Compulsory education, special leave or exemption

Sometimes your child may receive permission to be out of school for one or more days. For example:

• disease
• suspension
• a religious holiday
• a marriage
• a funeral

Is your child sick? Or is there a holiday from your religion? If so, please notify the school that your child will not be attending school. In other cases, please request written permission for additional leave in advance from the school's principal. 

• You must show proof that the exemption is needed (for example, a wedding invitation or bereavement card).
• If a request for leave of absence exceeds 10 school days, the school attendance officer will decide.

Holiday outside school vacations

You may not take your child on holiday outside the school vacations. If you do, you are breaking the law and are liable to punishment. 

Can't get time off work during school vacations

• Then you can request leave outside the school vacations 1 time per school year.
• Please do this at least 8 weeks in advance with the school principal.

You can read all the information and conditions on the website of the Central Government | vacations outside school vacations.
 

In some cases you can request exemption for your child for part of the school year. This must be done with the municipality at least one month before your child turns 5. You must submit the request for exemption before July 1 of each school year. You will be invited by the school attendance officer for an explanation. 

These are the special situations for which you can apply for exemption:

Due to mental and/or physical symptoms, your child cannot attend school.

• You need a statement from a physician, educator or psychologist. This may not be the attending physician. 
• The school attendance officer may ask an independent doctor to assess the application. This doctor will also contact the partnership for appropriate education to see what is possible within (special) education. 
• An exemption due to mental and/or physical disability may be issued for a period longer than one year.

No school in the neighborhood matches your faith or worldview.

• You must explain why, per school.
• The statement does not apply if your child was educated in the previous school year at a school with a direction that is being objected to.

Your child attends school abroad.

• You need a statement from the principal of the foreign school. 
• At the end of the school year, the foreign school must confirm that your child actually attended school. Otherwise, the school attendance officer will initiate an investigation.
• If your child spends more than 8 months abroad you must notify the municipality.

You travel around the Netherlands

• For example, because you work at a carnival or circus. 

• Searching for a school
• Compulsory education and qualification
• Appropriate education and special education
• Central government | Education Inspectorate
• Annual Report on Compulsory Education-RMC 2022-2023 (pdf)