Wednesday, 12th April 1978 in Amsterdam
Welcome to your daily snapshot of Amsterdam! It's International Day of Human Space Flight and World Aviation Day. Explore 51 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Amsterdam. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in Amsterdam brings snowy with temperatures between 0°C and 6°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Aries. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Wednesday, 12th April in Amsterdam, NL.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, situated in the province of North Holland and built upon numerous canals that have earned it comparisons to Venice. The city serves as a cultural and economic hub, with a history spanning over eight centuries of merchant trade and artistic achievement.
On 12 April 1978, the weather in Amsterdam was snowy, creating winter conditions across the city. The moon was in its waning gibbous phase, and those born on this date would carry the Aries zodiac sign. Across history, this date has marked significant moments: in 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed the first human spaceflight aboard Vostok 01, orbiting Earth in 108 minutes and demonstrating that human space travel was possible. Nearly two decades later, in 1980, Canadian athlete Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope, embarking on an east-to-west journey from Newfoundland with a prosthetic leg to raise funds for cancer research, inspiring millions with his determination.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive historical information for any date and location, displaying weather conditions as they occurred, significant events, and the births and deaths of notable figures. Users can explore how meteorological conditions, lunar phases, and astronomical signs intersected with major historical moments, creating a detailed archive of temporal and geographical data.
Find out what's happening today in Amsterdam.
What the Weather Had in Store for Amsterdam on 12th April 1978
Fire needs space, not pressure, to flourish.
Fortune of the Day
12th April in the Stars – Star Sign Aries
Personality Profile
Personality People born on April 12 blend Aries's fiery impulsiveness with radiant vitality and self-expression. Direct, courageous, and pioneering, they lead where others hesitate. Their infectious confidence inspires everyone around them.
Strengths & Weaknesses These natives excel at decisiveness, authenticity, and bold action. However, impatience and impulsiveness can lead them to act without considering consequences. Slowing down to reflect remains their greatest challenge.
Love In relationships, they bring passionate intensity and genuine honesty—games hold no appeal. They love fully and expect the same in return. A partner who shares their energy and respects independence will thrive alongside them.
Caree & Finance Professionally, these people flourish in leadership and entrepreneurial roles requiring direct action. Their financial choices tend toward risk; patience with saving would build lasting stability. They thrive when pioneering new ventures.
Health Regular physical activity is essential for channeling their abundant energy constructively. Headaches and burnout emerge when rest is neglected. Meditation and breathing practices help balance their naturally restless temperament.
That night, the moon was in its waning gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Horse (Earth).
Fun Facts About 12th April
Name Days in Your Language: Destin, Destinee, Destiny, Dulce, Walker
Someone born on this day in 1978 would be 48 years old today — just 17,543 days into life, which is roughly 421,043 hours, 25,262,618 minutes, or 1,515,757,121 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 102. day of the year.
There are 263 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 15 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 12th April
- Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Russian runner (1981)
- Nicolás Burdisso, Argentinian footballer (1981)
- Tulsi Gabbard, American politician (1981)
- Grant Holt, English footballer and professional wrestler (1981)
- Hisashi Iwakuma, Japanese baseball pitcher (1981)
- Sara Head, Welsh Paralympic table tennis champion (1980)
- Brian McFadden, Irish singer-songwriter (1980)
- Claire Danes, American actress (1979)
- Elena Grosheva, Russian gymnast (1979)
- Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer (1979)
Lives Remembered on 12th April
- Prince Yasuhiko Asaka of Japan (born 1887) (1981)
- Joe Louis, American boxer and wrestler (born 1914) (1981)
- William R. Tolbert, Jr., Liberian politician, 20th President of Liberia (born 1913) (1980)
- Philip K. Wrigley, American businessman, co-founded Lincoln Park Gun Club (born 1894) (1977)
- Christos Kakkalos, Greek mountain guide (born 1882) (1976)
- Josephine Baker, French actress, activist, and humanitarian (born 1906) (1975)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 12th April
- Children's Day (Bolivia)
- Christian feast day: Adoniram Judson (Episcopal Church)
- Christian feast day: Alferius
- Christian feast day: Blessed Angelo Carletti di Chivasso
- Christian feast day: Erkembode
- Christian feast day: Pope Julius I
- Christian feast day: Sabbas the Goth
- Christian feast day: Teresa of the Andes
- Christian feast day: Zeno of Verona
- Christian feast day: April 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: Cosmonautics Day (Russia)
- Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: International Day of Human Space Flight
- Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: Yuri's Night (International observance)
- Halifax Day (North Carolina)
- National Redemption Day (Liberia)
What Happened on 12th April?
- The Great Fire of Valparaíso ravages the Chilean city of Valparaíso, killing 16 people, displacing nearly 10,000, and destroying over 2,000 homes. (2014)
- Two suicide bombers kill three Chadian soldiers and injure dozens of civilians at a market in Kidal, Mali. (2013)
- Merano derailment: A rail accident in South Tyrol kills nine people and injures a further 28. (2010)
- Zimbabwe officially abandons the Zimbabwean dollar as its official currency. (2009)
- A suicide bomber penetrates the Green Zone and detonates in a cafeteria within a parliament building, killing Iraqi MP Mohammed Awad and wounding more than twenty other people. (2007)
- A suicide bomber blows herself up at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market, killing seven people and wounding 104. (2002)
- United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a civil lawsuit; he is later fined and disbarred. (1999)
- During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, an American McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle shoots a passenger train, killing between 20 and 60 people. (1999)
- The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Resort Paris. (1992)
- Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition there. (1990)