In short: Every exchange has its own opening hours. Euronext is open from 09:00 to 17:30 Dutch time, and the US exchanges usually from 15:30 to 22:00. When it is busier, there are usually more buyers and sellers and smaller spreads.
Step by step
- Look up the opening hours of the exchange where your stock or fund is traded.
- Convert them to your own time and allow for summer and winter time.
- Check the trading calendar for public holidays and early closes.
- See whether your broker offers trading outside market hours, and on what terms.
- Watch the economic calendar for news that can move prices.
- Try out in a demo account at which times you want to trade.
Opening hours of the major exchanges
The times below are approximate, in Dutch time (CET/CEST). Always check current times with the exchange or your broker.
| Exchange | Local time | Dutch time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Euronext (Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels) | 09:00 - 17:30 | 09:00 - 17:30 |
| London Stock Exchange | 08:00 - 16:30 | 09:00 - 17:30 |
| Deutsche Börse (Xetra) | 09:00 - 17:30 | 09:00 - 17:30 |
| NYSE and Nasdaq (US) | 09:30 - 16:00 | 15:30 - 22:00 |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange | 09:00 - 15:30 | about 01:00 - 07:30 |
At the end of the trading day, many exchanges hold a closing auction to set the closing price. Trading volume can therefore rise just before the close.
Not every product follows exchange hours. Forex trades almost around the clock on weekdays. Crypto can be traded at weekends on most platforms. Brokers sometimes have their own trading hours for products such as ETFs or CFDs. Check these with your broker.
When is it busier?
On most exchanges it is busier just after the open and just before the close. A lot of news and many orders come in then. Around midday it is often quieter. This can affect the spread and how fast prices move. A smaller spread means lower costs (see bid-ask spreads).
If you trade US stocks from the Netherlands, the US opening time falls in the afternoon and evening. You need to allow for that in your daily schedule. European and US exchanges also overlap, from 15:30 to 17:30 Dutch time.
Trading outside market hours
Some brokers offer trading before the open (pre-market) and after the close (after-hours), mainly for US stocks. This has drawbacks:
- There are usually fewer buyers and sellers, so the spread is often wider.
- The price can swing faster, for example after a company announcement.
- Not every order type is available. A limit order is often the only choice.
- The price at the open can differ greatly from the previous day’s price.
If you want to trade outside market hours, first read your broker’s terms and try it with small amounts or in a demo account.
Your own schedule
Which trading hours suit you depends on your product, your time and your experience. If you work during the day, you may not be able to trade during European market hours. Long-term investors do not need to look every day. For active trading it helps to look at the times when you get your own results, for example in a trading journal. Small numbers of trades say little, so do not draw quick conclusions.
Investing involves risk: you can lose some or all of your money. This tutorial is information, not investment advice.
Test yourself
Practice questions to check your understanding, not advice.
What are Euronext's opening hours in Dutch time?
- 09:00 to 17:30
- 15:30 to 22:00
- 08:00 to 16:30
Show answer
Answer:A. 09:00 to 17:30
Euronext is open from 09:00 to 17:30 Dutch time. The US exchanges are usually open from 15:30 to 22:00.
When are the US exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq) usually open, in Dutch time?
- 09:00 to 17:30
- 01:00 to 07:30
- 15:30 to 22:00
Show answer
Answer:C. 15:30 to 22:00
NYSE and Nasdaq open at 09:30 local time, which is 15:30 Dutch time, and close at 16:00 local time, 22:00 Dutch time.
How long is the overlap between European and US exchanges, from 15:30 to 17:30 Dutch time?
- 1 hour
- 2 hours
- 8 hours
Show answer
Answer:B. 2 hours
From 15:30 to 17:30 is 2 hours.
According to the tutorial, what usually applies to trading outside trading hours (pre-market and after-hours)?
- There are fewer buyers and sellers, so the spread is often larger
- The spread is always smaller than during the trading day
- All order types are available
Show answer
Answer:A. There are fewer buyers and sellers, so the spread is often larger
Outside trading hours there are usually fewer buyers and sellers, so the spread is often larger. Not every order type is available; a limit order is often the only choice.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Amsterdam stock exchange open?
- Euronext Amsterdam trades on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:30 Dutch time. On Dutch and European public holidays the exchange may be closed. Check the Euronext trading calendar for current dates.
- What time does the US stock market open in Dutch time?
- US exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq are open from 09:30 to 16:00 New York time. That is usually 15:30 to 22:00 Dutch time. In the weeks when the Netherlands and the US switch between summer and winter time on different dates, the difference is one hour.
- Can I also trade outside trading hours?
- Some brokers offer trading before the open (pre-market) and after the close (after-hours), mainly for US stocks. There are usually fewer buyers and sellers then, so the spread can be wider and the price can swing faster. Whether and when this is possible differs per broker. A limit order gives you more control than a market order.
- Are forex and crypto open 24 hours a day?
- Forex trades almost around the clock on weekdays, from Sunday evening to Friday evening. Crypto can also be traded at weekends on most platforms. That does not mean it is always equally busy: outside the busy hours, spreads can be wider.