Can my child take a vacation outside school holidays?

The short answer

Children have compulsory education and must attend school during school time. Vacation during school time is therefore only allowed with prior written permission from the school principal. This permission is only granted in exceptional cases, such as when the occupation of the parents requires a vacation outside the school holidays. It concerns a maximum of 10 school days per school year. Without permission, you risk a fine from the truancy officer.

What does the law say?

The Compulsory Education Act stipulates that all children between the ages of 5 and 16 are fully subject to compulsory education and must go to school. Strict rules apply for leave during school time, which are laid down in the Compulsory Education Act and municipal regulations. Schools must comply with these legal frameworks when assessing leave requests. Unauthorized absence from school is considered truancy and can be punished with a fine.

What should you pay attention to?

When applying for leave, timing is crucial - do this at least 8 weeks in advance. The school must have good reasons to grant leave, such as the occupation of the parents that does not allow vacation during school holidays. Note that leave around test periods is usually not allowed. The attendance of your child also plays a role - with a lot of absenteeism, leave is more likely to be refused.

Example from practice

The Jansen family wants to go on vacation in May because the father is a pilot and can only get time off then. They apply for leave 8 weeks in advance at the school and submit an employer's statement. The school grants permission for 5 school days because the father's occupation does not allow vacation during school holidays. On the other hand, the De Vries family wants to go on a cheap vacation and requests leave - this is refused because financial reasons are not an exceptional circumstance. Going on vacation without permission can result in a fine of €150 to €450.

What can you do?

Follow these steps to apply for leave during school time.