School holidays in the Netherlands (2024)

FAQs

What are the holidays for students in the Netherlands? ›

The Ministry sets compulsory school holiday periods like Christmas (2 weeks), May holiday (1 week) and the summer holidays (6 weeks) which must be adhered to by primary, secondary and special education schools. The Ministry gives only advisory dates for the spring (1 week) and autumn (1 week) holiday.

Annual leave

The statutory minimum holiday entitlement of 20 days is four times the agreed working time per week for each year of employment. These statutory days are in addition to public holidays of which there are normally seven each year. In practice, most employees are entitled to 25 days.

Leave of absence

You can request this from the director of the school. Special leave. You can request up to and including 10 days of leave from the director of the school. You can request more than 10 days of leave at the RBLGV.

One of the most celebrated days in the Netherlands is King's day. During King's day, the whole population takes on to celebrate the birthday of the King; Willem Alexander. On the day of the celebration, the whole Netherlands is “painted” orange.

Christmas (Kerstavakanie – two week) Spring (Voorjaarsvakantie – one week) May holiday (Meivakantie – one week, usually spread across April/May) Summer (Zomervakantie – six weeks)

Q: Which country has the most school holidays? In most countries, the longest break in the school year is during summer, lasting between 5 and 14 weeks. In Ireland, Italy, Lithuania and Russia, summer holidays are normally three months, compared to six to eight weeks in Britain, The Netherlands and Germany.

Education Facts in the Netherlands

School hours in primary school are from 8:30 to 15:00 with an hour-long lunch at 12:00. Wednesdays are half-days and children go home at 12:00. School hours for secondary school students start at 8:30 until about 16:00–17:00, depending on the day's schedule.

While students in Israel must go to school six days a week, their teachers get a weekly day off, working only five days a week. While students are in school more days than their cohorts in developed nations, Israeli teachers teach an annual average of 182 days in elementary schools, compared to 183 days in the OECD.

Although the Netherlands doesn't officially work a 4 day week, it's the a norm for many people, especially working moms. According to government statistics, 86% of employed moms worked less than 35 hours per week. 12% of working fathers also worked low hours compared to other countries.

What is the 13th month pay in the Netherlands? ›

It is mandatory for every employer in the Netherlands to pay their staff an extra sum of money on top of their gross salary. This sum is called 'Vakantiegeld' in Dutch, roughly translated as 'Holiday/Vacation Money'. It's also sometimes called the 13th wage, as it is almost the equivalent to an extra month salary.

The monthly minimum wage paid to workers in the Netherlands who are at least aged 21 years has increased from 1 January 2024 to 2069.96 euros, up from 1934 euros. The houlry minimum wage paid to workers at least 21 years of age increased to 13.27 euros, up from 12.79 euros.

In the Netherlands, schooling is compulsory from age five to 16. School absenteeism can be fined at €100 euros per day up to a maximum of €600 euros per family for one week and €900 for two weeks.

In the Netherlands, school attendance is compulsory for all children aged from 5 to 16.

How does education work in the Netherlands? In the Netherlands, education is compulsory. Home-schooling is not accepted by the Dutch government. Most schools accept children from the age of four, though officially, compulsory education starts at the age of five.

6 weeks in July and August (summer break)

Pupils attend school Monday through Friday. School hours in primary school are from 8:30 to 15:00 with an hour-long lunch at 12:00. Wednesdays are half-days and children go home at 12:00. School hours for secondary school students start at 8:30 until about 16:00–17:00, depending on the day's schedule.

Their school day will be different every day of the week, with anywhere from 4 to 7 classes per day. Thus, each student has short days and long days at school. Students start and end school at different times, creating an efficient but erratic and personalized schedule.

In the Netherlands, Christmas traditions include Sinterklaas Avond on December 5th, midwinter hoornblaazen, and special celebrations on both Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day. These occasions involve gift-giving, spending time with family, playing games, watching movies and eating traditional food.