Public holidays in Netherlands (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: The Algemene termijnenwet recognises 8 public holidays, and Rijksoverheid lists 9 official days for 2026 including Good Friday. No law makes them days off or sets extra pay; the collective agreement or contract decides. Shops must close on Sundays and on the holidays listed in the Winkeltijdenwet, with possible municipal exemptions.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| National public holidaysPublic holidays | The official overview for 2026 is: New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Sunday and Monday (5 and 6 April), King's Day (Monday 27 April), Liberation Day (Tuesday 5 May), Ascension Day (14 May), Whit Sunday and Monday (24 and 25 May), and Christmas Day and 26 December (Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December). [1] |
| Number of national public holidaysPublic holidays | The Algemene termijnenwet names 8 recognised public holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, both Christmas days, Ascension Day, the day the King's birthday is celebrated and 5 May. Good Friday is treated as equal to them for the purposes of that Act. [2] |
| Working on a public holidayPublic holidays | There are no statutory rules on extra pay for working at night, at the weekend or on a public holiday. Any premium depends on the collective agreement, the employment contract or the company rules. [3] |
| Shop opening on public holidaysPublic holidays | Shops may not be open to the public on Sundays, New Year's Day, Good Friday after 19:00, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, 24 December after 19:00, Christmas Day, 26 December and 4 May after 19:00. The municipal council may grant exemptions by by-law. [4] |
| Holiday falling on a weekendPublic holidays | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- The Algemene termijnenwet (art. 3) defines the recognised holidays for deadlines, and the King's birthday is not given as a date there. The Rijksoverheid overview also lists Good Friday and the Easter and Whit Sundays.
- Rijksoverheid.nl states that no law makes public holidays days off work: the collective agreement or employment contract says whether the employee is free.
- The Winkeltijdenwet also bars shop opening on weekdays before 6:00 and after 22:00.
- No substitute day is stated in the sources read. The Algemene termijnenwet only moves a legal deadline that ends on a Saturday, Sunday or recognised holiday to the next day that is not one.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid: Wanneer zijn de officiële feestdagen in Nederland? (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Overheid.nl (Wettenbank): Algemene termijnenwet (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Rijksoverheid: Heb ik recht op extra loon als ik ’s nachts, in het weekend of op een feestdag werk? (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Overheid.nl (Wettenbank): Winkeltijdenwet (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.