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Time Change 1978 in the Netherlands

Next change:
Mar
31
1 hour Forward

Mar 31, 2024, 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

Apr 2

Forward 1 hour

Apr 2, 1978 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, April 2, 1978, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, April 2, 1978, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Apr 2, 1978 than the day before. There was more light in the evening.

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

Oct 1

Back 1 hour

Oct 1, 1978 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, October 1, 1978, 3:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, October 1, 1978, 2:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Oct 1, 1978 than the day before. There was more light in the morning.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

Other years: 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 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 1978

Areas in Netherlands using DST in 1978
Areas in Netherlands on standard time all of 1978

DST in Locations in Netherlands in 1978 (40 Locations)

's-HertogenboschApr 2 – Oct 1EmmenApr 2 – Oct 1PeizeApr 2 – Oct 1
AalsmeerApr 2 – Oct 1EnschedeApr 2 – Oct 1RotterdamApr 2 – Oct 1
AbcoudeApr 2 – Oct 1GroningenApr 2 – Oct 1The BottomNo DST
AlkmaarApr 2 – Oct 1HaarlemApr 2 – Oct 1The HagueApr 2 – Oct 1
AlmereApr 2 – Oct 1HilversumApr 2 – Oct 1TilburgApr 2 – Oct 1
AmersfoortApr 2 – Oct 1HoofddorpApr 2 – Oct 1UtrechtApr 2 – Oct 1
AmsterdamApr 2 – Oct 1LeerdamApr 2 – Oct 1VlissingenApr 2 – Oct 1
ApeldoornApr 2 – Oct 1LeeuwardenApr 2 – Oct 1WageningenApr 2 – Oct 1
ArnhemApr 2 – Oct 1LeidenApr 2 – Oct 1WoerdenApr 2 – Oct 1
BredaApr 2 – Oct 1MaastrichtApr 2 – Oct 1ZaandamApr 2 – Oct 1
DelftApr 2 – Oct 1MontfoortApr 2 – Oct 1ZoetermeerApr 2 – Oct 1
DordrechtApr 2 – Oct 1NijmegenApr 2 – Oct 1ZwolleApr 2 – Oct 1
EdeApr 2 – Oct 1OranjestadNo DST
EindhovenApr 2 – Oct 1OssApr 2 – Oct 1

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.