Dutch working life comes with more kinds of time off than many newcomers realise. Beyond your holiday days, the law grants emergency, care and parental leave, each with its own rules. Here is the map, so you know what you can ask for.
Holiday vs leave: two different things
First, a distinction. Vakantiedagen (holiday days) are your normal paid leave for rest, and they are not part of the Wet arbeid en zorg (Work and Care Act); they have their own rules. Everything else below, the various verlof types, comes from that Act. As the government’s leave overview sets out, this is the legal floor; your cao (collective agreement) may give more.
Emergency leave: calamiteitenverlof
Calamiteitenverlof (also kort verzuimverlof) is for sudden private situations needing immediate time off: a sick child to collect, a burst pipe, a death in the family, or your partner going into labour. As Rijksoverheid confirms, it is short (hours to a couple of days) and your employer pays your full salary.
Care leave: zorgverlof
For caring for someone who is ill, there are two tiers:
| Leave | Amount | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| kortdurend zorgverlof | up to 2 work weeks/year | at least 70% |
| langdurend zorgverlof | up to 6 work weeks/year | usually unpaid |
You take kortdurend when you are the only one who can care for a close person who is briefly ill; langdurend is for longer-term care.
Family leave
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| zwangerschapsverlof | pregnancy leave (before birth) |
| bevallingsverlof | maternity leave (after birth) |
| geboorteverlof | partner’s birth leave |
| ouderschapsverlof | parental leave |
Ouderschapsverlof runs per child until age 8 and totals 26 times your weekly hours, of which the first 9 weeks are paid (via UWV) since August 2022, the rest unpaid. Asking for it is the subject of drafting your HR email for parental leave. The Ondernemersplein leave overview lists the current durations, and UWV handles the paid portions.
ATV/ADV: extra roster days
Some sectors give ATV or ADV days (arbeidstijdverkorting / arbeidsduurverkorting): extra days off built into the schedule, often set by the employer rather than chosen by you. Whether you get them depends on your cao.
Asking for leave
- Ik wil graag verlof aanvragen. (I’d like to request leave.)
- Ik moet calamiteitenverlof opnemen. (I need to take emergency leave.)
- Hoeveel vakantiedagen heb ik nog? (How many holiday days do I have left?)
Where it connects
Leave is part of the working-life picture beside calling in sick the Dutch way, setting an out-of-office message, and your rights under the cao. New parents will also want the prenatal care guide.
The bottom line
On top of vakantiedagen, Dutch law gives you calamiteitenverlof (short, paid emergencies), kortdurend (2 weeks, 70%) and langdurend zorgverlof (6 weeks, usually unpaid), and ouderschapsverlof until your child is 8 (first 9 weeks paid). ATV/ADV are extra employer-set days. Check your cao for anything better, learn verlof aanvragen, and you can claim the time off you are entitled to.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the leave vocabulary you need for HR, verlof aanvragen, calamiteitenverlof, zorgverlof, vakantiedagen, in five-minute lessons built on real workplace situations, so you can ask for the right leave with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
What types of leave can I take in the Netherlands?
Beyond holiday (vakantiedagen), Dutch law (the Wet arbeid en zorg) provides: calamiteitenverlof (emergency leave for sudden situations), kortdurend and langdurend zorgverlof (short- and long-term care leave), ouderschapsverlof (parental leave), zwangerschaps- and bevallingsverlof (pregnancy and maternity leave), and geboorteverlof (partner birth leave). Many employers also offer ATV/ADV days. Each has its own rules on duration and pay.
What is calamiteitenverlof and is it paid?
Calamiteitenverlof (emergency or short absence leave) is for sudden, unforeseen private situations that need you to take time off right away, such as collecting a sick child from school, a burst pipe, or a death in the family. It is short, from a few hours to a couple of days, and your employer must continue to pay your full salary during it. For longer care, you switch to zorgverlof.
How much care leave and parental leave do I get?
Kortdurend zorgverlof (short-term care leave) gives you up to two work weeks per year at a minimum of 70% pay, to care for someone close. Langdurend zorgverlof gives up to six work weeks per year, usually unpaid. Ouderschapsverlof (parental leave) is available per child until age 8, totalling 26 times your weekly hours, of which the first 9 weeks are paid (via UWV) since August 2022.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for work and HR matters?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the workplace vocabulary you need to arrange time off, verlof aanvragen, calamiteitenverlof, zorgverlof, vakantiedagen, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so you can talk to HR and read your contract and payslip with confidence.
