Assistance, vacation reporting

You may go on vacation several times a year. How long you may vacation depends on your age.

• Younger than AOW age: you are allowed a total of 4 weeks of vacation per year.
• AOW age or older: you are allowed a total of 13 weeks of vacation per year.

If you spend longer on vacation, the municipality will stop your benefits. This happens on the first day you went over the maximum number of days.

To report your vacation or other stay abroad, you can pick up the “Stay Abroad” form at the front desk of the Burgerplein in Kerkrade (Markt 33). You must fill out and sign one form per person and submit it in person at the Burgerplein front desk. Please bring your ID.   

Report your vacation to the municipality in advance. If you do not, the municipality will give you a warning or fine.

Report to the municipality as soon as possible that you have returned from vacation.

Employment exemption

If you are exempt from the obligation to work, you do not have to report that you are going on vacation in the Netherlands. Exemption from the obligation to work means that you do not have to do the following:

• Finding and hiring work.
• Accept an offer from the municipality that will get you back to work.
• Participate in an examination of your employment opportunities.
• Registering with the UWV.
• Volunteering.

If you do have to do one or more of these activities, you do not have an exemption from the obligation to work and you must simply report your vacation in the Netherlands to the municipality.