Working in the Netherlands - Annual Leave

All employees in the Netherlands are entitled to paid holiday. The holiday entitlement of an employee is usually regulated in the employment contract or collective agreement. The statutory minimum applies in all cases. 

The statutory annual minimum is four times the number of agreed working hours each week. Someone who works 40 hours a week is therefore entitled to 20 days' holiday of eight hours. Obviously, part-timers are entitled to fewer holidays. However, they also need fewer holidays. On balance, they can take four weeks off. For example, an employee who works four hours each day is entitled to 20 days' paid holiday of four hours each.

Most collective agreements provide for holiday entitlement that differs from the statutory figure. The number varies from 20 to 30 days for full-time employees. The age of the employee and the length of service also often play a role in the case of both young employees and older employees. Both groups may be allocated extra days' holiday.

Holiday entitlement is acquired proportionately over the course of the year. For example, an employee who is entitled to 24 days' holiday a year will have accumulated six days' entitlement after three months. Holidays may be taken in advance in consultation with the employer. Regardless of the amount of their wage, employees can claim a minimum holiday allowance of eight percent.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.

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