Ascension Day Description
Ascension Day commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven forty days after Easter and always falls on a Thursday. It is a national holiday with banks, schools, and government offices closed. Many Dutch people use this day to begin an extended weekend, traveling to the countryside or neighboring countries. The tradition of "dauwtrappen" (dew treading) sees early risers cycling or walking through nature at dawn, a custom rooted in purification rituals. Shopping centers and supermarkets may operate on Sunday hours.
