Holidays in the Netherlands: 2026 and 2027

In the Netherlands, there are several official holidays in 2026 that recur annually. These are the days when most people have time off from work or school.

But which Dutch holidays in 2026 are those exactly?

What dates do holidays fall on?

The 2026 official holidays in the Netherlands vary from year to year. Below is an overview of the 2026 Netherlands and 2027 holidays, including the day of the week:

Holidays 2026:

• New Year's Day: January 1, 2026 (Thursday)
• Good Friday: April 3, 2026 (Friday)
• Easter: April 5 (Sunday) & April 6 (Monday)
• King's Day: April 27, 2026 (Monday)
• Liberation Day: May 5, 2026 (Tuesday) (not a lustrum year)
• Ascension Day: May 14, 2026 (Thursday)
• Pentecost: May 24 (Sunday) & May 25 (Monday)
• Christmas: December 25 (Friday) & December 26 (Saturday)
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Holidays 2027:

• New Year's Day: January 1, 2027 (Friday)
• Good Friday: March 26, 2027 (Friday)
• Easter: March 28, 2027 (Sunday) and March 29, 2027 (Monday)
• King's Day: April 27, 2027 (Tuesday)
• Liberation Day: May 5, 2027 (Wednesday)
• Ascension Day: May 6, 2027 (Thursday)
• Pentecost: May 16, 2027 (Sunday) and May 17, 2027 (Monday)
• Christmas: December 25, 2027 (Saturday) and December 26, 2027 (Sunday)

What are holidays?

Holidays are days when a particular event is celebrated or commemorated. For example, this could be a religious event (such as Christmas or Easter), a national celebration (such as King's Day), or a day of historical significance (such as Liberation Day). On holidays in the Netherlands in 2026, many people will have time off from work and school, depending on legislation and specific agreements.
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Compensation for working on holidays

If you work on a public holiday in the Netherlands 2026, you may be entitled to additional compensation. This is often regulated in your employment contract or collective labor agreement. Compensation can vary, from an allowance on your salary to a day off later in the year. However, this isn't always mandatory, so it's important to check what's in your contract.

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Leave for non-Christian holidays

In the Netherlands, many holidays are Christian in origin, such as Easter and Christmas. Nevertheless, more and more employers are paying attention to non-Christian holidays, such as Ramadan or Yom Kippur. In some cases, you can take these days as a leave of absence or exchange them for another holiday.
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‍Exchanging holidays

Some employers offer the option to exchange holidays that you don't want or can't celebrate for other days. This can be useful for people who don't celebrate Christian holidays, for example. This is often a flexible option, but you should consult carefully with your employer.

Is King's Day a day off?

Yes, King's Day is an official day off in the Netherlands. This means that many people have time off from work and school to celebrate the king's birthday. In 2026, King's Day will fall on Monday, April 27, one day earlier than usual.

‍Is King's Day a legal day off?

King's Day is not a statutory day off. Employers are not obliged to release their employees on this day, unless this is specifically provided for in the employment contract. Many companies do give their employees time off on King's Day, but this is not required by law.
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‍How do I know if I'm free on King's Day?

Whether you are free on King's Day depends on your employer and the agreements in your employment contract. If King's Day is a public holiday within your collective labor agreement or employment contract, you are entitled to that day off. Conversely, you may also have to work, for example if you work in the hospitality or retail sector.
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‍Will I continue to get paid on a public holiday such as King's Day?

If King's Day is a public holiday and you are free, your salary will in most cases continue to be paid. If you have to work, there may be special arrangements, such as an allowance for working on a holiday.

Liberation Day 2026: Am I free?

In 2026, Liberation Day falls on Monday, May 5 and is none day off.

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Why does the lustrum scheme exist?‍

‍The lustrum regulation means that Liberation Day is only an official day off in years that can be divided by five. This means that the celebration of the liberation will receive extra attention in these years, while in the intervening years it is mainly a day of remembrance.

Holiday Management for Employers

As an employer, it is essential to have a clear overview of the holidays and the associated leave arrangements.

Why?
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• Legal compliance: comply with the legal obligations for holidays and leave.
• Cost Management: Anticipate staffing and additional costs by understanding leave arrangements.
• Employee Satisfaction: A transparent leave policy increases employee satisfaction and engagement.
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💡 Here you can read everything about how to register holidays correctly.
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Conclusion

Employers are not required to release employees on holidays, unless this is stated in the collective agreement or employment contract. It is important to make clear agreements about holidays.

A time registration tool such as TimeChimp helps with this by easily including the holidays in your schedule and keeping track of leave, so you don't miss important dates and can plan efficiently.

Start your free trial

‍Try TimeChimp free for 14 days now and make use of:
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• Schedule holidays: Quickly integrate holidays into the schedule for automatic adjustments to leave days.
• ‍Simple time registration: employees easily record their hours worked so that you are up to date.

• Cost control: Efficient leave management for better staffing.