Holiday entitlement in the Netherlands for expats

The short answer

Dutch law stipulates that every employee is entitled to a minimum of 4 times their weekly working days as annual holiday. If you work full-time (5 days per week), you get at least 20 holiday days. Work part-time 3 days per week? You're entitled to minimum 12 holiday days. Many employers in the Netherlands offer more than the legal minimum, often 25 days for full-time positions. These additional days are typically specified in your employment contract (arbeidscontract) or collective agreement (cao).

What does Dutch law say?

The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) regulates holiday entitlement for all employees in the Netherlands. This law ensures everyone gets sufficient rest and prevents burnout. The legal minimum applies to all employees, regardless of whether you have a temporary or permanent contract. You start building this entitlement from your first working day, including during your probationary period.

What should you watch out for?

Always check your employment contract and any applicable collective agreement (cao), as these may provide more holiday days than the legal minimum. Note that holiday days usually expire if you don't take them - often after 5 years. If you fall ill, you can retain your holiday days for later use. Some employers have their own rules about when you may take holiday.

Practical example

Sarah works 4 days per week as a marketing coordinator. According to Dutch law, she's entitled to minimum 16 holiday days per year (4 x 4 days). However, her collective agreement (cao) states she's entitled to 20 days for a 4-day working week. Sarah builds up these days throughout the year: after 6 months of work, she's entitled to half her annual holiday allowance. She plans her holidays in consultation with her manager and ensures she takes her days before they expire at year-end.

What can you do?

Take these steps to ensure you know exactly how many holiday days you have.