Long weekends and leave optimisation 2026 — the May week + bridge days
2026 offers an exceptionally dense cluster of holidays between 27 April and 25 May — the so-called Mei-week (May week). King’s Day falls on Monday 27 April, followed by the statutory May break (25 April — 3 May) which contains Liberation Day on 5 May. Two weeks later is Ascension Day on Thursday 14 May, with Friday 15 May as the classic bridge day for a 4-day weekend. The month closes with Pentecost (Sunday 24 May) and Whit Monday (Monday 25 May). Anyone who takes leave strategically can build a mega-stretch in these 4 weeks: by taking 8 leave days (28-30 April, 1 May, 11-13 May, 15 May) you get 31 consecutive days off — a multiplier of nearly 4×.
Under the Vakantiewet (Burgerlijk Wetboek 7:634, the Dutch Holiday Act) every Dutch employee is entitled to a minimum of four weeks of paid holiday per year — for a full-timer this works out to roughly 20 vacation days, excluding holidays falling on a working day. Many CAOs grant additional days, typically 25 in total or more. Unlike countries with formal bank holidays, the number of holidays you actually get off depends on your CAO: for most employees that is 9 paid holidays per year (Good Friday and Liberation Day excepted). The best bridge days in 2026 are Friday 15 May (Ascension bridge, 1 day = 4 days off) and Tuesday 26 May (after Pentecost, 1 day = 4 days off). The Christmas period 2026 falls favourably with Christmas Day on Friday — take Monday 28 — Wednesday 30 December (3 days) and you have 9 days off from 24 December through 1 January 2027.
Frequently asked questions — long weekends
How many vacation days do I have in the Netherlands? ▾
Under the Vakantiewet (Burgerlijk Wetboek 7:634) you are entitled to a minimum of 4× your weekly working hours per year — for a 40-hour full-time job that works out to about 20 vacation days (4 weeks). Many CAOs grant additional days, common totals are 25-27 days. Statutory vacation days expire 6 months after the calendar year; supplementary (CAO) days remain valid for 5 years.
What is the best bridge day in 2026? ▾
The two best bridge days in 2026 are Friday 15 May (after Ascension Day on Thursday — 1 leave day = 4 days off) and Tuesday 26 May (after Whit Monday — 1 leave day = 4 days off). For maximum efficiency: combine 8 leave days (28-30 April + 1 May + 11-13 May + 15 May) and you get 31 consecutive days off from 25 April to 25 May — a multiplier of nearly 4×.
What is the "May week" in the Netherlands? ▾
The May week is the 4-week period between 27 April and 25 May 2026 with an exceptional density of holidays: King’s Day (Mon 27/4), the statutory May break (25/4 — 3/5), Liberation Day (Tue 5/5), Ascension Day (Thu 14/5), Pentecost weekend (24-25/5). Anyone who takes leave strategically can turn 8 leave days into 31 days off. For families with school-age children it is also an affordable travel period (charters to Spain and Italy outside the high season).
Why is the May stretch in 2027 so favourable? ▾
In 2027 Ascension Day falls on Thursday 6 May — directly after Liberation Day on Wednesday 5 May. The advisory week for the 2nd May break runs from 1-9 May and links perfectly to the statutory May break (24/4 — 2/5). Result: schools that take the 2nd May break get 16 consecutive days off (24 April — 9 May). Working parents who take 6 leave days between 3 and 13 May can grab the same 16 days — multiplier 2.7×.
How many holidays fall on a working day in 2026? ▾
Eight of the 11 holidays fall on a working day in 2026: New Year’s Day (Thu), Good Friday, Easter Monday (Mon), King’s Day (Mon), Liberation Day (Tue — not a free day in 2026), Ascension (Thu), Whit Monday (Mon), Christmas Day (Fri). Three fall on a weekend: Easter Sunday (Sun), Pentecost (Sun), Boxing Day (Sat). It is an above-average good year for bridge days — especially thanks to the May week.
How do I optimally use my 25 vacation days in 2026? ▾
The most effective strategy for 2026: 3 weeks main holiday in July/August (15 days — school holiday), 3 days around the May week (28-30 April = 11 days off), 1 day bridge day after Ascension (Friday 15 May = 4 days off), 1 day bridge day after Pentecost (Tuesday 26 May = 4 days off), 3 days around Christmas (28-30 December = 9 days off from 24/12 through 1/1/2027). Total: 23 days deployed for 43 days off — multiplier 1.9×.