What Are The Public Holidays in The Netherlands in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in The Netherlands (2026)

The Netherlands has a set of nationally recognised public holidays, plus a few that are widely observed in practice. Use this table to plan staffing, leave, and pay for your Dutch team in 2026.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

No, Dutch law does not automatically require employers to provide paid leave on public holidays, but in practice many employees are entitled to paid public holidays through their employment contract or collective labour agreement (CAO). The Dutch Civil Code sets minimum annual vacation rights, yet it does not list specific public holidays that must be given as paid days off. Instead, whether a particular holiday is a paid non-working day, a working day with premium pay, or a normal working day is determined by the CAO or individual contract.

Most national holidays in the table above are widely treated as non-working days in office-based sectors, while Good Friday and Liberation Day can vary more by industry and region. In some sectors, Liberation Day is a paid day off only in lustrum years (every five years), but many modern CAOs now treat it as an annual public holiday. Because 2026 is not a lustrum year, you should check your applicable CAO or contracts to confirm whether 5 May is a paid holiday for your workforce.

The Netherlands does not generally move holidays that fall on a weekend to an observed weekday. If a holiday such as Tweede Kerstdag falls on a Saturday, there is usually no automatic substitute day off unless your CAO or company policy grants one. For part-time employees, entitlements are typically pro-rated based on their working pattern. If a public holiday falls on a day they normally work, they are usually treated the same as full-time staff for that day; if it falls on a non-working day, they may not receive additional time off unless the CAO or policy provides for it.

When employees are required to work on a public holiday, many CAOs provide for premium pay (for example, 150% or 200% of the normal hourly rate) or compensatory time off. There is no single statutory premium rate across all sectors, so you should always review the relevant CAO, written policies, and offer letters to understand your company’s obligations.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Because Dutch legislation does not mandate a fixed list of paid public holidays, penalties usually arise not from the public holiday itself but from breaching contractual or CAO obligations, or from failing to meet minimum statutory vacation rights. If you deny a paid public holiday that is clearly granted in a CAO or contract, employees can claim the unpaid wages, and statutory interest and possible damages may be awarded by the courts.

The Netherlands Labour Inspectorate (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) primarily enforces compliance with statutory minimums, such as working time, health and safety, and minimum wage. If your handling of holidays results in underpayment below the statutory minimum wage or violates working time limits, the Inspectorate can impose administrative fines and corrective orders. Disputes about CAO or contractual holiday rights are often pursued through civil courts or, where applicable, via unions and employer organisations that are party to the CAO.

Common employer mistakes include assuming that all public holidays must be paid without checking the CAO, applying different rules inconsistently across similar employees, failing to document holiday rules in contracts or handbooks, and not correctly pro-rating entitlements for part-time staff. To reduce risk, align your internal policies with the applicable CAO, communicate them clearly to employees, and keep accurate records of hours worked and holiday pay.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Dutch law does not set a special nationwide overtime rule specifically for public holidays, but holidays interact with working time and overtime through CAOs and the Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet). The Act limits maximum daily and weekly working hours and requires adequate rest periods, including on Sundays and public holidays, unless the nature of the work justifies exceptions.

In practice, overtime thresholds and premiums on public holidays are defined in CAOs or company policies. Many CAOs treat hours worked on a public holiday as overtime from the first hour, with higher premium rates than standard overtime, or they grant additional time off in lieu. For example, a CAO might provide 200% pay for hours worked on Easter Monday or King’s Day, or one extra paid day off for each public holiday worked. These arrangements vary significantly by sector, so you should confirm the exact rules that apply to your employees.

When calculating overtime, you should also consider whether a public holiday counts as a working day for weekly hour calculations. Some CAOs treat a paid public holiday as if the employee had worked their normal hours, which can influence whether additional hours on other days trigger overtime. To stay compliant, ensure your timekeeping system correctly flags public holiday hours, distinguishes them from regular overtime, and applies the correct premium or compensatory leave according to the CAO.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing public holidays and leave rules in the Netherlands doesn’t have to be complex. Playroll keeps you 100% compliant by automatically tracking local holidays, observed days, and pay requirements –  so your team is paid correctly and on time, every time.

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or scaling a growing team, Playroll lets you employ talent without setting up a local entity. We handle compliant contracts, benefits, and payroll in one platform, so you can reduce compliance risk and focus on growing your business while we take care of the heavy-lifting in the background. Book a chat with our team to get started.