Extra school leave: when may my child miss school?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
First identify the reason: reporting sickness, notifying a religious duty and applying for leave are different routes. Term-time holidays require a narrow legal exception and prior permission.
On this page
- Who must attend school?
- When is holiday leave possible?
- How do I request holiday leave?
- Other serious circumstances
- Sickness and religious duties
- Reduced hours for a five-year-old
- Exemption from enrolment
- What if permission is refused?
- Can I book while waiting for school to respond?
- Documents to prepare
- Sources
1. Who must attend school?
Compulsory education starts on the first school day of the month after the fifth birthday and usually ends at the end of the school year in which the child turns sixteen; the law also provides for twelve complete school years. Without a basic qualification, qualification duty generally continues to eighteen, with statutory exceptions. School closure or formal suspension differs from choosing to stay home. This is information for parents, not permission to miss lessons.
2. When is holiday leave possible?
The specific nature of a parent's occupation must make a family holiday impossible during every school holiday in that year. Evidence of seasonal business risks may qualify; mere busyness or lost turnover is insufficient. Cheap or already booked tickets, family visits, traffic, world travel or siblings' different holidays are not independent grounds. Request only the necessary absence.
Rijksoverheid · Vakantie buiten schoolvakanties ↗
Leerplichtwet 1969 · actuele artikelen 3–14 ↗
Ministeriële beleidsregel · artikelen 1 en 2, actuele toestand ↗
3. How do I request holiday leave?
Apply in writing to the headteacher, at least eight weeks beforehand according to Rijksoverheid guidance. Provide employment/business evidence explaining why no school holiday works. Permission is limited to once per school year, at most ten school days, excluding the first two teaching weeks. Qualification-duty pupils receive a proportionate allowance based on compulsory attendance days. An application, employer statement or booking is not permission; await the written decision.
Rijksoverheid · Vakantie buiten schoolvakanties ↗
Leerplichtwet 1969 · actuele artikelen 3–14 ↗
Ministeriële beleidsregel · artikelen 1 en 2, actuele toestand ↗
4. Other serious circumstances
An unavoidable exceptional event, such as a funeral or certain family weddings, is assessed separately. The headteacher decides up to ten days in total per school year; above that, the attendance officer of the home municipality decides after consulting the head. Explain the event, relationship and necessary travel; there are not ten automatic days per event. For unexpected absence, notify reasons within two days: retrospective permission can be considered, not guaranteed. The first-two-weeks holiday ban is not a general exclusion for this ground.
Rijksoverheid · Wanneer niet naar school ↗
Leerplichtwet 1969 · actuele artikelen 3–14 ↗
Ministeriële beleidsregel · artikelen 1 en 2, actuele toestand ↗
5. Sickness and religious duties
Report sickness promptly under school procedure, legally within two days of the impediment arising. Notify a religious or belief-related obligation to the head no later than two days beforehand; an ordinary day off is different. Give relevant information, not an unnecessary complete medical file. Discuss prolonged illness and appropriate education with school and the attendance service; sickness notification is not permanent exemption from enrolment.
6. Reduced hours for a five-year-old
A compulsory-school-age child under six can miss up to five hours weekly after notifying the head. If more rest is needed, the head may grant up to five additional hours on application: ten in total weekly. This is a limited hours arrangement, not accumulated holiday entitlement. Agree practical timing with school and reassess at the sixth birthday.
7. Exemption from enrolment
Enrolment exemption is a separate strict route through the home municipality: physical/psychological unfitness, serious objections to the educational religious/philosophical orientation of all suitable nearby schools, or actual schooling abroad. Notify at least a month before compulsory education starts, then normally annually before 1 July; permanent medical unfitness may remove annual notification. Medical evidence must come from a municipally designated independent expert, not the treating practitioner, and be no older than three months. Orientation objections have restrictions including attendance in the previous year; a foreign school must confirm enrolment and regular attendance. Travelling circus/fairground families have a separate scheme whose conditions need checking.
8. What if permission is refused?
Ask for a reasoned written decision with appeal information. An objection to a leave decision is normally due to the decision-maker within six weeks after notification; objecting does not authorise departure. For urgency, seek advice about interim judicial relief. Keep application, evidence, receipt and decision. School may report unauthorised absence and enforcement may follow. If prolonged non-attendance threatens, contact school and the attendance service promptly for suitable support.
Rijksoverheid · Vakantie buiten schoolvakanties ↗
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Can I book while waiting for school to respond?
A booking or application is not leave. Request written permission in time and do not treat refusal or silence as approval. Money lost by booking first does not create an independent entitlement to leave.
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Birthday, school and education/qualification duty
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- Birthday, school and education/qualification duty
- Reason and exact school days/hours
- Earlier leave in this school year
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- Application/notification and receipt
- Written decision, objection route and deadline
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Rijksoverheid · Vakantie buiten schoolvakanties ↗Rijksoverheid · Wanneer niet naar school ↗Leerplichtwet 1969 · actuele artikelen 3–14 ↗Ministeriële beleidsregel · artikelen 1 en 2, actuele toestand ↗Inspectie Onderwijs · Geen vrije snipperdagen ↗Gemeente Utrecht · Bezwaar en besluit blijft gelden ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.