Netherlands public holidays 2026: what employers need to know
Key takeaways
- The Netherlands recognises 11 official public holidays (feestdagen) in 2026; the list is national, with no regional extras.
- There is no statutory right to a paid day off on those dates; entitlement comes from the employment contract or sector CAO.
- Around 80% of employees fall under a CAO; foreign employers must align payroll calendars, vakantiegeld, and holiday rules with the applicable CAO.
Introduction
The Netherlands has 11 official public holidays (feestdagen) in 2026, as published by the Dutch central government. There is no law that requires employers to give staff those days off, so no one has a blanket legal right to a day off on a public holiday. The applicable Collectieve Arbeidsovereenkomst (CAO) or employment contract determines whether employees actually receive the day off and on what terms.
For international employers and HR teams running Dutch payroll, the distinction between official recognition of holidays and statutory entitlement to paid leave on those days is the critical starting point.
Key facts at a glance
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Official public holidays (2026) | 11 |
| Governed by | Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek, Book 7) and sector-level CAO |
| Paid day off on public holidays? | Not by statute; set by contract or CAO |
| Official list | government.nl: public holidays |
Public holidays in the Netherlands 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday (English) | Local name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day | Nieuwjaarsdag | National |
| 3 Apr | Friday | Good Friday | Goede Vrijdag | Often sector-dependent |
| 5 Apr | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Eerste Paasdag | National |
| 6 Apr | Monday | Easter Monday | Tweede Paasdag | National |
| 27 Apr | Monday | King's Day | Koningsdag | National |
| 5 May | Tuesday | Liberation Day | Bevrijdingsdag | Many CAOs: paid off only every 5 years |
| 14 May | Thursday | Ascension Day | Hemelvaartsdag | National |
| 24 May | Sunday | Whit Sunday (Pentecost) | Eerste Pinksterdag | National |
| 25 May | Monday | Whit Monday | Tweede Pinksterdag | National |
| 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day | Eerste Kerstdag | National |
| 26 Dec | Saturday | Boxing Day | Tweede Kerstdag | Falls on Saturday (check CAO for substitute day) |
Liberation Day (5 May): Although 5 May is an official public holiday, many CAOs stipulate a paid day off only once every five years (for example around lustrum years such as 2030 or 2035). 2026 is not a lustrum year under that pattern. Check your applicable CAO before treating it as a universal paid day off.
Good Friday (3 April): Listed on the government's official schedule, but treatment varies by sector. Many private-sector employees work on Good Friday. Check the relevant CAO or employment contract.
Employer and payroll obligations
Is paid time off on public holidays legally required?
There is no statutory obligation to grant leave on public holidays. The sector CAO or the employment contract determines whether employees have the day off. The Netherlands recognises 11 public holidays officially but does not mandate paid leave for any of them.
In practice, most Dutch employees do receive these days off through their CAO or contract, not through a standalone public-holiday statute. A CAO may also allow substitution of a Christian public holiday for another religious observance, such as Eid al-Fitr or Chanukah, where agreed.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
Dutch law extends legal and payroll deadlines that fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday to the next working day. Boxing Day (26 December 2026) falls on a Saturday. Review your CAO and contracts for whether a substitute day off is owed. Dutch law does not automatically grant a replacement day.
Working on a public holiday
There is no standard statutory uplift for work on a public holiday. Additional pay or time off in lieu is governed by the contract or CAO, from supplements to replacement days elsewhere in the year.
Holiday allowance (vakantiegeld)
Separate from public-holiday leave, under the Wet minimumloon en minimumvakantiebijslag employers must pay at least 8% of gross annual salary as holiday allowance, usually in May. This is a distinct statutory obligation and should not be confused with pay for public holidays.
Spring payroll note: April and May 2026 cluster King's Day, Liberation Day, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday within a few weeks. Plan payroll dates, invoicing, and statutory notice deadlines early.
What this means for international employers
If you employ people based in the Netherlands (for example from the UK, US, or elsewhere in the EU), Dutch employment law applies in full, including CAO rules where they bind your sector.
Roughly 80% of Dutch employees work under a sector-specific CAO. Without knowing which CAO applies, you cannot determine actual public-holiday entitlement, substitute-day rules, or overtime treatment. The Boxing Day Saturday case is a typical year-end edge case to plan for.
Companies without a Dutch legal entity often use an Employer of Record (EOR) or outsourced payroll to stay aligned with CAO requirements, vakantiegeld, and the holiday calendar. For context on hiring without your own entity, see our guide on hiring in the Netherlands with an EOR.
Hiring in the Netherlands?
Jackson & Frank supports EOR, visa sponsorship, and outsourced HR and payroll in the Netherlands and the wider Benelux. Contact our team to discuss your setup.
Sources
- Dutch central government, public holidays: government.nl
- Business.gov.nl, holiday entitlement & CAO: business.gov.nl
- Business.gov.nl, holiday allowance (vakantiegeld): business.gov.nl
- Government.nl, shop opening hours & public holidays: government.nl
- Government.nl, school closures on public holidays: government.nl