BridgeDays
Best days to take off in the Netherlands in 2026
With 20 days of annual leave, booking the right days gives 46 days off across 6 breaks. Below are all 10 public holidays in the Netherlands in 2026, the long weekends you get for free, and the bridge days worth booking.
Plan your own dates for Netherlands
Public holidays in the Netherlands in 2026
| Date | Holiday | Falls on |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year's Day Nieuwjaar | Day off |
| Sun 5 Apr | Easter Sunday Pasen | Weekend |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday Tweede paasdag | Day off |
| Mon 27 Apr | King's Day Koningsdag | Day off |
| Thu 14 May | Ascension Day Hemelvaartsdag | Day off |
| Sun 24 May | Pentecost Pinksteren | Weekend |
| Mon 25 May | Whit Monday Tweede pinksterdag | Day off |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day Kerstmis | Day off |
| Sat 26 Dec | Boxing Day Tweede kerstdag | Weekend |
| Thu 31 Dec | New Year's Eve Oudejaarsavond | Day off |
3 of these fall on a weekend in 2026.
Long weekends in the Netherlands in 2026
- Sat 4 Apr to Mon 6 Apr, 3 days: Easter Sunday, Easter Monday
- Sat 25 Apr to Mon 27 Apr, 3 days: King's Day
- Sat 23 May to Mon 25 May, 3 days: Pentecost, Whit Monday
- Fri 25 Dec to Sun 27 Dec, 3 days: Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Best bridge days to book in 2026
A bridge day is a working day between a public holiday and a weekend. Booking it joins them into one long break.
- Book Fri 2 Jan (1 day) for 4 days off, Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan, around New Year's Day.
- Book Fri 3 Apr (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 3 Apr to Mon 6 Apr, around Easter Monday.
- Book Fri 24 Apr (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 24 Apr to Mon 27 Apr, around King's Day.
- Book Fri 15 May (1 day) for 4 days off, Thu 14 May to Sun 17 May, around Ascension Day.
- Book Fri 22 May (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 22 May to Mon 25 May, around Whit Monday.
- Book Thu 24 Dec (1 day) for 4 days off, Thu 24 Dec to Sun 27 Dec, around Christmas Day.
- Book Wed 30 Dec (1 day) for 2 days off, Wed 30 Dec to Thu 31 Dec, around New Year's Eve.
How many days off can you get in 2026?
| Leave booked | Days off | Per day booked |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 20 days | 4.0x |
| 10 days | 36 days | 3.6x |
| 15 days | 51 days | 3.4x |
| 20 days | 66 days | 3.3x |
| 25 days | 81 days | 3.2x |
A plan for 20 days of leave in 2026
20 days of leave become 46 days off, in 6 breaks of at least five days.
- Thu 1 Jan to Mon 5 Jan: 5 days off for 2 booked (Fri 2 Jan, Mon 5 Jan)
- Sat 4 Apr to Sun 12 Apr: 9 days off for 4 booked (Tue 7 Apr, Wed 8 Apr, Thu 9 Apr, Fri 10 Apr)
- Sat 25 Apr to Sun 3 May: 9 days off for 4 booked (Tue 28 Apr, Wed 29 Apr, Thu 30 Apr, Fri 1 May)
- Sat 9 May to Sun 17 May: 9 days off for 4 booked (Mon 11 May, Tue 12 May, Wed 13 May, Fri 15 May)
- Thu 21 May to Mon 25 May: 5 days off for 2 booked (Thu 21 May, Fri 22 May)
- Sat 19 Dec to Sun 27 Dec: 9 days off for 4 booked (Mon 21 Dec, Tue 22 Dec, Wed 23 Dec, Thu 24 Dec)
Questions about 2026 in Netherlands
How many public holidays does the Netherlands have in 2026?
The Netherlands has 10 public holidays in 2026, and 3 of them fall on a weekend.
When are the long weekends in the Netherlands in 2026?
Without booking any leave: Sat 4 Apr to Mon 6 Apr (Easter Sunday, Easter Monday), Sat 25 Apr to Mon 27 Apr (King's Day), Sat 23 May to Mon 25 May (Pentecost, Whit Monday) and Fri 25 Dec to Sun 27 Dec (Christmas Day, Boxing Day).
What are the best days to take off in the Netherlands in 2026?
Book Fri 2 Jan to get 4 days off, from Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan. With 20 days of leave, the best plan gives 46 days off across 6 breaks.
About these dates
These dates have been checked by hand against Netherlands's official calendar.
Good Friday and Liberation Day are days off at some Dutch employers and not others. Check your contract.