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Dutch Holiday Allowance Calculator (Vakantiegeld) - Gross and Net

Calculate your Dutch holiday allowance: 8% of your gross salary, plus an estimate of the net amount after the special payroll tax rate. Free and browser-based, no data leaves your device.

8% is the statutory minimum; some collective agreements pay more.

Find it on your payslip as "bijzonder tarief" or "BT". Default 42.01% is a common 2026 value.

Gross holiday allowance

€3,360.00

Payroll tax withheld (42.01% bijzonder tarief)-€1,411.54
Estimated net holiday allowance€1,948.46

Based on 2026 figures. This is an indication, not tax or legal advice.

Vakantiegeld: How Dutch Holiday Allowance Works

Every employee in the Netherlands is legally entitled to holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) of at least 8% of their gross annual wage, set by the Wet minimumloon en minimumvakantiebijslag. Most employers pay it out once a year in May, covering the twelve months from June through May. If you started mid-year, you accrue 8% over the months you actually worked, which is why this calculator lets you set the number of months.

The net amount often disappoints, and the reason is the bijzonder tarief (special rate). One-off payments such as holiday allowance, bonuses, and a thirteenth month are taxed at a flat percentage based on your previous year's annual wage, instead of the normal monthly tables. In 2026 this rate ranges from 35.75% for lower incomes up to 56.01% for incomes in the 49.5% bracket where the labour credit is also being phased out. A middle income around EUR 40,000 to 78,000 typically sees 42.01% (the 37.56% bracket rate plus a 4.45% settlement percentage for the phase-out of tax credits).

For example: at EUR 3,500 gross per month over 12 months, your gross vakantiegeld is EUR 3,360. At a 42.01% special rate about EUR 1,412 is withheld, leaving roughly EUR 1,948 net. The exact percentage is printed on your payslip, usually labelled "bijzonder tarief" or "BT", so enter that value for the closest estimate. Note that the withholding is provisional: your final income tax return settles any difference.

Holiday allowance is calculated over your gross wage including regular overtime pay since 2018, but usually excluding one-off bonuses and expense reimbursements. Want to see the bigger picture? The Dutch Severance Calculator on ToolForte includes the 8% holiday allowance in the transition payment base, and the Salary Calculator converts your monthly wage to hourly and annual amounts. Both are free and run entirely in your browser.

Dutch rules toolkit

This is one of 21 tools built on actual Dutch regulations rather than generic maths: salary and severance, notice periods and WW duration, BTW and mortgages, public holidays, AOW age, and GDPR-safe test data for Dutch systems.

See all Dutch tools

How the Holiday Allowance Calculator Works

  1. 01Enter your gross monthly salary and the number of months you worked in the accrual year (default 12).
  2. 02Keep the statutory 8% or enter the higher percentage from your CAO.
  3. 03Enter the bijzonder tarief percentage from your payslip, or keep the common 2026 default of 42.01%.
  4. 04Read off your gross holiday allowance, the estimated tax withheld, and the net payout.

Vakantiegeld and the Bijzonder Tarief

Dutch law guarantees holiday allowance of at least 8% of your gross annual wage, usually paid in May. It is taxed at the bijzonder tarief, a flat rate based on last year's income, which in 2026 ranges from 35.75% to 56.01%. A common mid value is 42.01% (the 37.56% bracket plus a 4.45% settlement percentage). Your exact rate is printed on your payslip.

When to Use This Calculator

Use it in spring to predict your May payout, when starting or leaving a job mid-year to check the pro rata amount on your final payslip, or when comparing a salary offer where vakantiegeld is included in or excluded from the quoted amount.

Common Use Cases

  • Predict your net May payout before booking a summer holiday. → Bruto/Netto Calculator
  • Check the pro rata holiday allowance on your final payslip when switching jobs mid-year.
  • Compare job offers where one quotes salary including vakantiegeld and the other excludes it.

Tips

  • Enter the exact bijzonder tarief from your payslip instead of the default for a much closer estimate.
  • A salary quoted 'including holiday allowance' is effectively 8% lower as a monthly wage; divide by 1.08 to compare.
  • If your income dropped versus last year, your bijzonder tarief may be too high; the excess comes back via your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much holiday allowance do I get in the Netherlands?→
The statutory minimum is 8% of your gross annual wage. At EUR 3,500 per month over a full year that is EUR 3,360 gross. Some collective agreements pay more than 8%, so check your CAO.
Why is the tax on vakantiegeld so high?→
Holiday allowance is a one-off payment, so employers withhold at the bijzonder tarief instead of the normal monthly table. This rate includes a settlement percentage for the phase-out of your tax credits, which can push it to 42.01% or even 56.01% in 2026. It prevents a surprise tax bill after your annual return.
Where do I find my bijzonder tarief?→
It is printed on your payslip, usually labelled 'bijzonder tarief', 'BT', or 'tarief bijzondere beloningen'. It is based on your total taxable wage of the previous year, so it can change every January.
When is holiday allowance paid out?→
Most employers pay in May, covering the accrual period from June of the previous year through May. Some pay in June or spread it monthly, which must then be stated in your contract. On leaving a job, accrued vakantiegeld is settled with your final payslip.
Is the withheld tax final?→
No. The bijzonder tarief is a provisional withholding. Your final income tax return recalculates everything; if too much was withheld you get a refund, and if too little you pay the difference.

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