Special Halloween events not to miss

Halloween is getting more and more popular in the Netherlands. Although it is not yet traditional to go trick-or-treating, you’ll start seeing wicked witches, grinning pumpkins and other decorations as the event nears.

Going out for Halloween

Those of you who don’t fancy a night of watching horror flicks on or behind the couch at home, don't worry! If you want to go out during Halloween, there are various fun parties and other special events like haunted castles and zombie walks.

So smear on your best ghoul-white and blood-rouge make-up, put on those torn clothes and clawed gloves and head out with a scream to one of our selected Halloween events in the Netherlands! (Be advised, some events have age restrictions.)

Spooky parties

This year Halloween falls on a Saturday night, beckoning us into the moonlight to party like witches and werewolves!

› Amsterdam Halloween Parade and Party

October 31, Westergasterrein - Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Halloween Parade and Party are some of the biggest Halloween events in the Netherlands with over 15.000 partygoers.

This year’s theme is "Immortal Fame", encouraging visitors to let icons like Marilyn Monroe, Che Guevara or Michael Jackson rise from the dead through their costumes.

The day starts out with a free and freaky procession through the city - the Amsterdam Halloween Parade. Monsters, demons and creepy clowns walk alongside terrifying "Deviant Mutant Vehicles", maimed and rebuilt for the occasion.

The spookily fun Amsterdam Halloween Party takes place at the Westergasterrein with as many costumed participants as possible.

› Poltergeist ABC Halloween party

October 31, Sugarfactory - Amsterdam
AlphaBet Club Amsterdam is throwing its famous annual Halloween Party! More than 600 people join the dark forces of this expat-centered experience with wicked DJs, visuals, live performers and a creepy Halloween photo corner.

Have your face painted and join the massive party crowds for a spook-tacular night you won’t forget. You might even win a prize for the best costume!

The proceeds from the tickets sales are going to charity.

› Expat Events: Halloween - A Fright at the Museum

October 31, Gemeentemuseum - The Hague
Do you dare to enter the world of Fright at the Museum? Fly your broomstick over to this Halloween Party by Expat Events! There will be lots of creepy surprises, spooky music and scary people!

Dress the part, sip on a horror cocktail and rock to the sound of DJs Stan Lee and Mike Aponno. This party is aimed at expats and the undead.

› Crazy Sexy Cool Halloween

October 31, Maassilo - Rotterdam
Crazy Sexy Cool, the Halloween edition is a grand indoor Halloween spectacle with splendid entertainment, freaky decorations and the newest beats. Three areas - Crazy, Bloody and Cool make you the centre of a haunted party!

› Maggy’s Halloween

October 31, Maggy Malou - Utrecht
One of the spookiest parties in Utrecht can be found at Maggy Malou nightclub, which will be transformed into a dark and scary cave full of spooky party-people!

Costumes are a must, and will get you one free drink. A delicious line-up will be playing the night away.

› Beats Maastricht, Halloween Madness

October 31, ProosD - Maastricht
Party in style as Beats Maastricht turns ProosD into a haunted mansion with the sickest beats that will give you chills down your spine.

The party is completely in Halloween style, and entrance is free! However, tickets can only be collected at the bar a few days prior to the event due to its popularity.

Other Halloween events

Do you want to hear less music and more screaming? Maybe one of these special Halloween events will strike your fancy!

› Halloween Fright Nights

October 10 - November 1, Walibi Holland - Biddinghuizen
Eddie the Clown, the resident evil entity of Walibi, will be leading a plethora of horrors in his haunted territory!

Multiple scare zones, including three brand new areas, will be set up in the amusement park that seems so innocent during the day. Walibi Holland stays open until 11pm, and tickets are valid for the whole day.

› Keukenhof Haunted Castle

October 30 - 31, Keukenhof - Lisse
The castle at Keukenhof will transform into a house of horrors during Halloween! The surrounding area will feature a fair, a scare zone and more outside entertainment for those who want to enjoy the fun without being scared out of their wits.

Thrill-seekers can visit the haunted castle and follow a ghost walk. Real dare devils can even choose to go in alone!

› Zombiewalk Arnhem

October 29, starting at the Willemsplein - Arnhem
Lurch through the city centre of Arnhem at the annual Zombiewalk! From 5pm onwards, an area is provided where you can get into your costume and have your face rotted by professional make-up artists.

The Zombiewalk takes place on the Thursday night before Halloween, so the shops will be open in the evening! That makes for a perfect night of shopping and eating brains.

› Halloween Nights

October 16 - 31, Toverland - Sevenum, near Venlo
The Halloween Nights in Toverland mark the vicious takeover of the magical theme park by evil forces. The land is divided into scare zones with different themes, spooky lighting and thrilling music!

New zones to be added this year are the Geisterhaus Müller, Deadly Lake and the Clown Phobia zone.

› ZombieRush

October 31, De Vloeten - Soerendonk, near Eindhoven
ZombieRush is a five to 10 km fun-run event with obstacles and zombies. The running dead will be chasing participants in various exercises throughout the day.

Visitors can see the pursuit in action, and join the afterparty at the end of the day.

› Scream O Ween

October 18 - November 19, the Lodge - Gilze, near Breda
Be the lead of a gruesome tale at Scream O Ween and make your way through scare zones, three mazes and two shows!

A mysterious circus carrying a terrible plague has settled in the Lodge, and they rely on you to find the ingredients for the antidote in five gut-wrenching locations.

Finally, you must find the first carrier of the disease in order to create the serum. But how much humanity remains in this patient, and will it be safe to approach them?

Do you dare?

So what do you think? Will you dare to brave the night and head out to face crazy ghouls and great beats, or does that couch at home not seem so bad after all?

Do you know of any other great events during Halloween, or an even better way to spend the evening? Let us know in the comments below!