Feestdagen 2027: public holidays in the Netherlands and what employers must give

Feestdagen 2027 are the official public holidays in the Netherlands for 2027. There are eleven, from New Year’s Day on 1 January to Boxing Day on 26 December. Dutch law makes none of them a paid day off. Instead, the collective labour agreement (CAO) or the employment contract decides who works and what they earn.

For US companies expanding into Europe, the starting point will feel familiar. The details, however, sit in documents a US team rarely sees. This guide sets out the 2027 dates and the decisions a Dutch employer makes. General information as at 30 October 2026, not legal or tax advice.

What are the feestdagen 2027 in the Netherlands?

The Dutch government lists eleven public holidays in the Netherlands for 2027. Seven of these national holidays fall on a weekday, including King’s Day, Liberation Day and Ascension Day. The other four fall on a weekend. All dates below follow the government’s official list of public holidays (updated August 2026).

Public holiday	Dutch name	Date in 2027	Day of the week
New Year’s Day	Nieuwjaarsdag	1 January	Friday
Good Friday	Goede Vrijdag	26 March	Friday
Easter Sunday	Eerste paasdag	28 March	Sunday
Easter Monday	Tweede paasdag	29 March	Monday
King’s Day	Koningsdag	27 April	Tuesday
Liberation Day	Bevrijdingsdag	5 May	Wednesday
Ascension Day	Hemelvaartsdag	6 May	Thursday
Whit Sunday	Eerste pinksterdag	16 May	Sunday
Whit Monday	Tweede pinksterdag	17 May	Monday
Christmas Day	Eerste kerstdag	25 December	Saturday
Boxing Day	Tweede kerstdag	26 December	Sunday

Two points stand out for planning. Liberation Day and Ascension Day fall on consecutive days in May. Meanwhile, Christmas 2027 falls entirely on a weekend for a Monday-to-Friday team.

Do employers have to give feestdagen 2027 off?

No. Dutch law gives employees no right to a day off on a public holiday. Instead, the applicable CAO or the employment contract decides which days are off. It also sets pay and any premium for holiday work, according to Business.gov.nl (October 2026).

In practice, some of these dates are almost always treated as days off. However, a CAO can bind your company even if you never signed it. The government can declare a sector agreement binding on every employer in that sector. Therefore, check which CAO applies before you write a holiday policy.

Works councils add one more step. Under the WOR, a company-wide holiday or working-time arrangement generally needs the council’s consent.

US employers will recognise the principle. The US Department of Labor notes that the FLSA does not require pay for holidays not worked. The difference lies in who sets the terms. In the Netherlands, that is often a sector CAO rather than the company itself.

Is Liberation Day in the Netherlands a day off in 2027?

Not automatically. Bevrijdingsdag on Wednesday 5 May 2027 is an official public holiday. Still, employees have no statutory right to the day off. Many CAOs grant a paid day off only once every five years. Business.gov.nl names 2030 and 2035 as the next of these anniversary years, so 2027 is not one.

Without a CAO, you decide yourself. Record the choice in the contract or staff handbook, so every employee knows the answer. King’s Day, or Koningsdag 2027, follows the same logic on Tuesday 27 April.

What applies when an employee works on a public holiday?

No Dutch statute sets a premium for working on a public holiday. The CAO or contract decides whether you pay extra, give time off in lieu or pay the normal rate. Some CAOs attach a premium or extra time off to holiday work. So read the exact clause before you roster staff for feestdagen 2027.

The normal working-time limits also apply on the day itself. Our guide to working hours in the Netherlands explains the caps on shifts, breaks and rest under the Arbeidstijdenwet.

How do feestdagen 2027 interact with annual leave?

Public holidays and statutory annual leave are separate entitlements. Whether a public holiday reduces an employee’s leave balance depends on the CAO or contract. Many CAOs treat set public holidays as days off that leave the balance untouched. By law, every employee accrues paid leave of at least four times their weekly working hours.

The government’s guidance on holiday entitlement (October 2026) gives a 40-hour example: 160 hours a year, or 20 days. Holiday allowance, or vakantiegeld, is a separate payment again. Despite the name, it is not pay for public holidays. So US payroll teams should not map it to US holiday pay.

Finally, days such as Eid al-Fitr or Sinterklaas are not official Dutch public holidays. Business.gov.nl suggests letting staff choose their own holidays instead, which suits international teams.

Planning feestdagen 2027 for a US team in the Netherlands

Load the 2027 dates into payroll and planning calendars now. Then check each date against the CAO or contract before January. Also budget for any holiday premiums. Our breakdown of what an employer of record costs lists the other Dutch costs. Clear holiday rules are one small part of moving people across borders with compliance and trust.

Octagon Professionals can act as your HR function in Europe until you build your own. You decide salaries, benefits and working arrangements, and we carry the employment administration and its compliance risk. For the wider picture, read our briefing on people risks in European acquisitions, or email sales@octagon.nl.

Feestdagen 2027: frequently asked questions

Is Good Friday a public holiday in the Netherlands?

Yes. Goede Vrijdag falls on Friday 26 March 2027 and appears on the Dutch government’s official list. Even so, no law requires employers to give staff the day off or to pay for it. The applicable CAO or employment contract decides, so check it before you plan Easter staffing.

Is 5 May a day off in 2027?

Not by law. Liberation Day, Wednesday 5 May 2027, is an official holiday, but no statute gives employees the day off. Many collective labour agreements grant it only in anniversary years, and the next ones are 2030 and 2035. Without a CAO, the employer decides and should tell staff early.

Do Dutch employees get paid on public holidays?

Only if their CAO or employment contract says so. Dutch law sets no paid public holidays and no premium for working on one. Many collective labour agreements do provide paid days off on set holidays without touching annual leave. Employees without a CAO should check the holiday clause in their contract.

Are Dutch public holidays the same as US federal holidays?

No. Only New Year’s Day and Christmas Day appear on both lists. The Netherlands adds Dutch holidays such as Easter Monday, King’s Day and Ascension Day. US employers with Dutch staff therefore need a separate calendar, with days off set by the CAO or contract. Plan both calendars before the year starts.