Expat Chronicles: How the Dutch do Summer Vacation

Hello all! It’s late July in The Netherlands, but it doesn’t feel much like summer to me. In fact, I’m currently wearing long sleeves and pants, and this morning I needed full winter gear for our early bike ride to Elora’s summer preschool. Whaaaat? Such a drastic change from the intense heat and humidity of our previous home in South Carolina.

Of course, summer 2020 is not a typical summer in The Netherlands. Due to the covid 19 pandemic the government encourages us to travel as little as possible and avoid using public transportation. This has certainly cramped everyone’s style, but I’ve heard a lot about how the summer holidays are supposed to go.

There have been some nice surprises! Let’s talk.

the Summer Holiday

First of all, let’s get the lingo right. Here it’s not summer “vacation”, but summer “holidays”. All breaks from school are called holidays, as are leisure trips abroad.

And how long is the Dutch summer holiday? Only 6 weeks! That will sound like great news if you’re a working parent and not-so-great if you’re a kid, I suspect. Either way, do keep in mind that the Dutch school schedule has several other long breaks built into the schedule: 1 week in October, 2 weeks in December, 1 week in February, 1 week in May, and a smattering of one-off days (for Easter, the king’s birthday, etc.). It feels more like a year-round system, to me.

The summer holiday falls in the July/August months, though the precise weeks vary by region. In fact, many school holidays are staggered strategically so that all the kids in the country aren’t taking vacation at the same time. This reduces congestion for transportation and lodging, by spreading out holiday trips. Isn’t that clever?

Logistics

In The Netherlands it’s not uncommon for both parents to work. How then do Dutch parents handle the logistics of the summer holiday? Well, just as in many places, it is popular to send the kids to the grandparents for a week or two in the summer. That’s a win for everyone. But what about the other weeks?

Option 1 - Subsidized child care.

You can sign your child up for a summer program and receive help footing the bill, based on your income. Elora is attending a summer program at a Waldorf school three days per week. She attends for 5 hours each day - 15 hours total per week. With two caregivers and a very small group, it’s a fabulous environment for her. They make their own organic bread every day and eat it with lunch (all food provided). This program costs us about €100 per month. Seriously.

Option 2 - Take paid vacation

Dutch law mandates that all full-time workers receive a least 20 days of paid vacation per year. This is designed to be 4x the number of hours typically worked per week. The same concept applies to part-time workers, who are entitled to four times the number of hours they work per week. For example, a 25 hour work week will provide you with 100 hours of annual paid holiday leave. It is not uncommon to receive more vacation than the minimum required. 5 weeks seems typical.

With all this paid time off, dual-working parents can cut costs by each taking 3 weeks of vacation over the summer holiday. If they take vacation at different times, they can cover all 6 weeks that their children are out of school. For many kids, the summer holidays mean an influx of dedicated time with a parent who is usually working. And, fortunately, those parents still have at least another week of paid vacation that they can use to travel when desired.

Most families will use a combination of options and schedule time for an actual family getaway during the summer holiday.

Holiday Pay

Here’s something different! In The Netherlands the law requires that employees receive a special payment in the month of May. This check is 8% of their total salary, which is essentially an extra month’s paycheck. Basically, the law is requiring that an annual salary be divided into 13 payments, instead of 12, with the extra payment coming at the end of May.

Does that sound weird to you? I mean, yes, the government is forcing you to save money and receive it at a particular time of year. That will be unattractive to some, but I think it’s great. If times are tough, you can use that money for other needs, like household maintenance. But, it seems like most Dutch people use it to travel. With their influx of cash, they can plan a nice trip and really enjoy themselves.

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The Trips

Ok, so what do Dutch people do for these holiday trips? Very popular - camping! Whether in a tent or a camper (caravan), Dutch people are keen on camping. It’s affordable and gets everyone outdoors.

When we tell our Dutch friends that we used to have an annual camping trip to a seaside campground in South Carolina, they always nod and smile. They think they totally get it. It is only more recently that I realized they assume we mean one or two or three weeks there at the campground! No, people, just two nights. Maybe three when we got more serious. Haha! Dutch people camp, but for weeks at a time!

I’ve also heard about cycling trips, where people cycle for multi-days across The Netherlands. You can tent camp or stay in lodgings along the way. It seems like backpacking is not as popular here as cycling trips. Hmm, Brandon is missing backpacking. I wonder how long until he catches the bug for cycling trips instead?

Naturally, the Dutch also go abroad. You can fly many places from the Amsterdam airport and there are also fast trains to destinations like Paris. But, what I hear the most about is taking a car trip, say to Croatia or France. They are willing to drive several days to a destination because they will stay there for a week or longer. I am realizing that generous paid leave creates a whole new world of vacation possibilities.

Close to Home

As I mentioned, the Dutch government is really encouraging residents to stay within the country this summer. There are probably even more people than usual planning short trips to the sea or to Dutch cities to enjoy museums, a water cruise or visit with family and friends.

We’re still very used to short holidays, so we’re satisfied with day trips this year. We enjoyed a nearby amusement park with some friends. All three of my kids loved the rides! Next week we will be visiting a zoo with Elora, and in August I think Brandon and I will travel alone to explore the city of Eindhoven.

Even closer to home - in our city - are indoor playgrounds, a modest waterpark and a lovely lake with beaches, playgrounds and a waterskiing park. Places that draw crowds (like zoos, amusement parks, waterparks, etc.) require reservations and have reduced occupancy to make social distancing practical.

I’m really enjoying this summer! Ok, I would like more days when the weather manages to hit 80 degree Fahrenheit, but we’re grateful it’s not been solid heatwaves. This Friday our neighborhood is having a community BBQ. Now that I can speak a little Dutch, I should definitely practice it there!

Wishing you a safe and happy summer “holiday” everyone!