Vakantiedag

Annual leave day

A vacation day is a paid day off on which the employee is not required to perform work, as part of the statutory or contractually established leave entitlement.

Under Dutch employment law, an employee is entitled to annual leave pursuant to Article 7:634 of the Dutch Civil Code. The statutory minimum amounts to four times the agreed weekly working hours. This minimum is frequently supplemented by collective bargaining agreements or individual employment contracts, with the result that employees often receive more days in practice.

Annual leave is intended to afford the employee rest and recuperation. The employer is required to monitor accrual and may not unilaterally withdraw days. Upon termination of the employment relationship, any remaining leave must be paid out or transferred to a new employer.

In practice, it is relevant that annual leave is requested and approved in good time and that statutory and additional leave are distinguished, as they are subject to different limitation periods.

“The employee still has twelve days of annual leave accrued and wishes to take them during the summer holidays.”

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