In the Netherlands, employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of four times their weekly working hours per year as paid annual leave (vakantie). For a full-time employee on a 40-hour week this is 160 hours, or 20 days. Most Dutch employers grant additional contractual days (bovenwettelijke vakantiedagen), bringing typical entitlement to 25 days.

Statutory entitlement

Four times the agreed weekly working hours per year (e.g., 160 hours / 20 days for a 40-hour week). Pro-rated for part-time staff.

Eligibility

All employees accrue annual leave from the first day of employment, including during sickness and parental leave.

Employer obligations

  • Provide at least four times the weekly working hours of paid leave per year.
  • Pay the statutory holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) of at least 8% of gross annual salary, normally paid in May or June.
  • Allow employees to take statutory leave within six months of the end of the year in which it accrued, otherwise it expires.
  • Continue to accrue leave during periods of certified sick leave.
  • Pay accrued, untaken leave on termination of employment.

Employee rights

  • Right to receive 8% holiday allowance on top of base salary, paid at least once per year.
  • Right to use statutory days within six months of the year-end (longer for above-statutory days, which expire after five years).
  • Right to recover annual leave that coincides with certified sickness.
  • Right to request leave timing; the employer must accommodate unless overriding business reasons apply.

Common pitfalls

  • Confusing the six-month expiry of statutory days with the five-year expiry of contractual days — different timelines apply.
  • Forgetting to pay the 8% vakantiegeld on commission, bonuses, and structural overtime.
  • Treating sick days as a deduction from leave balance — sick leave does not consume annual leave under Dutch law.
  • Failing to pay accrued holiday allowance and untaken leave on termination.

Statutory vs contractual days

Dutch law distinguishes wettelijke (statutory) days — four times weekly hours — from bovenwettelijke (above-statutory) days granted by contract or collective agreement. Statutory days expire six months after the year-end. Contractual days have a five-year expiry unless the contract sets a shorter period, but never shorter than six months.

Vakantiegeld — the 8% holiday allowance

Employees are entitled to a holiday allowance of at least 8% of their gross annual salary, traditionally paid in May or June so it can fund a summer holiday. Vakantiegeld accrues on basic salary and most regular additional earnings.

Sick leave and accrual

Employees on long-term sick leave continue to accrue full statutory annual leave. Sick days taken during a planned holiday can be reclaimed as annual leave if reported promptly under the company's verzuim policy.

Frequently asked questions

How many holiday days do I get in the Netherlands?

The statutory minimum is four times your weekly working hours — 20 days for a 40-hour week. Most Dutch employers offer 25 days through contract or collective agreement.

What is vakantiegeld?

Vakantiegeld is the statutory holiday allowance of at least 8% of gross annual salary, paid in addition to your normal wages, usually in May or June.

When do my Dutch holiday days expire?

Statutory days expire six months after the year in which they accrued (so 2026 days expire 1 July 2027). Above-statutory contractual days expire after five years.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.