One of the loveliest surprises of moving here is how alive the Indian community is. The Netherlands has a long-established Hindu community (with deep Surinamese-Indian roots as well), so temples, festivals and cultural events are easy to find, and they make a new country feel like home.
Sri Balaji Kalyana Mahotsav
We were lucky to attend the Sri Balaji Kalyana Mahotsav 2024, the celestial wedding of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), organised by Stichting Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (SVK) with support from TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams). It was a genuinely moving, blessed experience, and a beautiful reminder that your traditions travel with you.
Temples you can visit
- Vinayagar (Ganesha) temple, Den Helder, up north near the Texel ferry, a lovely little temple we stop by in our Texel travel guide.
- Larger Hindu temples and mandirs around the Randstad (the Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht area) serve the wider community, and many host the big festival celebrations.
Festivals through the year
Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Holi, and Pongal / Sankranti are all celebrated here through temples, community groups and cultural associations. The Facebook groups in our community guide are the best place to hear about events near you.
New in town? Turning up to a festival or a temple event is one of the fastest ways to make friends and start feeling settled. Everyone there remembers being the newcomer once.
Questions & answers
- Where do I find Indian groceries and vegetables?
- Easier than you'd think. Most cities (Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven) have Indian and Asian supermarkets, and Surinamese-Hindustani 'toko' shops are goldmines for spices, lentils and fresh produce. Online Indian grocers and Amazon.nl deliver too. In smaller towns you'll lean on the nearest toko plus online orders, so it's worth finding your regular spot early.