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Time Change 1981 in the Netherlands

Next change:
Oct
27
1 hour Back

Oct 27, 2024, 3:00 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

Mar 29

Forward 1 hour

Mar 29, 1981 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, March 29, 1981, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 29, 1981, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Mar 29, 1981 than the day before. There was more light in the evening.

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

Sep 27

Back 1 hour

Sep 27, 1981 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, September 27, 1981, 3:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, September 27, 1981, 2:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Sep 27, 1981 than the day before. There was more light in the morning.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

Other years: 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 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 1981

Areas in Netherlands using DST in 1981
Areas in Netherlands on standard time all of 1981

DST in Locations in Netherlands in 1981 (40 Locations)

's-HertogenboschMar 29 – Sep 27EmmenMar 29 – Sep 27PeizeMar 29 – Sep 27
AalsmeerMar 29 – Sep 27EnschedeMar 29 – Sep 27RotterdamMar 29 – Sep 27
AbcoudeMar 29 – Sep 27GroningenMar 29 – Sep 27The BottomNo DST
AlkmaarMar 29 – Sep 27HaarlemMar 29 – Sep 27The HagueMar 29 – Sep 27
AlmereMar 29 – Sep 27HilversumMar 29 – Sep 27TilburgMar 29 – Sep 27
AmersfoortMar 29 – Sep 27HoofddorpMar 29 – Sep 27UtrechtMar 29 – Sep 27
AmsterdamMar 29 – Sep 27LeerdamMar 29 – Sep 27VlissingenMar 29 – Sep 27
ApeldoornMar 29 – Sep 27LeeuwardenMar 29 – Sep 27WageningenMar 29 – Sep 27
ArnhemMar 29 – Sep 27LeidenMar 29 – Sep 27WoerdenMar 29 – Sep 27
BredaMar 29 – Sep 27MaastrichtMar 29 – Sep 27ZaandamMar 29 – Sep 27
DelftMar 29 – Sep 27MontfoortMar 29 – Sep 27ZoetermeerMar 29 – Sep 27
DordrechtMar 29 – Sep 27NijmegenMar 29 – Sep 27ZwolleMar 29 – Sep 27
EdeMar 29 – Sep 27OranjestadNo DST
EindhovenMar 29 – Sep 27OssMar 29 – Sep 27

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.