Garba and Dandiya are the circle dance and the stick dance of Navratri, and in The Netherlands they are danced at community Garba nights run by groups such as Gujarati Samaj Netherlands, Bridging the Gap Foundation and Maitri Foundation. You do not need to know the steps beforehand: these are circle dances built for newcomers to join in.
If Diwali is the quieter, home-and-lights side of the Indian festival calendar in The Netherlands, Garba nights are its loud, joyful, danced-again-and-again counterpart. This guide explains what the dances mean, when the season is, who organises the nights and how to take part. For this year's dates and tickets, see all Navratri and Garba events in The Netherlands.
What Garba and Dandiya Are
Garba takes its name from the Sanskrit word for "womb", and the dance reflects that idea: dancers move in circles around a central lamp or a representation of the goddess, a form meant to evoke the cycle of life. Dandiya Raas is danced with a pair of colourful sticks and traditionally represents the goddess Durga's battle with, and victory over, the demon Mahishasura.
Both are performed during Navratri, the nine-night Hindu festival honouring the divine feminine. Together they turn a religious observance into one of the most participatory, all-ages celebrations of the Indian festival year.
When the Garba Season Is
Navratri follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so its dates move every year. In 2026, Navratri runs from 11 to 21 October. In The Netherlands the season often opens a little earlier: in 2026 the Amstelveen Garba Dandiya Night was on Saturday 10 October, the day before Navratri began, and other cities and organisations hold their own nights in the following weeks.
Who Organises Garba Nights in The Netherlands
Gujarati Samaj Netherlands (Aalsmeer, Utrecht and Eindhoven)
Gujarati Samaj Netherlands (GSNL) runs a Navratri Garba Dandiya series in three cities every year: Aalsmeer, Utrecht and Eindhoven. GSNL has a ticket page for each city. Its website loads event details in a way that could not be read directly when this guide was written, so check the three ticket pages or GSNL's social media for the confirmed dates, venues and prices.
Bridging the Gap Foundation (Amstelveen)
Bridging the Gap Foundation (BTG) helps Indian expats become part of Dutch community life. Its Garba Dandiya Night in Amstelveen is one of the more established Garba nights in the Randstad, with food, drink and snack stalls, gift stalls and a family-friendly programme alongside the dancing. The 2026 edition was held at Emergo hal, Langs de Akker 3, Amstelveen, with tickets sold online through BTG's Facebook page.
Maitri Foundation (Den Haag)
Den Haag has had its own Garba night in recent years, organised by the Maitri Foundation. The 2025 edition, on 27 September, had live singers, a "Disco Dandiya" segment that mixed the classical stick dance with modern music, and a food court with Indian snacks. Follow Maitri Foundation's own channels for the next date.
How to Join a Garba Night as a Beginner
- Buy tickets through the organiser. BTG and GSNL both sell tickets online.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet and moving for much of the evening.
- Follow the person next to you. The circle moves together, and newcomers learn by joining in, not by preparing.
- Bring the family. Many Garba nights are family-friendly, with food and stalls as well as dancing.
- Check dates every year. Navratri moves with the lunar calendar, so the nights fall on different dates each autumn.
Shopping and Services for Navratri
If your business caters to the Navratri season, for example traditional clothing, dandiya sticks, catering or event photography, list it on DesiBiz so the community can find you as the Garba nights approach.
References
- 2026 Shardiya Navratri Calendar for Amsterdam, Netherlands, DrikPanchang
- Amstelveen Garba Dandiya Night 2026, AllEvents
- Navratri Events in Amstelveen 2026, AllEvents
- Bridging the Gap Foundation, Facebook
- GSNL Navratri Aalsmeer Tickets, Gujarati Samaj Netherlands
- GSNL Navratri Utrecht Tickets, Gujarati Samaj Netherlands
- GSNL Navratri Eindhoven Tickets, Gujarati Samaj Netherlands
- Garba & Dandiya: het kloppende hart van Navratri, nu ook in Den Haag, HinduLife.nl
- Maitri Foundation, official website
More in this series: Festivals and community
- When Is Diwali 2026? Date and Traditions in The NetherlandsDiwali 2026 falls on 8 November. Learn why the date moves every year and how the Indian community in The Netherlands celebrates it.
- Diwali Festivals in The Netherlands: A Visitor's GuideWhich Diwali festival in The Netherlands suits you? Compare free outdoor festivals and ticketed indoor evenings, with dates and practical tips.
- Indian Temples and Holy Places in the Netherlands: A Community GuideHindu mandirs, Sikh gurudwaras, ISKCON temples and Kerala Christian parishes serving Indian communities across the Netherlands, with addresses and visitor tips.
- Why Community Matters More Than You Expect When You Move AbroadA widely cited survey found 52% of expats in the Netherlands struggle to make local friends. Here is why community becomes the real infrastructure of settling in.
- Indian Migration to the Netherlands: 8-Year Trends, Population & Where They LiveHow many Indians live in the Netherlands today, how fast the community has grown since 2016, and where most are settling, based on official CBS data.
- Best Cities for Indian Expats in the NetherlandsAmsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and The Hague each suit a different kind of expat life. Here is what actually sets them apart.
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