Dutch wedding anniversary names
Copper, silver, ruby, golden, diamond and brilliant: the names of wedding anniversaries in the Netherlands and when to celebrate each one.
In the Netherlands, wedding anniversaries have names, like in many countries, but the list and the milestones are a little different. Lists vary by region and period; these six are the ones commonly celebrated in a Dutch family.
The list
- 12½ years: copper
- 25 years: silver
- 40 years: ruby
- 50 years: golden
- 60 years: diamond
- 65 years: brilliant
The copper anniversary at 12½ years
The odd one out is the copper anniversary, which falls at twelve years and six months after the wedding day. It is half of the silver anniversary and is often celebrated as a smaller, cosier occasion.
How the dates are counted
For most anniversaries you add the number of years to the wedding date. For the copper anniversary you add twelve years and then six months. If the day does not exist in the target month, the last day of that month is used: a wedding on 31 August has its copper anniversary on 28 or 29 February.
You can work this out with the wedding anniversary calculator. Enter the wedding date and see the next anniversary, with its name and the days to go.
What people do
There is no fixed tradition. A silver or golden anniversary is often a bigger party with children and grandchildren. In the Netherlands a golden anniversary usually brings a greeting from the mayor, and a diamond anniversary may bring one from the King, if the couple wants it. Smaller anniversaries are a dinner, a gift in the right material or a day out.
Anniversaries on the family calendar
A family calendar that knows the names puts “Silver anniversary: Anna and Bram” on the day, a few weeks ahead, so a card does not arrive late. Everjaar does that for every married couple in the family. Read about the tradition of the birthday calendar or start a family calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Are there more names than these six?
Yes, other lists include paper, cotton and wood. They vary by region, so we list the six commonly celebrated ones.
Why is copper at 12½ years?
It is half of the silver anniversary at 25 years, and it gets its own small celebration.
Do these names work outside the Netherlands?
Some do: silver and golden are widely used. Ruby and diamond are used in many places, too, at slightly different years.