Are you already considering your next vacation? Or maybe you want to take your kids to one of these beautiful spots in the Netherlands? Whatever you’re planning, it’s important to know when the Dutch school holidays are. The country is split into three geographical regions for school vacations, with each area following its own holiday calendar.
Planning ahead also means preparing financially for these holiday periods. Whether you’re organising a family trip abroad, arranging childcare, or enrolling your children in vacation camps, managing your finances efficiently is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel between countries or maintain ties to their home country, services like Wise can help manage multiple currencies and international payments.
Here’s what you need to know:
The British School of Amsterdam
For a UK education abroad, try the British School of Amsterdam in Amsterdam Zuid. With a well-rounded curriculum for students from 3 to 18 years, it was the first Dutch school to be accredited by the UK Government as a British School Overseas. Give your child a bright start at the British School of Amsterdam.
An overview of school holidays in the Netherlands
The school holidays in the Netherlands are set by the Ministry of Education Culture and Science. All Dutch schools have five holidays throughout the year. These are as:
- Autumn (Herfstvakantie – one week)
- Christmas (Kerstavakanie – two weeks)
- Spring (Voorjaarsvakantie – one week)
- May holiday (Meivakantie – one week, usually spread across April/May)
- Summer (Zomervakantie – six weeks)

The Christmas and May holidays are the same across the country, but the other holidays vary across three school regions: north, central, and south. This helps authorities better manage the holiday traffic.
The regions are divided as follows:
Region | Provinces in the school region |
North (Noord) | – Drenthe – Flevoland (all municipalities except Zeewolde) – Friesland – Groningen – North Holland – Overijssel – Utrecht (only Eemnes and Abcoude) |
Central (Midden) | – Flevoland (only Zeewolde) – Gelderland* – North Brabant (only Altena municipality except Hank en Dussen) – Utrecht (all municipalities except Eemnes and Abcoude) – South Holland |
South (Zuid) | – Limburg – North Brabant (all municipalities except Woudrichem, and Altena’s districts of Sleeuwijk, Nieuwendijk, and Werkendam) – Zeeland |
Strangely – and some may say, stupidly – the province of Gelderland is split across the three regions:
Region | Gelderland’s municipalities in the school region |
North | Hattem |
Central | Aalten, Apeldoorn, Barneveld, Berkelland, Bronckhorst, Brummen, Buren, Culemborg, Doetinchem, Ede, Elburg, Epe, Ermelo, Harderwijk, Heerde, Lochem, Montferland (except Didam), Neder-Betuwe (except Dodewaard), Nijkerk, Nunspeet, Oldebroek, Oost-Gelre, Oude IJsselstreek, Putten, Scherpenzeel, Tiel, Voorst, Wageningen, West Betuwe, Winterswijk, and Zutphen |
South | Arnhem, Berg en Dal, Beuningen, Doesburg, Druten, Duiven, Heumen, district Dodewaard in Neder-Betuwe, Lingewaard, Maasdriel, district Didam in Montferland, Nijmegen, Overbetuwe, Renkum, Rheden, Rozendaal, Rijnwaarden, Westervoort, West Maas en Waal, Wijchen, Zaltbommel, and Zevenaar |
Privately-run international schools in the Netherlands may have slightly different holiday dates from state schools in their region. Be sure to check with your child’s school for a full list of holiday dates.
When are the school holidays in the Netherlands for 2024–2025?
Holiday | North | Central | South |
Autumn break | 26 October – 3 November 2024 | 26 October – 3 November 2024 | 19–27 October 2024 |
Christmas break | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
Spring break | 15–23 February 2025 | 22 February – 2 March 2025 | 22 February – 2 March 2025 |
May break | 26 April – 4 May 2025 | 26 April – 4 May 2025 | 26 April – 4 May 2025 |
Summer break | 12 July – 24 August 2025 | 19 July – 31 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 |
When are the school holidays in the Netherlands for 2025–2026?
Holiday | North | Central | South |
Autumn break | 18–26 October 2025 | 18–26 October 2025 | 11–19 October 2025 |
Christmas break | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
Spring break | 21 February – 1 March 2026 | 14–22 February 2026 | 14–22 February 2026 |
May break | 25 April – 3 May 2026 | 27 April – 5 May 2026 | 27 April – 5 May 2026 |
Summer break | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 18 July – 30 August 2026 | 11 July – 23 August 2026 |
Wise account
Are you an expat or thinking of moving to the Netherlands? Managing your money across borders shouldn’t be complicated. With a Wise account, you can hold over 40 currencies and pay with a Wise debit card in more than 150 countries. Whether you need to spend abroad, receive or send money home, Wise can help make international money management simpler.
When are the public holidays in the Netherlands?
In addition to the above school holidays, Dutch schools are typically closed on public holidays. The dates are listed in our article on public holidays in the Netherlands.
Some schools also allow pupils time off for religious purposes (e.g., for Jewish or Muslim pupils to observe important dates). Be sure to check with your child’s school for a full list of these dates.
Tips for expat parents in the Netherlands
It is illegal for parents to take their children out of school during the semester without a valid reason. Even then, you have to be careful with your plans (e.g., going on vacation is not a valid reason). This means school holidays are popular for families planning both vacations and other fun activities in the Netherlands.
Financial planning for school holidays
School holidays often mean additional expenses for families – from travel and accommodation to childcare and activities. For expat parents who may be traveling internationally or paying for services in different currencies, managing these expenses efficiently becomes even more important.
When planning trips abroad during school breaks:
- Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations
- Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad
- Plan ahead for international payments for activities or accommodations
Using the Wise account can help you manage your holiday finances. With Wise, you can hold and convert money in multiple currencies, spend abroad with the Wise card, and enjoy lower fees when compared to banks. For example, when transferring 5,000 USD to EUR, you could save 86 EUR for using Wise compared to using a bank transfer*, helping your holiday budget go further.
*The calculation is from the comparison tool from the Wise website on the 9th of Sept of 2025 that compares USD transfers to EUR via Wise, multiple international money transfer providers and banks in the US.

