Holiday and compulsory education

Lees er alles over

News

A quarter of parents experience problems because of split may holidays

This is how many schools closed during the snow

13% Of Schools Closed Today Due To Winter Weather

Follow us!

Most children start school at four years old. It is compulsory from five years old. This is called compulsory education. You cannot keep your child from school for a holiday or trip without a good reason. In some cases, your child does not have to go to school. For example, if your child is sick. Or if there is another reason your child cannot go. How does compulsory education work? When can you make exceptions? What holidays and days off does your child’s school have? How do you ask for leave? And what happens if you do not follow the compulsory education rules? Read all about it.

Knowledge Base

Data school holidays 2026/2027

The school holidays of 2025/2026 are set by the government. Schools can also plan their own holidays and days off.

data school holidays 2025/2026

The school holidays for 2025/2026 are set by the government. Schools can also plan their own holidays and days off.

Holiday outside school holiday

Under certain conditions, your child can go on holiday outside school holidays. You need permission for this.

Absence from school for a special occasion

Want to ask for an extra day off for a special occasion outside the school holidays? Here you can read the rules you must follow.

Schoolverzuim

It is possible that children cannot or do not want to go to school for different reasons. How do you deal with this school absence as a parent?

School holidays and free days

Most holidays are set by the government. Schools also have the freedom to set extra holidays and days off.

Tropical schedule, ice-free day and emergencies

In tropical heat or prolonged frost, schools can change the timetable if parents cannot arrange care.

compulsory education and qualification duty

Children aged 5 and older must attend school until they have a start qualification or turn 18.

Exemption from compulsory education

Children from 5 to 16 years old have a duty of care. There are some situations where an exemption or dispensation applies.

Ziekte en school

Children who are sick can usually continue their education.

Out‑of‑school children

In the Netherlands there are children with diverse and complex problems who cannot go to school.

Home schooling

In the Netherlands, we assume all children attend school, but that is not always true.

Distance education

Your child can get education at a distance under certain conditions, also called online education.

The compulsory education officer

The compulsory education officer in the municipality where you live oversees compliance with the law.

What do you want to know more about?

Research into school holiday planning.

We researched if parents are happy with the school holidays and days off. Read all about it in our research.

What parents think

Worldwide school

The homework went by mail

Angenita

You want every child to have a school like this

Chantal

We decided to stop dreaming and find out how we could make this possible

Research report on school attendance.

Every school keeps track of when your child is present and informs parents when this is not the case. Each school also makes agreements about what they do if a student is absent more often or longer. We studied how schools handle absence and how parents are involved. We asked parents if they faced absence, what the reason was, and what they must do if their child is absent.