Work and income
Calculate holiday allowance
Enter relevant total gross earnings for the accrual period, excluding the allowance itself. Often 8% applies; pay components, collective agreements and exceptions determine the base. Not a net calculation.
Holiday allowance: accrual, payment and gross/net
This tool concerns holiday allowance (vakantiebijslag) under a Dutch employment contract. First calculate the accrued gross amount, then compare your payslip. This allowance differs from salary during annual leave or payment for unused leave hours. Benefits and AOW have their own rules.
Use the full accrual period
Find the start and end dates on your payslip or in your employment terms. The period need not match the calendar year. Enter all eligible gross earnings for the period as the base, not one month's salary. If you worked fewer months or your hours or pay changed, use the actual relevant amounts for that period.
Which pay components count?
Include wages and relevant supplements, including overtime with its premium and irregular-hours allowances. Holiday allowance may also be due on paid-out leave days. Check performance pay and commission against the applicable arrangements. Expense reimbursements, profit-sharing and year-end bonuses do not count. Do not add the holiday allowance itself to the base again.
Is 8% always the correct rate?
Employees are usually entitled to at least 8%. A collective agreement may instead provide for no separate allowance if pay reaches at least 108% of the minimum wage. Where wages exceed three times the minimum wage, a lower allowance or none may be agreed in writing. Check your collective agreement and written terms before departing from 8%.
Example and sickness
Fictitious example: six months of €3,000 eligible gross earnings each gives a €18,000 base and €1,440 gross allowance at 8%. Twelve such months give €2,880. Accrual continues during sickness on the wages that must continue to be paid. If those wages are lower, the base is lower too; check any collective-agreement top-ups.
When is it paid?
Payment takes place at least once a year, often in May or June. Your contract or collective agreement sets the agreed time; a different time or instalments require a valid written arrangement. On dismissal or contract expiry, the accrued amount for the employment period must be settled. Check the last payslip and final settlement, and do not claim monthly allowance already paid a second time.
Why is gross not what I receive?
This calculator does not deduct wage tax or contributions. The amount reaching your bank may therefore be lower than the gross result. Ask payroll for an itemised calculation or pro-forma payslip; do not use a fixed deduction percentage as your personal net result. The arithmetic does not itself determine whether every pay component entered legally counts.
Check before reporting a difference
- Accrual period, employment start/end dates and changes in pay or hours.
- Payslips, collective agreement and written rate/payment arrangements.
- Eligible pay components and previously paid allowance separately.
- Gross calculation against gross items; bank payment against the net payslip.
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Accrual period, employment start/end dates and changes in pay or hours.
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Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
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For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
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Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
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Does payment differ from your agreement?
First ask for an itemised calculation. For missing payment, use the existing unpaid holiday allowance guide; when employment ends, also check the final settlement. This tool sends no request or wage claim.