Lowlands, another of the Netherlands’ most famous festivals, is also taking place this month. Between August 15 and 17, hundreds of acts will take to the various stages at this three-day music and camping escape, taking place on the grounds of Walibi Holland - one of the biggest Dutch theme parks.
5. Europe’s biggest book market returns to Deventer
A treat for avid readers, the Deventer Book Market is also making an appearance this month. The biggest book market in Europe is set to take place on August 3, with more than 650 stalls covering six kilometres, offering plenty of Dutch, English and even German books to fill those bookshelves.
6. Zandvoort gears up for the penultimate Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch coastal town of Zandvoort will once again be taken over by the F1 world for the Dutch Grand Prix from August 29 to 31. Everyone will flock to the race track to see whether popular Dutch driver Max Verstappen can claim the number one spot on home soil once again.
7. Perseid meteor shower visible over the Netherlands
The summer evenings are still warm enough for a lovely nighttime stroll, so why not take the opportunity to gaze up at the stars and catch a glimpse of a meteor shower! On August 12 to 13, the Perseids meteor shower will peak, giving you the best chance to see up to 100 meteors an hour.
Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more