How to Maximize Your Vakantiedagen in 2027: A Strategic Guide for Workers in the Netherlands
Turn your 20 vakantiedagen into 49 days off in 2027, including a 16-day spring run. Use every Dutch public holiday and brugdag with our free strategy.
Dutch workers are entitled to a minimum of 20 vakantiedagen (paid leave days) per year, though most employers offer 25 days. The Netherlands has 8 official public holidays, and 2027 is a particularly good year for strategic planning.
By placing your leave around the 2027 public holiday calendar, you can turn 20 days into 50+ days off across the year.
This guide shows you exactly when to book for maximum time off in 2027.
Plan Your 2027 Vakantiedagen Visually
See your entire year at a glance. Mark days off, track your remaining allowance, and coordinate with your partner or team, all in one place.
2027 Dutch Public Holidays (Feestdagen)
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Friday | Nieuwjaarsdag (New Year's Day) |
| March 28 | Sunday | Eerste paasdag (Easter Sunday) |
| March 29 | Monday | Tweede paasdag (Easter Monday) |
| April 27 | Tuesday | Koningsdag (King's Day) |
| May 6 | Thursday | Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension Day) |
| May 16 | Sunday | Eerste pinksterdag (Whit Sunday) |
| May 17 | Monday | Tweede pinksterdag (Whit Monday) |
| December 25 | Saturday | Eerste kerstdag (Christmas Day) |
| December 26 | Sunday | Tweede kerstdag (Boxing Day) |
Note: December 26 falls on a Saturday in 2027. Bevrijdingsdag (May 5) is a national holiday but only a guaranteed day off in lustrum years (every 5 years, the next is 2030). Many employers grant it annually, check your contract.
Month-by-Month Leave Strategy
January: New Year's Long Weekend
Public holiday: Nieuwjaarsdag, Friday, January 1
- Already a 3-day weekend (Fri 1 to Sun 3 Jan)
- Hold your days. April and May are where 2027 pays out
March: Easter Long Weekend
Public holidays: Eerste paasdag, Sunday, March 28 and Tweede paasdag, Monday, March 29
- Free 3-day weekend (Sat 27 to Mon 29 Mar)
- Strategy: Take off Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April (4 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 27 Mar to Sun 4 Apr)
April/May: The King's Day to Ascension Run
This is the signature play of 2027. Two holidays sit exactly one working week apart:
Koningsdag, Tuesday, April 27 and Hemelvaartsdag, Thursday, May 6
- Simple versions: Take off Monday, April 26 (1 day) for a 4-day weekend around King's Day, and Friday, May 7 (1 day) for a 4-day weekend around Ascension
- Big play: Take off Monday 26, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 April plus Monday 3, Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 and Friday 7 May (8 days)
- Result: 16 days off (Sat 24 Apr to Sun 9 May), the best single stretch of the year
- Bevrijdingsdag (May 5) is a Wednesday inside that run, but it is only an official day off once every 5 years and 2027 is not one of them. Check your CAO anyway, many employers give it anyway
May: Pentecost Freebie
Public holidays: Eerste pinksterdag, Sunday, May 16 and Tweede pinksterdag, Monday, May 17
- Free 3-day weekend (Sat 15 to Mon 17 May)
- Perfect timing if you took the April-May run: one week back at work, then another long weekend
December: Christmas Bridge
Public holidays: Eerste kerstdag, Saturday, December 25 and Tweede kerstdag, Sunday, December 26
- Both Christmas days fall on the weekend in 2027
- Strategy: Take off Monday 27 to Friday 31 December (5 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 25 Dec to Sun 2 Jan 2028)
The 20-Day Leave Plan
The Dutch statutory minimum is 20 working days (4 times your weekly hours). Here's how to turn them into 40 days off:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's (free) | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 4 | 9 | Mar 27 – Apr 4 |
| King's Day to Ascension run | 8 | 16 | Apr 24 – May 9 |
| Pentecost (free) | 0 | 3 | May 15–17 |
| Total | 12 | 31 | January to May |
That's 31 days off in the first five months using just 12 of your 20 days. Save the remaining 8 for a summer week plus the December bridge (5 days = 9 days off) and you finish the year around 49 days off.
