Chinese New Year is a vibrant spectacle in Amsterdam’s Chinatown, offering a feast for the senses. Held every year around Nieuwmarkt and Dam Square, the festival marks the start of the lunar new year with a dazzling mix of traditional parades, festive food, and lively performances. Chinese New Year in Amsterdam. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Amsterdam’s Chinatown. The Chinese New Year begins every year between 21 January and 20 February, on the second new moon after the 21 December solstice. In 2025, the Chinese year 4722, The Year of the Snake, begins. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on 29 January. En door: op zaterdag 1 februari 2025 is er vanaf 12.00 uur een optocht met leeuwen, vuurwerk en Chinese muziek met gongs en trommels door heel Chinatown. De optocht begint bij de tempel op de Zeedijk. Verwacht een gezellige sfeer op straat met eetkraampjes. Vanaf 18.00 uur is er een groot feest ter afsluiting bij Heineken Hoek op het Leidseplein. Lunar New Year 2025/Chinese New Year: The Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year begins every year between 21 January and 20 February, on the second new moon after the winter solstice on 21 December. This year, it falls on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. Lunar New Year will be celebrated in many places across Amsterdam. Lion and Dragon Dance Parade (January 29, 2025) Amsterdam’s Chinese New Year Parade brings vibrancy and tradition to the heart of the city, starting on January 29, 2025, at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple on Zeedijk from noon to 1:30 pm. Most activities during the Chinese New Year traditionally take place on Nieuwmarkt and the Zeedijk in Amsterdam, but there are usually also festivities on Dam Square. The Chinese New Year starts between January 21 and February 20 every year. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on January 29, celebrating the Year of the Snake. The snake is the sixth animal in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese On January 29, 2025 we will head into the year of the snake, marking the beginning of a new year! Gong xi fa cai, or Happy New Year! Year of the Snake. In various Asian countries, each lunar year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year cycle. The snake ranks 6th in the zodiac and is a symbol of wisdom, charm, elegance and Celebrate Chinese New Year in Amsterdam with festive activities, cultural experiences, and delicious dining. Explore Chinatown’s celebrations and enjoy a special meal at De Jappaner, a Japanese restaurant offering authentic dishes for the occasion. Chinese New Year’s meals also feature foods like glutinous rice ball soup, moon-shaped rice cakes (New Year’s cake) and dumplings. Chinese restaurants In Chinatown you will find many traditional Chinese - but also other Asian - restaurants serving authentic and really tasty Chinese food. De meeste activiteiten tijdens het Chinees Nieuwjaar vinden volgens traditie plaats op Nieuwmarkt en de Zeedijk in Amsterdam, maar er zijn doorgaans ook feestelijkheden op de Dam. Het Chinese nieuwjaar begint elk jaar tussen 21 januari en 20 februari. In 2025 valt het Chinees Nieuwjaar op 29 januari en viert dan het jaar van de slang. De slang is het zesde dier in de twaalfjaarlijkse cyclus The annual traditional Chinese lion dance is performed by local Kung-Fu clubs to congratulate Chinese shopkeepers and businessmen in Amsterdam's Chinatown for the new year. Chinatown has transformed the red light district into a more friendly place for tourists and locals to enjoy Asian culture and great food! Since 2005 street names in this district are both in Dutch and Chinese as Amsterdam wanted to put Chinatown on the map. Since then Chinese New Year celebrations have become an annual event that draws a crowd. First Chinese Restaurant in Amsterdam. The first Chinese came to Amsterdam as early as 1911. At first the Chinese immigrants settled in The Chinese New Year falls between 21 January and 20 February each year, so do check the exact date if planning a visit. Tradition and Modernity While Chinatown is steeped in tradition, it also embraces modernity, offering a diverse array of experiences that cater to contemporary tastes. The annual traditional Chinese lion dance is performed by local Kung-Fu clubs to congratulate Chinese shopkeepers and businessmen in Amsterdam's Chinatown for the new year. Chinatown has transformed the red light district into a more friendly place for tourists and locals to enjoy Asian culture and great food! If you’re visiting in Winter, don’t miss the chance to experience the Chinese New Year celebrations in this part of town when the streets go wild with the loud bangs of firecrackers. New Year’s Eve is always celebrated twice in the neighbourhood: on December 31 and during Chinese New Year. New Year's Eve is always celebrated twice in the Chinese neighbourhood: on December 31 and during Chinese New Year. The biggest celebration is on January 2, when the new year is ushered in with a lion dance. According to Chan, the fact that the lion dance is on January 2 and not during Chinese New Year is purely due to integration. Amsterdam Chinatown is just a few streets away from the famous De Wallen red light district. The main street of Amsterdam Chinatown is Zeedijk and over the years, it has grown into the neighboring Nieuwmarkt area. Despite being a relatively new Chinatown that evolved around the 1980s, Amsterdam Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the Yes, major Chinese festivals like the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival are grandly celebrated, adding to the vibrant energy of Chinatown. Conclusion Amsterdam’s Chinatown, with its rich tapestry of history, gastronomy, retail experiences , and spirited festivals, embodies a cultural harmony that effortlessly draws in every visitor. Lunar New Year, ook wel bekend als Chinees Nieuwjaar, Lentefeest of Tet Festival, is een van de belangrijkste feesten van het jaar in China en andere Aziatische landen zoals Korea, Singapore, Maleisië, Indonesië en de Filippijnen. Op woensdag 29 januari 2025 begint het jaar van de Slang – het symbool voor wijsheid en mysterie. Amsterdam viert deze speciale gelegenheid met tal van The Amsterdam Chinatown area is located around Nieuwmarkt Square and Zeedijk. The He Hua Tempel in Amsterdam Chinatown. History of Amsterdam Chinatown. The first people who arrived in Amsterdam, arrived by boat from poor areas of China, such as the South Chinese province of Quangdong, which was hit hard by war and famine.
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