The Hague school holidays 2026

Dutch public holidays 2026

Schools across the Netherlands close on the national public holidays. Several of these, including Koningsdag and the Ascension and Whitsun days, fall inside the school holiday weeks in The Hague, so they do not add separate days off. The headline 2026 dates are below.

Liberation Day is a full public holiday for everyone only once every five years, and 2026 is not one of those years, but The Hague schools fold 5 May into the May holiday week regardless. King's Day on 27 April is the national celebration and likewise falls within the school break in 2026.

The Hague term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

Dutch schools do not run named terms. The year is continuous with a set of holiday weeks, of which the summer, Christmas and May breaks are fixed nationally and the autumn and spring weeks vary by region. The table shows the gemeente Den Haag dates for the 2026 calendar year and the start of 2026-27, plus the early 2027 breaks.

Schools add their own study days, the so-called margedagen, on top of these breaks, so the published calendar is the floor rather than the full list of days off. Classes resume on Monday 31 August 2026 after the summer break. Always check the specific school's calendar for its study days before booking travel.

International school term dates

The Hague has an unusually deep international-school market because of the embassies, the international courts and the corporate base. These schools follow a northern-hemisphere year from late August to late June or early July, broadly tracking the Dutch breaks but setting their own precise dates.

• Start dates usually fall in the third or fourth week of August, a week or two before the Dutch state schools resume.
• The Christmas and summer breaks are often a little longer, and some schools shift the spring and autumn weeks by a few days from the regional dates.
• Schools on the English or American calendar keep October and February half-term style breaks that map onto, but do not perfectly match, the Dutch autumn and spring holidays.

Because the city draws families from across the world, your choice of curriculum shapes the calendar as much as the location does. The Netherlands is also a country where the wider system matters, so our Netherlands schools guide sets out how the Dutch, bilingual and international routes fit together. Confirm dates with the school before committing to flights.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for parents in The Hague. First, the six-week summer break is shorter than in many countries, so popular camps along the coast at Scheveningen and Kijkduin fill fast; book in spring. Second, the central-region timing means The Hague breaks up a little later than the northern region and a little earlier than the southern one, which is worth knowing if you are coordinating with family elsewhere in the country. Third, Prinsjesdag gives the city a bonus day off in mid September that the rest of the Netherlands does not get, a neat long weekend if it falls well. If you are still comparing schools, start with our The Hague city guide for the full admissions and fees picture.

Common questions

When do schools break up in The Hague in 2026? State schools break up for the summer on Monday 20 July 2026 and return on Monday 31 August. The last day off before then is Whit Monday on 25 May.

How long is the summer holiday in The Hague? About six weeks. In 2026 it runs from 20 July to 28 August, the central-region dates that The Hague follows.

When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in The Hague? Classes resume on Monday 31 August 2026 after the summer break, with the autumn holiday following from 19 to 23 October.

What is Prinsjesdag and do schools close? Prinsjesdag is the state opening of parliament on the third Tuesday of September, held in The Hague. City schools take the day off, which in 2026 is Tuesday 15 September. It is unique to The Hague.

Are international school holidays the same as state schools? Similar but not identical. International schools run a northern-hemisphere August to June year and set their own dates around the Dutch breaks. Confirm with the school.

Related guides

• The Hague city guide
• Netherlands schools guide
• Curriculum guides