How to Travel a Lot With a Full-Time Job (Leave Planning From the Netherlands)

“How do you travel so much with a full-time job?” This is one of the questions I get asked most.

This year, I travelled almost twice a month. Some trips were for work, some were long weekends, and one is a big three-week holiday. And I still have a full-time corporate job in the Netherlands.

There’s no secret trick. It’s planning, using long weekends well, and being clear about what kind of trips you want. In this post I share exactly how I do it, how I plan my leave from the Netherlands, and tips you can use wherever you work.

My travel rhythm in a year

Here’s what a typical year looks like for me:

• Work trips: I travel for work quite a lot, about two trips a quarter.
• Long weekends: I use public holidays and add one or two days off to turn them into short trips.
• One big holiday: every December I take around three weeks off for a long trip.

My big December trips have taken me to the US for three weeks, and last year to Australia and New Zealand for three weeks. This year, we’re going to South America.

This mix works for me: lots of short trips during the year, and one big adventure to look forward to.

How much leave do you get in the Netherlands?

In the Netherlands, employees are entitled by law to at least four times their weekly working hours as paid leave each year. If you work 40 hours a week, that’s 160 hours, or 20 days (Business.gov.nl). Many employers give more than the legal minimum through your contract or collective labour agreement (CAO), so check yours.

One thing to know: statutory leave usually expires six months after the end of the year in which you earned it, so don’t save it forever. Use it.

Public holidays are a separate topic. The Netherlands has official public holidays like King’s Day, Ascension Day and Christmas, but there’s no law that says you must get them off. It depends on your contract or CAO (Government.nl). In most office jobs, you do.

Tip 1: Turn public holidays into long weekends

This is my favourite trick. When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or a Tuesday, take one day off and you get four days.

A few examples for 2027:

• King’s Day is on Tuesday 27 April. Take Monday 26 April off and you get four days.
• Ascension Day is on Thursday 6 May. Take Friday 7 May off and you get four days.
• Easter Monday (29 March) and Whit Monday (17 May) give you three-day weekends without using any leave.

Check the official list for the exact dates each year, and book your days off early, because many colleagues will have the same idea.

Tip 2: Plan your year at the start

At the beginning of the year, I look at the calendar and roughly decide:

1. When my big holiday will be.
2. Which long weekends I want to use.
3. When I’ll probably be travelling for work.

You don’t need exact plans. But knowing this early helps you block leave before your team’s calendar fills up, and helps you find cheaper flights.

Tip 3: Use the days around work trips

Work trips are not holidays, and the work always comes first. But sometimes you can add a weekend at the end and explore the city on your own time and your own money, if your company policy allows it. It’s a nice way to see more without using many leave days.

Tip 4: Use long weekends for nearby places

From the Netherlands, so many cities are a short flight or train ride away. For a long weekend, I choose places that are easy to reach, so I don’t spend half the trip travelling. Save the far-away destinations for your longer holidays.

When my mom visited me this year, we did exactly this: we used long weekends and took one or two extra days off, so I could show her around without using all my leave at once.

Tip 5: Save your longest leave for one big trip

For destinations far away, like Australia, New Zealand or South America, you need time. I save a big block of leave for December, when work is usually a bit quieter and many people are off anyway. Three weeks lets you travel without rushing, and come back properly rested.

Tip 6: Travel light

When you travel often, packing should be quick. I travel carry-on only for work trips, and I keep a small pouch with my travel adapter, chargers and essentials ready to go. I share my full list in carry-on only: my packing list for work trips.

Tip 7: Protect your energy

Travelling a lot is amazing, but it can also be tiring. Don’t fill every weekend. Leave some weekends at home to rest, see friends and do normal life. Travel should give you energy, not drain it.

Is it expensive to travel this often?

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Short trips nearby, booking early, travelling outside school holidays and staying in simple places all help. I’d rather take several smaller trips than one expensive one, but that’s a personal choice.

Frequently asked questions

How many vacation days do you get in the Netherlands?

By law, at least four times your weekly working hours each year. For a full-time 40-hour week, that’s 20 days. Many employers give more through the contract or CAO.

Do you get public holidays off in the Netherlands?

There’s no legal rule that says you must, but most contracts and CAOs give the main public holidays off. Check your own contract.

How can I travel more with a full-time job?

Turn public holidays into long weekends, plan your leave at the start of the year, choose nearby places for short trips and save a bigger block of leave for one long holiday.

When is the best time to book leave?

As early as possible, especially for popular long weekends and school holidays. Planning at the start of the year gives you the best chance.

How many trips do you take in a year with your job? Tell me in the comments 👇