Childcare during Dutch school holidays
If you are a working parent, you may need to make childcare arrangements during the school holidays. Fortunately, there are a few options to choose from as the Netherlands offers more comprehensive levels of childcare, including holiday daycare, than many other European countries.

There is outside school care (buitenschoolse opvang – BSO) available during holiday periods. This is provided at childcare centers and involves a range of fun activities and days out. Schools usually link up with BSO providers, so you can find out information through the school or your local municipality. You can also access BSO provision directly through childcare providers such as Partou or Zein Childcare.
Alongside these, there are also childminders (gastouders), au pairs, nannies, and babysitters that can look after children either in your home or at theirs. Another useful resource for parents in the Amsterdam area is Amsterdam Mamas where you can search for activities for children across the city.
The costs of childcare during holiday time will vary according to the type of provision, who is providing it, and other factors. You may be entitled to a childcare allowance to cover some of the costs, depending on your financial situation.
Fun summer camps in the Netherlands
During the longer summer break, there are also summer camps. These are more expensive than BSO services but they include fun activities suitable for children of all ages and can be a good place to meet children from different cultures and nationalities. Providers include Summer Camps Holland and Vinea.
Conclusion
Understanding the Dutch school holiday calendar is essential for expat families to plan effectively throughout the academic year. With differences between the language communities and a variety of holiday periods spread across the year, advance planning is key to balancing work commitments with childcare needs and family activities.
Whether you’re arranging local childcare, sending your children to vacation camps, or planning family trips abroad during these breaks, having the right financial tools in place can make the process smoother. For expat families in the Netherlands, Wise provides a solution for managing expenses across different currencies without the hidden fees that can be charged by banks.