Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Just 15 per cent of Dutch nationals know that Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, according to a survey by research agency NAW-plus published on Thursday. The study, which surveyed 12,000 Dutch nationals about the Easter holiday, said 45 per cent of Dutch nationals do not know Easter is a Christian holiday.
Nevertheless, 72 per cent of Dutch nationals do not want to exchange the second day of Eastern for a holiday during the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Easter, Pentecost and Christmas traditionally count two days in the Netherlands.
A recent study by the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau SCP on secularization in the Netherlands said that by 2010 67 per cent of Dutch nationals would not be a member of a church or another religious establishment.
The study also found 76 per cent of Dutch nationals think it is only up to humans to give life meaning.
The SCP study said 17 per cent of Dutch nationals are atheists and 12 per cent agnostics.
By contrast, more than half of Dutch nationals believe in the existence of undefined "higher powers", the afterlife, and supernatural phenomena.