Easter bonfires return to eastern Netherlands: what you need to know
Easter bonfires will light up parts of the Achterhoek, Veluwe, Twente, and the German border area on 5 or 6 April 2026. While celebrating this tradition, residents may face smoke, dust, or odors—report any nuisance to your local municipality.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Easter Sunday or Monday (5 or 6 April 2026) |
| Locations | Achterhoek, Veluwe, Twente, German border area |
| Potential Nuisances | Smoke, dust, odors |
| Responsible Authority | Local municipalities |
| How to Report Issues | Contact your municipality via their website |
| Tradition’s Geographic Scope | From Denmark to Austria and from eastern Netherlands to beyond the Harz mountains |
Municipalities in the eastern Netherlands play a key role in balancing cultural traditions with environmental and public health concerns. They assess permit applications for Easter bonfires, ensuring safety and minimizing disruption for residents.
Read the full translated article below
Easter bonfires during Easter days
On Easter Sunday or Easter Monday (5 or 6 April 2026), Easter bonfires will again burn in many places in the Achterhoek, on the Veluwe, in Twente and the German border area. Depending on the weather, you may experience nuisance from smoke, dust and odours. You can report this to your municipality. Photo: Gorssel.nl
Municipalities responsible
Municipalities grant permission for the lighting of Easter bonfires. They are required to publish information about this. Local newspapers and free local papers will state where and when the Easter bonfires will burn. Each municipality makes its own assessment of whether or not to allow the event to go ahead.
Balancing tradition and the environment
Easter bonfires have been a tradition in the north and east of the Netherlands since ancient times. This is a tradition in an area that stretches from Denmark to Austria and from eastern Netherlands to beyond the Harz mountains. When granting a permit, municipalities seek a balance between preserving the Easter bonfire tradition and protecting the environment and public health.
Information and complaints
For questions about Easter bonfires or to report issues, you can contact your municipality. Check your municipality’s website for details on how to do this.