Dutch Holiday Allowance Calculator (Vakantiegeld)

Vakantiegeld (also called vakantietoeslag) is a statutory holiday allowance worth at least 8% of your gross annual salary. Your employer reserves it through the year and usually pays it as a lump sum in May. Some employers pay a higher percentage or spread it across the year, but 8% is the legal minimum.

Vakantiegeld is taxed as bijzonder loon (special pay), which is withheld at your marginal Box 1 rate rather than the average rate you see on your normal salary. Because the credits are already used up against your regular pay, the allowance is effectively taxed at the rate on your last euro earned, so the net you keep is below the gross 8%.

The standard reservation period runs from 1 June to 31 May. The allowance you accrue over those twelve months is paid out in May, which is why it lands as a single lump sum rather than monthly.

The 8% is calculated over your gross salary including most fixed allowances, such as a fixed shift or performance allowance. It generally excludes items like overtime pay, expense reimbursements, and the employer pension contribution. This calculator uses your gross annual salary as the base.

No. This is an estimate. Your contract or CAO may set a higher percentage, and your exact withholding depends on your full tax situation. Check your payslip or the May payment specification for the precise figure.