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Time Change 2012 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 25

Forward 1 hour

Mar 25, 2012 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, March 25, 2012, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 25, 2012, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Mar 25, 2012 than the day before. There was more light in the evening.

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

Oct 28

Back 1 hour

Oct 28, 2012 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, October 28, 2012, 3:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, October 28, 2012, 2:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Oct 28, 2012 than the day before. There was more light in the morning.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

More info:
Sunday, Oct 28, 2012: Most Europeans turn clocks back as DST ends

Other years: 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 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 2012

Areas in Netherlands using DST in 2012
Areas in Netherlands on standard time all of 2012

DST in Locations in Netherlands in 2012 (40 Locations)

's-HertogenboschMar 25 – Oct 28EmmenMar 25 – Oct 28PeizeMar 25 – Oct 28
AalsmeerMar 25 – Oct 28EnschedeMar 25 – Oct 28RotterdamMar 25 – Oct 28
AbcoudeMar 25 – Oct 28GroningenMar 25 – Oct 28The BottomNo DST
AlkmaarMar 25 – Oct 28HaarlemMar 25 – Oct 28The HagueMar 25 – Oct 28
AlmereMar 25 – Oct 28HilversumMar 25 – Oct 28TilburgMar 25 – Oct 28
AmersfoortMar 25 – Oct 28HoofddorpMar 25 – Oct 28UtrechtMar 25 – Oct 28
AmsterdamMar 25 – Oct 28LeerdamMar 25 – Oct 28VlissingenMar 25 – Oct 28
ApeldoornMar 25 – Oct 28LeeuwardenMar 25 – Oct 28WageningenMar 25 – Oct 28
ArnhemMar 25 – Oct 28LeidenMar 25 – Oct 28WoerdenMar 25 – Oct 28
BredaMar 25 – Oct 28MaastrichtMar 25 – Oct 28ZaandamMar 25 – Oct 28
DelftMar 25 – Oct 28MontfoortMar 25 – Oct 28ZoetermeerMar 25 – Oct 28
DordrechtMar 25 – Oct 28NijmegenMar 25 – Oct 28ZwolleMar 25 – Oct 28
EdeMar 25 – Oct 28OranjestadNo DST
EindhovenMar 25 – Oct 28OssMar 25 – Oct 28

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.