The 25-Day Leave Plan
With 25 days (common with CAO extras) the whole year is covered:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's (free) | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 4 | 9 | Mar 27 – Apr 4 |
| King's Day to Ascension run | 8 | 16 | Apr 24 – May 9 |
| Pentecost (free) | 0 | 3 | May 15–17 |
| Summer holiday | 5 | 9 | Your pick, July or August |
| Christmas + New Year | 5 | 9 | Dec 25 – Jan 2 |
| Total | 22 | 49 | Year-round |
That's 49 days off with 3 days left for spontaneous brugdagen. The 16-day April-May run is the centerpiece: book it before your colleagues notice how well the calendar lines up.
All 2027 Opportunities at a Glance
Here's every public holiday opportunity for mix-and-match planning:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 0 | 3 | Mar 27–29 |
| King's Day | 1 | 4 | Apr 24–27 |
| Ascension | 1 | 4 | May 6–9 |
| Pentecost | 0 | 3 | May 15–17 |
Pick the breaks that matter most. With 20 vakantiedagen, you can get 52 days off in 2027.
Tips to Maximise Your Vakantiedagen
1. Book Your Brugdagen Early
The brugdag (bridge day) after Ascension (Friday May 15) is the most popular day off in the Netherlands. Submit your request in January to guarantee it.
2. Check Your CAO
Your collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst (CAO / collective labour agreement) may grant extra days on top of the legal minimum. Many Dutch workers get 25–27 days. Check with your employer.
3. Coordinate with Your Partner
Planning holidays with a partner or family? Use TimeOffCalendar to see both schedules side by side and avoid booking conflicts.
4. Track Your Balance
With 20–25 days to manage, it's easy to lose count. TimeOffCalendar automatically tracks your remaining balance as you mark days off.
5. Consider School Holidays
Dutch school holidays (schoolvakanties) vary by region (Noord, Midden, Zuid). If you have children, check your region's schedule early, meivakantie and kerstvakantie dates are especially important.
6. Don't Lose Unused Days
In the Netherlands, statutory holiday days (wettelijke vakantiedagen) must be used within 6 months of the following year. Non-statutory days (bovenwettelijke) may have a longer expiry, check your contract.
Why Strategic Leave Planning Matters
Planning your vakantiedagen at the start of the year means:
- Better travel deals, booking months in advance saves money
- First pick of popular dates, before your colleagues claim them
- More quality time, coordinated holidays with your partner and family
- Regular breaks, spread throughout the year to prevent burnout
Make Every Vakantiedag Count
Join thousands of people who plan their time off smarter. See your whole year, track your allowance, and coordinate with your partner, completely free for individual use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does the Netherlands have in 2027?
The Netherlands has 9 official public holidays in 2027 (11 counting both Easter and Pentecost days). Four land on weekends, but King's Day on a Tuesday and Ascension on a Thursday create excellent brugdagen.
What is the minimum paid leave in the Netherlands?
Full-time workers are entitled to 20 vakantiedagen per year by law (4 times the weekly working days). Most CAOs provide 25 days or more.
What is a brugdag?
A brugdag (bridge day) is a workday between a public holiday and the weekend. By taking it off, you "bridge" the gap and create an extended break. The most popular 2027 brugdag is Friday May 15 after Hemelvaartsdag.
Is Bevrijdingsdag a day off?
Officially only once every 5 years, and 2027 is not one of them (next time is 2030). That said, many CAOs and employers give it as an extra day anyway, so check yours before booking May 5 as a workday.
When is the best time to take leave in the Netherlands in 2027?
Late April to early May is the standout: King's Day (Tuesday, April 27) and Ascension (Thursday, May 6) are one working week apart, so 8 leave days unlock 16 consecutive days off.
Start planning your 2027 vakantiedagen today with TimeOffCalendar, see your entire year at a glance and never waste a leave day again.