There is one odd week every year when Europe has already moved to standard time and the United States has not. In 2025 that creates a clear shift for anyone in Central Europe who follows New York. The opening bell for the US equity markets lands at two thirty in the afternoon in the Netherlands and Belgium rather than the familiar three thirty. One hour may feel small. In day to day routines it is enough to change timing, agendas and the cadence of news.
What exactly changes in this specific week
Europe moves to standard time overnight from Saturday October 25 to Sunday October 26, 2025. Clocks move back by one hour. The United States switches a week later on Sunday November 2, 2025. During the trading days in between, from Monday October 27 through Friday October 31, the New York session stays fixed at 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Because the time gap is temporarily one hour smaller, the opening bell for the Netherlands and Belgium rings at 2:30 PM and the close at 9:00 PM. After Sunday November 2 everything returns to the familiar rhythm with a 3:30 PM opening in those countries.
Which countries see a 2:30 PM opening in local time
The shift runs through every country on Central European Time. That includes the Netherlands and Belgium and also Germany, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy and mainland Spain. Switzerland and Liechtenstein follow the same pattern as do Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. The Nordic trio of Denmark, Sweden and Norway is on the same clock. Microstates such as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also sit in this time zone.
Countries on Western European Time see New York start one hour earlier in their local day. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the bell rings at 1:30 PM that week because they are on Greenwich Mean Time while the United States is still on daylight time. Iceland remains on Greenwich Mean Time all year and also sees a 1:30 PM local opening in that week.
In the Eastern European Time zone the New York opening lands at 3:30 PM local time during the transition week. That matters for Finland, Greece, Romania and the Baltic states. Countries that do not switch seasons keep their usual offset. Turkey and the Moscow time zone sit at UTC plus three year round and see a 4:30 PM local opening in that week.
What this means for your daily routine
The first minutes of trading in New York move one hour closer to the early afternoon in Central Europe. Pre market news, macro releases and corporate updates that often drop at 8:30 AM Eastern Time land at 1:30 PM in the Netherlands and Belgium during this week. This calls for a small shift in preparation. Move your checks for company updates and economic data forward by an hour and make sure notes and watchlists are ready earlier in the day. Keep the first half hour after the bell clear for focused work. Schedule calls and appointments a little later in the afternoon so you do not have to divide attention between headlines and the opening phase.
Frequently asked questions
When does everything go back to normal From Monday November 3, 2025 the US cash session opens at 3:30 PM in the Netherlands and Belgium and closes at 10:00 PM during the winter months. That schedule holds for the rest of the season.
Do pre market and after hours change The windows in New York remain the same. Only the translation to local time in Europe shifts by one hour. The practical effect shows up mainly in the European afternoon.
Does this also apply to futures and options Official stock exchange hours determine the cash session. Derivative markets follow their own venue specific schedules. The principle is the same. Always convert to your own local time and check the venue’s calendar.
How do I avoid misunderstandings around appointments Write down the exact time and the time zone in every invitation and include a short note for this week. Clear clock times prevent confusion when habits do not match the calendar.
Bottom line and next step
The week of Monday October 27 through Friday October 31, 2025 is the one stretch when the US opening lands at 2:30 PM in the Netherlands and Belgium. Every country on Central European Time shares that timing. In the United Kingdom and Ireland it is 1:30 PM. In the Eastern European Time zone it is 3:30 PM. It is a modest shift with real impact on routines. Move your schedule forward by an hour and you stay in control without stress.
If you want reliable timing updates and a crisp preparation for the rest of the year, visit Bitease to check the economic calendar .
