Leave and Benefits Guide · Netherlands

🇳🇱 Leave and Benefits in
Netherlands

Statutory leave entitlements and mandatory benefits for employers in Netherlands — annual leave, sick leave, maternity, paternity and public holidays.

\u2190 Netherlands Overview

Leave Entitlements at a Glance — Netherlands

Annual Leave

20 days

Sick Leave

Maternity Leave

16 weeks

Paternity Leave

6 weeks

Public Holidays

11 days

13th Month Pay

Not required

Statutory Leave Types

Leave TypeEntitlementPaidNotes
annual20 daysYes100% pay
sick52 daysYes70% pay
maternity16 daysYes100% pay
paternity5 daysYes70% pay
parental26 daysYes70% pay
bereavement4 daysYes100% pay

Public Holidays — Netherlands 2026

HolidayDate
New Year's Day1 Jan 2026
Good Friday3 Apr 2026
Easter Sunday5 Apr 2026
Easter Monday6 Apr 2026
King's Day27 Apr 2026
Liberation Day5 May 2026
Ascension Day14 May 2026
Whit Sunday24 May 2026
Whit Monday25 May 2026
Christmas Day25 Dec 2026
Boxing Day26 Dec 2026

Mandatory Employer Benefits — Netherlands

Legally required employer contributions and benefits under Netherlands law.

BenefitTypeEmployer CostFrequencyTax Treatment

Health Insurance Employer Contribution (ZVW)

Employer pays income-related health insurance contribution of 6.57% on wages up to EUR 71,624 (2024). Paid to the national healthcare fund (Zorgverzekeringsfonds).

In Kind6.57%monthlyExempt

Occupational Pension (Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds)

Most sectors have mandatory industry-wide pension schemes. Employer contribution typically ranges from 10-20% of pensionable salary depending on the applicable scheme.

CashVariesmonthlyExempt

WIA Disability Insurance

Employer pays WGA contribution for partially disabled workers. Standard rate set annually by UWV. Large employers may be self-insured. Employer also covers first two years of sick pay.

CashVariesmonthlyExempt

WW Unemployment Insurance (AWF)

General AWF contribution: high rate 7.74% for temporary contracts; low rate 2.64% for permanent contracts (2024). No ceiling. Fully employer-funded.

Cash7.74%monthlyExempt

EOR Intelligence

Manage leave compliance in Netherlands via EOR.

An Employer of Record administers all statutory leave and benefits on your behalf.

Explore EOR

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Leave entitlements in Netherlands are subject to change. Always consult a qualified local employment lawyer.

About This Guide

  • \u2713 Sourced from official government publications
  • \u2713 Updated monthly — always current rules
  • \u2713 For guidance only — not legal advice

Free Tool

Compare leave entitlements across countries.

Side-by-side leave and benefits analysis across all active countries.

Compare countries