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Time Change 2021 in the Netherlands

Next change:
Mar
30
1 hour Forward

Mar 30, 2025, 2:00 am

Country: Netherlands
Long Name: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Abbreviations: NL, NLD
Capital: Amsterdam
Administrative Capital: The Hague
Judicial Capital: The Hague
Legislative Capital: The Hague
Time Zones: 2 (Main Country)
Total Time Zones: 3 (with dependencies)
Dial Code: +31

Mar 28

Forward 1 hour

Mar 28, 2021 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, March 28, 2021, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 28, 2021, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Mar 28, 2021 than the day before. There was more light in the evening and less light in the morning.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

More info:
DST Starts in Europe

Oct 31

Back 1 hour

Oct 31, 2021 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, October 31, 2021, 3:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, October 31, 2021, 2:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Oct 31, 2021 than the day before. There was more light in the morning and less light in the evening.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

More info:
End of DST in Europe 2021

Other years: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

When Does DST Start and End in the Netherlands?

The European mainland of the Netherlands uses Daylight Saving Time (DST) during part of the year. The DST period starts on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October, together with most other European countries.

Central European Time (CET) is used as standard time, while Central European Summer Time (CEST) is observed when DST is in force.

Which Special Municipalities, Constituent Countries and Provinces use Daylight Saving Time in 2021

Areas in Netherlands using DST in 2021
Areas in Netherlands on standard time all of 2021

DST in Locations in Netherlands in 2021 (40 Locations)

's-HertogenboschMar 28 – Oct 31EmmenMar 28 – Oct 31PeizeMar 28 – Oct 31
AalsmeerMar 28 – Oct 31EnschedeMar 28 – Oct 31RotterdamMar 28 – Oct 31
AbcoudeMar 28 – Oct 31GroningenMar 28 – Oct 31The BottomNo DST
AlkmaarMar 28 – Oct 31HaarlemMar 28 – Oct 31The HagueMar 28 – Oct 31
AlmereMar 28 – Oct 31HilversumMar 28 – Oct 31TilburgMar 28 – Oct 31
AmersfoortMar 28 – Oct 31HoofddorpMar 28 – Oct 31UtrechtMar 28 – Oct 31
AmsterdamMar 28 – Oct 31LeerdamMar 28 – Oct 31VlissingenMar 28 – Oct 31
ApeldoornMar 28 – Oct 31LeeuwardenMar 28 – Oct 31WageningenMar 28 – Oct 31
ArnhemMar 28 – Oct 31LeidenMar 28 – Oct 31WoerdenMar 28 – Oct 31
BredaMar 28 – Oct 31MaastrichtMar 28 – Oct 31ZaandamMar 28 – Oct 31
DelftMar 28 – Oct 31MontfoortMar 28 – Oct 31ZoetermeerMar 28 – Oct 31
DordrechtMar 28 – Oct 31NijmegenMar 28 – Oct 31ZwolleMar 28 – Oct 31
EdeMar 28 – Oct 31OranjestadNo DST
EindhovenMar 28 – Oct 31OssMar 28 – Oct 31

Daylight Saving Time in Dependencies of Netherlands

DependencyTypeDaylight Saving Time Period
ArubaConstituent countryNo Daylight Saving Time
Caribbean NetherlandsConstituent countryNo Daylight Saving Time
CuraçaoConstituent countryNo Daylight Saving Time
Sint MaartenConstituent countryNo Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time History in Netherlands

  • Netherlands first observed Daylight Saving Time in 1916.
  • Netherlands has observed DST for 78 years between 1916 and 2024 (DST in at least one location).
  • Previous time with no Daylight Saving Time was 1976.
  • See Worldwide DST Statistics

One of the First Countries to Use DST

On April 30, 1916, Germany became the first country to observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). On the very next day, on May 1, 1916, the Netherlands followed suit.

Until 1940, the Netherlands' standard time was based on solar time at the meridian running through its capital, Amsterdam, instead of GMT, then the world's time standard. From 1916 to 1936, Dutch standard time was 19 minutes and 32 seconds ahead of GMT. When DST was in force, the GMT offset increased to 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 32 seconds.

During World War II, German forces ordered an all-year DST period, which lasted from 1940 to 1942. From 1942 to 1945, Dutch clocks followed Germany's DST schedule. After the country's liberation in 1945, DST was abolished. However, the Netherlands did not revert to Dutch Time but kept Central European Time (CET) as its standard time. Daylight Saving Time was re-introduced in 1977, and DST clock changes are still observed in the Netherlands to the present day.