School calendar
Christmas holidays 2026: the dates, six calendars side by side
Six school calendars overlap across the area hoprat covers, and since the 2022 Belgian reform they no longer line up. Here they are side by side, with their official sources, checked on 20 September 2026.
The official dates
| School system | Local name | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium — French Community (Wallonia-Brussels)Official source | Vacances d'hiver | from 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Belgium — Flemish CommunityOfficial source | Kerstvakantie | from 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Netherlands — northern regionOfficial source | Kerstvakantie | from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Netherlands — central regionOfficial source | Kerstvakantie | from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Netherlands — southern regionOfficial source | Kerstvakantie | from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Germany — North Rhine-WestphaliaOfficial source | Weihnachtsferien | from 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 |
Week by week: how many people are off?
The number of school systems on holiday, week by week. It is the only crowding signal we can calculate: it does not say the price, it says how many families are free at the same time.
- Week of 14 December 2026 to 20 December 20263 systems on holidayNetherlands — northern region · Netherlands — central region · Netherlands — southern region
- Week of 21 December 2026 to 27 December 20266 systems on holidayBelgium — French Community (Wallonia-Brussels) · Belgium — Flemish Community · Netherlands — northern region · Netherlands — central region · Netherlands — southern region · Germany — North Rhine-Westphalia
- Week of 28 December 2026 to 3 January 20276 systems on holidayBelgium — French Community (Wallonia-Brussels) · Belgium — Flemish Community · Netherlands — northern region · Netherlands — central region · Netherlands — southern region · Germany — North Rhine-Westphalia
- Week of 4 January 2027 to 10 January 20271 system on holidayGermany — North Rhine-Westphalia
The quietest week is the one of 4 January 2027: 1 system(s) on holiday against 6 at the peak of the period.
The parks that hold up during the Christmas holidays
At this time of year what saves a stay happens indoors: we keep the parks whose indoor pool is confirmed in our data. Ranked for a departure from Brussels. The amounts are a hoprat estimate: The hoprat estimate is an order of magnitude we work out ourselves so that parks can be compared with one another (accommodation, 3 nights, 4 people). It is not a price offered by the operator: the real price depends on your dates and is checked on their own site.
- Landal Beach Resort Kamperland
Zeeland (Kamperland) · 🚗 1h 51m from Brussels
€289 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
- Landal Het Vennenbos
Brabant (Hapert) · 🚗 1h 36m from Brussels
€339 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
- Center Parcs Erperheide
Limburg (Peer) · 🚗 1h 24m from Brussels
€399 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
- Center Parcs Park Eifel
the Eifel (Gunderath) · 🚗 3h 12m from Brussels
€379 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
- Center Parcs De Kempervennen
Brabant (Westerhoven) · 🚗 1h 31m from Brussels
€399 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
- Center Parcs Limburgse Peel
Limburg (NL) (America) · 🚗 2h 17m from Brussels
€379 · lodging only, 3 nights for 4 people
Frequently asked questions
When are the Christmas holidays 2026?
It depends on the school system: 6 different calendars overlap across the area hoprat covers, and they do not line up. The table above gives the official dates for each one.
Why do the Belgian dates differ from one region to another?
The 2022 school-rhythm reform moved the holidays in the French Community but not in the Flemish Community. The two calendars no longer line up, and the same break can fall one to two weeks apart depending on which side of the language border you live.
Which week is the busiest?
Up to 6 school systems are on holiday in the same week. That is when demand peaks, and when you need to book earliest.
Do you give prices for the period?
No. Our estimates are calculated 3 nights, 4 people, not tied to dates, with no dates set: they do not change with the season, and we would rather say so than show a school-holiday price we have not recorded.
Do you give the weather for the period?
No. The forecast shown on park pages covers sixteen days; beyond that it would be a climate average we do not hold. This page selects on facilities, not on a forecast.