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Boating in Germany

European school holidays 2025-2026 calendar

The Le Boat Team, Jul 22, 2025

Planning a boating holiday around the school holidays or choosing quieter times can help you get the best deals and avoid the most crowded periods at popular European destinations. By aligning your travel plans with key dates from September 2025 to September 2026, you can ensure everyone in the family can join in, making it a memorable trip for all. 

Whether you’re looking at UK 2025 holidays or planning for a holiday in the UK 2026, this guide will help you identify the best times to go on holiday by showing you when popular tourist areas might be the busiest.  

Our detailed school holiday calendar includes all school breaks for major European countries such as France, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, helping you plan your perfect getaway.

You can also discover our top boating recommendations for family fun or find Inspiration for your canal boat hire with a wide range of experiences from exploring serene waterways to enjoying exquisite countryside backdrops and engaging in exciting activities..

In this article: 

European School Holidays 2025-2026 calendar

Autumn school holidays 2025 calendar

Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school holiday zones at the bottom of the article.

Dates France UK Germany Netherlands Belgium Ireland, Italy, Spain
Week from 01/09 to 07/09 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein Spain, Italy
Week from 08/09 to 14/09 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Lower Saxony Italy
Week from 15/09 to 21/09
Week from 22/09 to 28/09
Week from 29/09 to 05/10 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2nd Oct.)
Week from 06/10 to 12/10 Hesse, Saxony, Thuringia
Week from 13/10 to 19/10 Scotland Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia South
Week from 20/10 to 26/10 All zones Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (20th and 25th Oct.), Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein North and Central regions Wallonia
Week from 27/10 to 02/11 All zones England, Wales, Northern Ireland: 30 & 31 October Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein Wallonia, Flanders Ireland
Week from 03/11 to 09/11 Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (3rd Nov.)
Week from 10/11 to 16/11
Week from 17/11 to 23/11 Bavaria (19th Nov.)

Week from 24/11 to 30/11

Week from 01/12 to 07/12

Winter school holiday dates 2025 – 2026

Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school holiday zones at the bottom of the article.

Dates France UK Germany Netherlands Belgium Ireland, Italy, Spain
Week from 08/12 to 14/12
Week from 15/12 to 21/12 Hamburg (starts 17th Dec)
Week from 22/12 to 28/12 All zones England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland All Bundesländer All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 29/12 to 04/01 All zones England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland All Bundesländer All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy

Week from 05/01 to 11/01

Hesse (ends 10th Jan), Rhineland-Palatinate (ends 7th Jan)
Week from 12/01 to 18/01
Week from 19/01 to 25/01
Week from 26/01 to 01/02
Week from 02/02 to 08/02 Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein (2nd-3rd Feb.)
Week from 09/02 to 15/02 Zone B Northern Ireland 12 & 13 February Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony
Week from 16/02 to 22/02 Zones B & C England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saarland, Saxony, Thuringia South & Central regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Italy
Week from 23/02 to 01/03 Zones C & A North region Wallonia
Week from 02/03 to 08/03 Zone A
Week from 09/03 to 15/03

Spring school holiday dates 2026

Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school holiday zones at the bottom of the article.

Dates France UK Germany Netherlands Belgium Ireland, Italy, Spain
Week from 16/03 to 22/03

Week from 23/03 to 29/03

Bremen, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein (starts 26th March)
Week from 30/03 to 05/04 England, Wales, Scotland from 03/04, Northern Ireland from 02/04 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony (3rd April), Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 06/04 to 12/04 Zone B England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony (ends 10th April), Schleswig-Holstein (ends 10th April), Thuringia Flanders Ireland, Spain
Week from 13/04 to 19/04 Zones
B & C
Scotland (until Monday 20/04 included) Saarland, Saxony (15th April), Thuringia Flanders
Week from 20/04 to 26/04 Zones C & A
Week from 27/04 to 03/05 Zone A All regions Wallonia
Week from 04/05 to 10/05 Wallonia Ireland
Week from 11/05 to 17/05 Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (15th May), Lower Saxony (15th May), Schleswig-Holstein (15th May), Thuringia (15th May)
Week from 18/05 to 24/05 Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (22nd May)
Week from 25/05 to 31/05 England, Wales Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (26th May), Lower Saxony (26th May), North Rhine-Westphalia (26th May), Saxony-Anhalt Ireland
Week from 01/06 to 07/06 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria Flanders
Week from 08/06 to 14/06 Wallonia, Flanders Italy

Summer school holiday dates 2026

Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school holiday zones at the bottom of the article.

Dates France UK Germany Netherlands Belgium Ireland, Italy, Spain
Week from 15/06 to 21/06 Wallonia, Flanders Italy
Week from 22/06 to 28/06 Wallonia, Flanders Spain, Italy
Week from 29/06 to 05/07 Scotland, Northern Ireland from 01/07 Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony (from 2nd July), Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 06/07 to 12/07 All zones Scotland, Northern Ireland Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia North region Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 13/07 to 19/07 All zones Scotland, Northern Ireland Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia North & South regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 20/07 to 26/07 All zones England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 27/07 to 02/08 All zones England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 03/08 to 09/08 All zones England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 10/08 to 16/08 All zones England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia All regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 17/08 to 23/08 All zones England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg (until 19th August), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia Central & South regions Wallonia, Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 24/08 to 30/08 All zones England, Wales, Northern Ireland Baden-Württemberg, BavariaNorth Rhine-Westphalia Central region Flanders Ireland, Spain, Italy
Week from 31/08 to 06/09 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia (ends 1st Sept.) Ireland
Week from 07/09 to 13/09 Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria

Ideal boating season times in Europe

Period Ideal Destinations Why is this the perfect timing?
Spring break
  • Early boating before peak season
  • scenic nature views
Summer break
  • Long trips
  • Warm weather
  • Outdoor activities
Autumn half-term
  • Peaceful getaways
  • Cooler weather
  • Exploring historic sites

European holiday highlights

Holidays Date Destination Activities
Good Friday and Easter Monday 3rd April & 6th April 2026 Thames River, UK
  • Historic sites
  • Scenic walks
  • Traditional pubs
Labor Day (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) 1st May 2026 Brittany, France
  • Crepes and cider
  • Seafood feasts
  • Medieval villages
King’s Day (Netherlands) 27th April 2026 Amsterdam Canals, Netherlands
  • City-wide celebrations
  • Museums
  • Cafes
Bastille Day (France) 14th July 2026 Canal du Midi, France
  • Local festivities
  • Fireworks
  • Historical tours

To make the most of your boating holiday, it’s a great idea to plan around key dates, such as UK holidays in 2025 and 2026. This way, you can avoid the busiest travel times and enjoy a more relaxing experience. With Le Boat, you can have an unforgettable holiday on the water while also taking advantage of school and public holidays. 

Tips for planning your European boating holiday

Discover useful information to help you prepare for your boating holiday with our travel checklist

By following these tips and planning around key holiday dates, you can ensure a fantastic boating experience with Le Boat.

Ready to book your your European boating holiday?

Book a boating holiday with Le Boat today, and let us help you create the perfect holiday experience. 

You can also find out more information on the kind of boating adventure that awaits you in our boating holidays for beginners video.

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