School holidays in Amsterdam
School children spend what seems like an eternity waiting for them but once they arrive, the school holidays flash by in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re planning a break to coincide with the school holidays or fervently want to avoid the period, read on for the dates of upcoming school holidays in Amsterdam.
Staggered holidays
In order to minimise traffic congestion caused by additional travellers and to avoid overcrowding at amusement parks and camp sites, most school holidays are staggered across the Netherlands. Schools in Amsterdam fall within the northern region, while there is also a middle and southern region.
The Minister for Education, Culture and Science determines when the summer holidays will be for each region. The Minister also recommends dates for the staggered spring and autumn holidays for each region and provides nationwide date recommendations for the Christmas and May holidays. The dates of the school holidays rotate per region so that pupils have holidays both early and late in the season at some point.
School holidays dates
Schools are obliged to adhere to the dates determined by the Minister for Culture, Education and Science for the summer holidays, although they are allowed to deviate from the other recommended school holidays dates. While the dates below are a good guide, it is advisable to double-check with the school when it closes and reopens for business.
May holiday 2012: 28 April - 6 May 2012
Summer holiday 2012 (primary schools): 21 July - 2 September 2012
Summer holiday 2012 (secondary schools): 14 July - 2 September 2012
Autumn holiday 2012: 20 October - 28 October 2012
Christmas holiday 2012: 22 December 2012 - 6 January 2013
Spring holiday 2013: 16 February - 24 February 2013
May holiday 2013: 27 April - 5 May 2013.
This government site (in Dutch) provides additional information about the dates of school holidays across the Netherlands.
- Tell a friend
You can also reach us by phone:
+31 (0)20 254 79 99