Job sectors in the Netherlands with the most vacation days

Some jobs give workers more vacation days than others, with some sectors enjoying as much as 30 days more than the average Dutch employee. AD has revealed the job sectors with the highest average number of vacation days.

Two weeks' vacation needed to fully rest from work

According to a survey done by HR and payroll service provider SD Worx, Dutch workers indicated that they need an average of 13,7 days away from work to fully recharge, reports AD. In the Netherlands, workers are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of paid leave, while on average most employees have 25 vacation days per year.

Some Dutch companies even offer their workers unlimited leave, such as Tony’s Chocolonely, SnappCar, and more recently KPN. However, there is some scepticism about this option as unions believe not all workers will be able to make the most of it, such as workers working with rosters, who may feel pressured to take less leave.

Which Dutch job sectors offer more leave than average?

AD has compiled information on job sectors in which workers receive more vacation days than the average resident in the Netherlands. Here are six sectors which offer a large number of leave days.

Metal and electrical: Employees, such as builders, welders and technicians, get a total of 40 vacation days on average due to the Metalektro collective labour agreement, entitling workers to 27 days off, plus the ability to accrue additional scheduled leave hours which adds an extra 13 days.

Banking: Workers at Dutch banks are entitled to 30 vocational days per year, with the option to purchase an extra 14 days for a total of 44 days off a year. This means they can trade a portion of their salary, holiday allowance or end-of-year bonus for additional leave.

Waste: Companies that collect, recycle or process waste offer employees a minimum of 25 vacation days. Working a 40-hour week adds an extra day of vacation every month for ADV, which is when workers consistently work more hours than stated in the employment contract. An extra 7,5 days can also be added based on age or length of service to give waste employees an average of 44,5 days off per year. 

Government: Civil servants only receive 20 statutory annual leave days, but can purchase up to 26 additional days with an Individual Choice Budget (IKB) for a total of 46 vacation days. 

Construction: Carpenters, concrete workers, groundworkers and foremen on construction sites are entitled to at least 29 vacation days every year. The Construction & Infrastructure CLA also requires 20 roster-free days where construction workers are not required to work. This adds up to a total of 49 work-free days per year.

Education: Due to school holidays, teachers get a lot of time off. Workers in primary education get 53,5 days of vacation, while those in secondary education get 45,3 days off. Lecturers at universities of applied sciences are also entitled to 53,5 days per year.