The summer holiday is starting soon: schools close and time for fun summer activities
The summer holiday is starting soon. That means children are off school. The streets are getting quieter now and there are many fun activities to do in the Netherlands. Below are the most important things you need to know about the summer holidays.
The Netherlands is divided into 3 regions for the summer holidays
The Netherlands is divided into three regions for the school holidays (north, central and south). This division is meant to reduce traffic and crowds at popular places. The summer holidays begin and end on different dates in each region.
Southern Netherlands is the 1st to have summer holiday, from 5 July to 17 August. The provinces of Limburg, North Brabant and Zeeland belong to this region.
Northern Netherlands will follow from Friday, 12 July to 24 August. This region includes the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Flevoland, North Holland and Overijssel.
Central Netherlands is the last to have summer holiday: from Friday, 19 July to 31 August. The provinces of South Holland, Utrecht and Gelderland belong to this region.
During the school holidays, your children are off school
During the school holidays, schools are closed and your children are free, but you and your partner may have to continue working. In the Netherlands, parents arrange childcare for their children so they are not home alone without adults.
If you have to work and cannot look after your children, there are several ways you can arrange childcare:
Your child can go to out-of-school care (BSO)
Out-of-school care (BSO) offers care outside school hours for children between the ages of 4 and 13. Many daycare centres have a summer schedule for when schools are closed. And because it's a holiday, they make it extra fun for the children.
It is often possible to drop your child at one of these several days a week, even if your child does not normally use the daycare centre. Ask your children's school about the different forms of out-of-school care. A daycare centre costs money but, in some cases, you can apply for an allowance.
You can hire a babysitter for your children
You could also ask friends or acquaintances to take care of your child occasionally. If that is not possible, you could consider hiring a babysitter. There may be other parents in the neighbourhood who know a good babysitter.
A babysitter costs money. How much depends on the babysitter's age, the time the babysitter has to come and the work they are expected to do. It is reasonable to pay more if the babysitter is expected to vacuum, do laundry or cook. And if the babysitter has travel costs.
If you choose a schoolchild as a babysitter, the rate varies depending on the number of children to be looked after, the babysitter's age and whether they have to help with feeding and putting them to bed. You can pay by the hour or agree on a fixed total amount.
You can also take leave
Everyone who works in the Netherlands is legally entitled to leave days. You must request these leave days from your employer in advance. You can choose to take your leave in the summer.
Normal life continues in the summer
During the summer holidays, daily life goes on as usual. However, the streets and motorways tend to be quieter, except in the big cities where many tourists visit during the holidays.
The only thing that does not go on during the summer holidays is construction. In the summer, construction stops completely for 3 weeks in each region. If you work in construction, you are often off work during this period.
You can do these fun things during the summer holidays
Most parents in the Netherlands who work also take a few weeks off in the summer holidays. They often go away with their children. On a trip to another place in the Netherlands or abroad. Often to campsites to camp in a tent or a holiday house they rent somewhere. Or they go on day trips. To the zoo or an amusement park.
If you don't go on holiday, you might want to do fun things with your children. There are plenty of fun activities to do together in the summer. Many Dutch people enjoy the following activities during the holidays:
You can go cycling or hiking if the weather is nice and then have a picnic somewhere afterwards.
You can go swimming somewhere. In a swimming pool or natural water. Swimming in natural water is often free. A swimming pool costs money.
You can go to a petting zoo or playground with your children. This is often free.
Or go to the museum for free this summer. Learn more about the promotion and order tickets on this website:
Free museum tickets for refugees You can choose from more than 150 museums.Your municipality may organise activities for children during the summer. They also organise free activities. Check your municipality's website.
Many libraries also host free activities.