Easter, Ascension Day, Whitsun, and our accessibility 2026
- Publication date:
Since there are many holidays coming up in the coming months, we have listed them for you in this article:
- Easter – Sunday 20 April & Monday 21 April 2026
- Ascension Day – Thursday 29 May 2026
- Pentecost – Sunday 8 June & Monday 9 June 2026
Please note that our offices in the Netherlands and Belgium will be closed on the public holidays listed above, as well as on Friday 15 May (the day after Ascension Day).
Public holidays observed only in the Netherlands or Belgium
In addition to these public holidays, which we celebrate in both the Netherlands and Belgium, there are also a number of national public holidays specific to each country.
In the Netherlands, for example, our office will be closed on the following public holiday:
- King’s Day – Monday 27 April 2026
And specifically for Belgium, the following public holidays apply, on which our office in Belgium will be closed:
- Labour Day – Friday 1 May 2026
- National Holiday – Tuesday 21 July 2026
- Armistice Day – Wednesday 11 November 2026
Finally, in Belgium, All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday 1 November 2026, which is a weekend. You can read whether Belgian employees are entitled to compensation in our international comparison.
Special status for Liberation Day in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Liberation Day is celebrated every year on 5 May. For this Dutch public holiday, the Social and Economic Council advises employers to grant their employees one day’s leave once every five years. In 2025, Liberation Day fell on a so-called ‘lustrum year’ and employees in the Netherlands had an extra day off; this will not be the case in 2026. Please note that this is not a legal obligation; employers are free to decide whether or not to follow the advice.
Did you know that Ascension Day and Whitsun are not official public holidays in all countries?
These public holidays are official public holidays in, among others, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France. However, this is not the case the United Kingdom and Italy, where these days are normal working days.
An international comparison
Many public holidays fall in the months of April, May and June. Do you know the differences in Europe? When are employees actually entitled to compensation if a public holiday falls on a weekend? Read more on our page ‘international comparison’
All public holidays listed
You can find all official public holidays in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and now Italy as well, on our website. There you can also read whether or not employees in those countries are entitled to compensation. Select the country of your choice from the practical information per country and go to the tab “National holidays”.
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Together, solution-oriented and caring
Since 1972, Interfisc has offered international HR & Payroll solutions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. We do this from our offices in the Netherlands and Belgium, and with an international team of around 45 committed and caring employees.
- Thorough knowledge of local rules on employment law, social security, taxes, employee benefits and health & safety
- We keep you informed of changes in local legislation, supplemented with practical solutions
- One point of contact for all your questions
- Expert in cross border payroll solutions since 1972
- We speak your language!
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