How Many Vacation Days Do You Get in the Netherlands?

By Anna Duncan

Are you planning a trip to the Netherlands and wondering how many vacation days you’ll get? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the vacation policies in the Netherlands.

Understanding Vacation Policies in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, employers are required by law to provide their employees with a minimum of 20 paid vacation days per year. This is based on a full-time workweek of 40 hours. If you work fewer hours than this, your employer must still provide you with at least 4 times your weekly working hours in vacation days.

Additional Vacation Days

Many employers offer additional vacation days on top of the minimum requirement. It’s not uncommon for employees to receive anywhere from 25 to 30 vacation days per year.

Public Holidays

In addition to vacation days, there are also public holidays in the Netherlands. Employees are entitled to take these days off work, and they are paid for them as well. There are currently 10 official public holidays in the Netherlands:

  • New Year’s Day (January 1)
  • Easter Monday (date varies)
  • King’s Day (April 27)
  • Liberation Day (May 5)
  • Ascension Day (date varies)
  • Pentecost Monday (date varies)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)
  • Boxing Day (December 26)

Using Your Vacation Days

When it comes to using your vacation days, it’s important to note that they expire at the end of each year. This means that if you don’t use all of your vacation days by December 31st, you lose them.

Additionally, employers have some control over when their employees take their vacation days. They must consult with their employees and take their preferences into account, but ultimately they have the final say.

Conclusion

In summary, in the Netherlands, employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 paid vacation days per year, in addition to public holidays. Many employers offer more than this minimum requirement, and it’s important to use your vacation days before they expire at the end of each year.