Vakantiegeld for 2026: gross, special rate tax and net, usually paid in May or June.
Use the 12 months your employer counts, often June to May. Leave out bonuses and a 13th month.
Example default: the 2026 standard rate for your annual wage band in the Belastingdienst white special rewards table. Your payslip rate adds a tax credit adjustment and is often higher, so type it in if you know it.
| If the special rate is | Tax | Net |
|---|
Estimate only, check your payslip or with the Belastingdienst. The special rate depends on last year's wage, your age and whether your employer applies the tax credit.
This Netherlands holiday allowance calculator shows employees in the Netherlands, including expats, how much vakantiegeld they will get in 2026, both before and after tax. It applies the legal minimum of 8% of gross wages set by the Dutch Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance Act, and then the special tax rate that the Belastingdienst uses for one off payments such as holiday allowance. Figures checked October 2026.
Quick answer: Dutch employees get at least 8% of the gross wages earned over the past year, usually paid in May or June. On €4,000 a month that is €3,840 gross. The Netherlands holiday allowance calculator then deducts tax at the special rate, which leaves about €1,900 to €2,400 net depending on your rate.
In This Guide
What Is Holiday Allowance (Vakantiegeld) in the Netherlands?
Holiday allowance is a legally required yearly payment of at least 8% of an employee's gross wages, paid on top of normal salary. It has nothing to do with taking leave: you get it whether or not you go on holiday, and it is separate from your paid holiday days.
In plain words: holiday allowance = gross wages earned in the reference year × 8%, and net allowance = holiday allowance × (1 minus the special rate). The reference year is usually June to May, so a payment in May 2026 covers wages from June 2025. Bonuses, a 13th month and year end payments are left out of the base, while the allowance keeps building up while you are off sick, according to the Rijksoverheid guidance on vakantiegeld.
How Much Holiday Allowance Will I Get Net?
You keep roughly half to two thirds of the gross allowance, because it is taxed at the special rate rather than spread over your monthly wage tax. Take Sanne, a software tester in Utrecht on €4,000 gross a month who worked the full year from June 2025 to May 2026. Her allowance is €4,000 × 12 × 8% = €3,840 gross. At the 2026 standard rate of 37.56% for her wage band, tax is €1,442.30 and she receives €2,397.70. If her May payslip shows a special rate of 50%, she gets €1,920 instead.
The special rate is often higher than the standard rate because extra income reduces the general tax credit and the labour tax credit for many earners, so the Belastingdienst adds a correction percentage for your wage band. That is why many people find their vakantiegeld smaller than expected, even though no extra tax is owed overall.
| Annual wage for the special rate (2026) | Standard rate | Net on €3,840 at standard rate |
|---|---|---|
| Below €38,884 | 35.75% | €2,467.20 |
| €38,884 to €78,426 | 37.56% | €2,397.70 |
| €78,427 and above | 49.50% | €1,939.20 |
These standard rates match the box 1 income tax brackets described in the overview of taxation in the Netherlands, updated with the 2026 band limits from the Belastingdienst white special rewards table. Your own rate also depends on the tax credit correction, so the payslip figure always wins.
How to Use the Netherlands Holiday Allowance Calculator
Step 1: Enter Your Salary and Months Worked
Type your gross monthly salary and the number of months you worked in the reference year. A new starter who joined on 1 December and is paid in May would enter 6. If you are paid by the hour, the hourly to annual salary calculator turns your hourly wage into a yearly figure that you can divide by 12 first.
Step 2: Set the Allowance Percentage
Leave this at 8% unless your contract or CAO says more. Some sector agreements pay a higher rate or set a fixed minimum amount, so check your own collective agreement before relying on the default.
Step 3: Check the Special Rate
The rate box fills in the 2026 standard rate for 12 times your monthly salary. Last year's May payslip, or a payslip with a bonus on it, shows your actual bijzonder tarief, so type that in for a sharper result.
Step 4: Read Your Gross and Net Allowance
The Netherlands holiday allowance calculator shows the gross allowance, the tax, the net payment, the amount built up each month and the share you keep. The table underneath shows the net figure at 40%, 45%, 50% and 55%, so you can plan for the realistic range.
When Is Holiday Allowance Paid in the Netherlands?
Your employer must pay it at least once a year, and most pay it in May or June with the normal salary. Some employers pay it monthly instead, as set out in the contract. Other rules worth knowing:
- Part time and part year workers build up the allowance on the wages they actually earned, so the 8% applies to lower pay.
- If you leave your job, the allowance built up so far is paid with your final salary.
- If you earn more than 3 times the minimum wage, your employer can agree with you in writing to pay less or none.
- Freelancers (ZZP) do not get holiday allowance, because it comes from an employment contract.
Many employers set their own date in the employment contract or in a collective labour agreement, which can also raise the percentage above 8. If you are comparing a Dutch offer with a job in the UK, remember that UK workers get paid leave but no separate allowance, and the holiday pay calculator shows how UK holiday pay is worked out instead.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is holiday allowance in the Netherlands?
Holiday allowance in the Netherlands is at least 8% of the gross wages you earned over the past year. On €3,000 gross a month for a full year that is €2,880 before tax, paid on top of your salary.
Why is my vakantiegeld taxed so much?
It is taxed at the special rate for one off payments, which includes a correction for the tax credits you lose on extra income. For many earners that rate is well above the 2026 standard rates of 35.75% or 37.56%, so the net payment is lower than expected.
When is vakantiegeld paid in 2026?
Most employers pay it in May or June 2026 with the normal salary, covering wages from June 2025 to May 2026. Your employer must pay it at least once a year, and some pay it monthly.
Do part time workers get holiday allowance?
Yes. Part time workers get 8% of the gross wages they actually earn, so someone on €2,000 a month for 12 months receives €1,920 gross, the same percentage as a full time colleague.
Do I get holiday allowance if I leave my job?
Yes. The holiday allowance built up since the last payment is paid with your final salary. If you worked 4 months on €3,500 a month, that is €1,120 gross.
Is the 8% calculated on my bonus or 13th month?
Usually not. The legal 8% is based on your regular gross wages, and bonuses, a 13th month and year end payments are normally left out unless your contract or CAO says otherwise.