Lisa

We'll be in the Netherlands on Easter this year and are wondering if there is anything special to do, like parades to watch - or is that an American thing? We'll be staying in Rotterdam. (We includes two children ages 15 and 11.) Church is not in my travel plans.

Maggie

Don't know about special parades etc but can tell you that when we were in the Netherlands in 2000 at Easter we were amazed at how totally shut down (from a US perspective)things were not only on Easter Sunday but also on Easter Monday which is a big holiday. We used Monday to go to Keukenhof Gardens which was great but found that all stores (shopping, grocery, wine) were competely shut. Restaurants were open. In a way nice, but for those of us used to a 24-7 economy a bit of a shock.

Lisa

Thanks for the reply. I understand Good Friday will also be a partial shut-down, as well....At least we're leaving on Monday, though, so it won't matter if everything is closed then, so long as the airport is open for business.

Sjoerd

Good Friday shops will be open. (only some offices (banks) will be closed). Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are national holidays so indeed almost all shops and offices will be closed. (museums, cafes, restaurants open)<BR>Special Easter activities (egg searching for children, parade with bread roosters, big easter fires) are mainly in the East and the North of the country, not so much in Rotterdam.

Lisa

Thanks for your help. We'll figure out how to work around the closings. We're really excited about our trip!