Country guide

Netherlands: public holidays, long weekends, and school breaks

Which 2026 holidays actually give you time off in Netherlands, and where a single leave day buys you a four-day weekend.

NLKingdom of the Netherlands2026

Netherlands observes ten public holidays in 2026, of which seven fall on a working day.

  • Netherlands has 10 public holidays in 2026.
  • 3 of them fall on a weekend, so they do not add a day off work.
  • 4 already fall on a Monday or Friday, giving a three-day weekend for no leave at all.
  • The strongest break is New Year's Day, running 1 January to 4 January.
  • On 3 of them the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, so one day of leave creates a four-day weekend.

Best long weekends

View all
4 days off1 leave day4.0x efficiency

Good Friday + Easter Sunday + Easter Monday

Apr 1, 2026 to Apr 4, 2026

9 days off3 leave days3.0x efficiency

Christmas Day + St. Stephen's Day

Dec 18, 2026 to Dec 26, 2026

5 days off2 leave days2.5x efficiency

Ascension Day

May 8, 2026 to May 12, 2026

5 days off2 leave days2.5x efficiency

Ascension Day

May 12, 2026 to May 16, 2026

9 days off4 leave days2.3x efficiency

Good Friday + Easter Sunday + Easter Monday

Mar 27, 2026 to Apr 4, 2026

9 days off4 leave days2.3x efficiency

Liberation Day

May 1, 2026 to May 9, 2026

Public holiday snapshot

Full calendar
DateHolidayType
Jan 1, 2026New Year's Day(Nieuwjaarsdag)NATIONAL
Apr 3, 2026Good Friday(Goede Vrijdag)OBSERVANCE
Apr 5, 2026Easter Sunday(Eerste Paasdag)NATIONAL
Apr 6, 2026Easter Monday(Tweede Paasdag)NATIONAL
Apr 27, 2026King's Day(Koningsdag)NATIONAL
May 5, 2026Liberation Day(Bevrijdingsdag)NATIONAL
May 14, 2026Ascension Day(Hemelvaartsdag)NATIONAL
May 24, 2026Pentecost(Eerste Pinksterdag)NATIONAL

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Netherlands holiday questions, answered

How many public holidays does Netherlands have in 2026?

Netherlands has 10 public holidays in 2026. 7 of them fall on a working day and 3 fall on a weekend.

Which Netherlands holidays fall on a weekend in 2026?

3 of the 10 public holidays in Netherlands fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2026, so they do not create an extra day off work.

When is the best long weekend in Netherlands in 2026?

The best long weekend in Netherlands in 2026 is New Year's Day, from 1 January to 4 January. Booking 1 day of leave turns it into 4 consecutive days off.

How many bridge days can I use in Netherlands in 2026?

Netherlands has 3 bridge days in 2026 — public holidays that fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, where a single day of leave creates a four-day weekend. May is the densest month, with 4 public holidays.

Plan your time off in Netherlands

Turn these dates into a real leave plan, or compare them with another country.