DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Time off & leave
Paid holidaysSick leaveMaternity leaveParental leave

Time off & leave in the Netherlands

Home
Career
Time off & leave
Home
Career
Time off & leave
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

By Abi CarterPublished on Feb 28, 2025
Was this helpful?
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:

MORE ON LEAVE & TIME OFF

Paid holidays

Sick leave
Maternity leave
Parental leave
Wellbeing
Working hours
Working in the Netherlands
Self-employment

Related Stories

How to get your foreign qualifications recognised in the NetherlandsHow to get your foreign qualifications recognised in the Netherlands
Making the most of Dutch public holidays in 2021Making the most of Dutch public holidays in 2021
Make the most out of the Dutch public holidays in 2022Make the most out of the Dutch public holidays in 2022
How to make the most out of your Dutch public holidays in 2023How to make the most out of your Dutch public holidays in 2023
Why does the Netherlands have such a serious worker shortage?Why does the Netherlands have such a serious worker shortage?
What you need to know about the Dutch social security agency (UWV)What you need to know about the Dutch social security agency (UWV)
May 2025: 8 things expats in the Netherlands need to knowMay 2025: 8 things expats in the Netherlands need to know
6 tips on how to say goodbye to job hunting forever6 tips on how to say goodbye to job hunting forever
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.

Taking time off is something that everyone working in the Netherlands is entitled to. But what is a normal amount of annual holiday leave? How do I call in sick? How long is maternity leave? And who qualifies for parental leave in the Netherlands? The pages in this section answer questions about taking leave and time off from work in the Netherlands.

Paid holidays in the Netherlands

Workers in the Netherlands are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of paid holidays (based on a 40-hour working week). However, there are some rules on how you can take your holidays, and carrying unused holidays over from one year to the next. Find out more in our guide to paid holidays in the Netherlands. 

Sick leave

If you are sick and unable to work, you’ll be thankful of the fact that the Netherlands has one of the most generous policies in the world when it comes to sick leave. Workers are entitled to up to two years of sick pay. After that they can claim sickness benefit.

Maternity leave & paternity/partner leave

If you fall pregnant in the Netherlands, then you are entitled to take up to 16 weeks of maternity leave before and after you give birth. There are also schemes for your spouse or partner to take days off work so they can spend time with the new baby. 

Parental leave

On top of maternity and paternity/partner leave, new parents in the Netherlands are also entitled to take parental leave. In fact, they can take this at any point in the child’s first eight years of life, so long as they take a portion of their entitlement in the first year. Find out more about parental leave in the Netherlands. 

Emergency leave

Employees in the Netherlands are also entitled to take emergency leave, which is intended for unforeseen personal circumstances that mean you need to take time off immediately, for instance an illness or death in the family. Employers are obliged to grant reasonable requests for emergency leave, which can last anywhere between a few days and a few weeks. During this time, you will continue to receive your full salary. 

Special leave

You may also be offered special or extraordinary leave by your employer. This type of leave is not enshrined in law, but may be mentioned in your collective labour agreement or employment contract. Special leave is usually granted for major life events or administrative matters that often need to be undertaken during the regular working day, for instance: 

  • Getting married or attending the wedding of a family member
  • Attending a funeral
  • Moving house
  • Going to the doctor or dentist
  • Preparing for an exam

Unpaid leave

Finally, you may have the option of taking unpaid leave. Employees do not have a legal entitlement to unpaid leave, but many employers offer it as an option. With unpaid leave you essentially take days off in exchange for a salary sacrifice, like “buying” your days off.