Holiday Law in Denmark 2026: Your Complete Guide to Ferieloven

Denmark offers some of the most generous holiday entitlements in the world: 5 weeks of paid annual leave, a simultaneous accrual system, feriepenge calculated at 12.5%, and — for many workers — additional feriefridage that bring total time off to 6 weeks. But the rules can be surprisingly complex, especially for newcomers. This guide explains everything about Danish holiday law (Ferieloven) in 2026, including how holiday pay works, what happens when you get sick on holiday, and how to handle your entitlements when changing jobs.

For a broader view of your rights, see our employee rights guide. If you are new to Denmark, start with our working in Denmark guide.

The basics: 5 weeks of paid holiday

Under the Danish Holiday Act (Ferieloven), every employee — regardless of whether you are full-time, part-time, temporary, or permanent — earns 25 days (5 weeks) of paid holiday per year. You accrue 2.08 days of holiday for each month of employment.

The holiday year

Since Denmark moved to simultaneous accrual (samtidighedsferie) on 1 September 2020, the system works as follows:

• Accrual period: 1 September to 31 August
• Holiday year: 1 September to 31 December of the following year (16 months to use earned days)
• Key principle: You earn and can use holiday in the same period — no more waiting a full year before taking days off

Example: Holiday earned during September 2025 – August 2026 can be used from September 2025 all the way through December 2026.

Mandatory main holiday

Employees are entitled to take at least 3 consecutive weeks (15 days) of holiday during the main holiday period from 1 May to 30 September. Your employer can require you to take this main holiday during this window, and must give at least 3 months' notice. The remaining 2 weeks can be taken at any time during the holiday year with at least 1 month's notice from the employer.

How feriepenge (holiday pay) works

How you receive holiday pay depends on your employment type.

Salaried employees (funktionærer)

If you are covered by the Salaried Employees Act (funktionærloven), you typically:

• Receive your normal salary during holiday
• Get a ferietillæg (holiday supplement) of 1% of your annual salary, usually paid out in April or May
• Do not interact with FerieKonto — your employer handles everything through normal payroll

Hourly workers and non-funktionærer

If you are not covered by funktionærloven:

• Your employer deposits 12.5% of your gross salary into a holiday fund — either FerieKonto (the public fund) or a private employer-approved fund
• You draw from this fund when you take holiday
• The 12.5% covers both the holiday pay (equivalent to normal salary) and the holiday supplement

FerieKonto: How it works

FerieKonto (borger.dk/feriekonto) is the public holiday fund. Your employer reports and pays your holiday allowance to FerieKonto. When you take holiday, you request payment through borger.dk or the FerieKonto app. Money is transferred within 1-2 business days. You can check your balance at any time on borger.dk with your MitID.

Feriefridage: The extra days

Feriefridage (special holiday days) are not part of the Holiday Act. They are additional days off negotiated through collective agreements or individual contracts.

• Most collective agreements provide 5 feriefridage per year, bringing total annual leave to 30 days (6 weeks)
• They follow different rules than statutory holiday — typically, unused feriefridage are paid out at year-end rather than forfeited
• Feriefridage accrue differently: usually you get the full 5 days from your start date (pro-rated if you start mid-year)
• If your employment is not covered by a collective agreement, check your individual contract — feriefridage are not automatic

For more on collective agreements, see our working hours guide.

Public holidays in Denmark 2026

Denmark has relatively few public holidays compared to many European countries. Public holidays are separate from your holiday entitlement — you do not use holiday days on these dates.

*Store bededag was abolished as a public holiday from 2026. Many collective agreements now compensate employees for the lost day, either with extra pay or an additional feriefridag.

Note: Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year's Eve (31 December) are not official public holidays, though most workplaces close early or give the day off.

Transferring unused holiday days

The default rule is that holiday must be used within the holiday year. However, there are exceptions.

The 5th week transfer

The 5th week of holiday (days 21-25) can be transferred to the next holiday year by written agreement between you and your employer. This agreement must be made before 31 December of the holiday year. The first 4 weeks (20 days) cannot normally be transferred.

Automatic transfer due to barriers

If you were prevented from taking holiday due to legally protected reasons, the days transfer automatically:

• Illness or injury
• Maternity/paternity leave (barselsorlov)
• Adoption leave
• Other valid leave of absence

Payout of unused days

If the 5th week is not transferred and not used, it is typically paid out. For the first 4 weeks, unused days are deposited into Arbejdsmarkedets Feriefond (the labour market holiday fund) — you lose them. This is a strong incentive to use your holiday.

Illness during holiday

Denmark has specific rules for employees who become ill during their holiday period.

Requirements to reclaim sick days

1. Notify your employer on the first day of illness, even though you are on holiday
2. Obtain a doctor's note (lægeerklæring) from the first day of illness — at your own expense
3. The illness must not be self-inflicted

The 5-day deductible rule

There is a karensperiode (waiting period) of 5 sick days per holiday year. This means you absorb the first 5 sick days that fall during holiday before you can reclaim any. After that, additional sick days during holiday can be rescheduled.

Example: If you are sick for 8 days during holiday in one holiday year, you lose the first 5 days but can reschedule the remaining 3 days to a later date.

Leaving a job: Holiday pay settlement

When you leave a job, your accrued but unused holiday entitlement follows you.

• Salaried employees: Your employer calculates and pays out 12.5% of your salary for any unused holiday days into FerieKonto or your new employer's holiday fund
• Hourly workers: Your balance in FerieKonto remains available — you draw from it when you take holiday at your new job or during unemployment
• Feriefridage: Typically paid out upon termination (check your collective agreement)
• Notice period: Your employer can require you to take remaining holiday during your notice period, subject to the normal notice rules (3 months for main holiday, 1 month for remaining days)

Read more about termination rules in our employee rights guide.

Expat tips: Holiday law for internationals

If you have recently arrived in Denmark, here are key things to keep in mind.

Starting a new job mid-year

Under simultaneous accrual, you start earning holiday from your first day. After 1 month, you have 2.08 days available. You do not need to wait 12 months. If you had holiday entitlement from another EU country, it does not transfer to Denmark — you start fresh.

Holiday in the first year

If you start mid-year, you may not have accrued enough days for a full 3-week summer holiday. You can:

• Take unpaid leave (ferie uden løn) to bridge the gap
• Take holiday in advance (forskudsferie) if your employer agrees
• Plan a shorter holiday and save days for later

Understanding your payslip

Your payslip shows your holiday accrual. Look for "ferietimer" (holiday hours) or "feriedage" (holiday days). If you do not understand your payslip, consult our payslip guide.

When leaving Denmark

If you leave Denmark permanently, you can request payout of all accrued holiday pay from FerieKonto. Contact FerieKonto directly or apply through borger.dk. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How many weeks of holiday do you get in Denmark?

All employees earn 5 weeks (25 days) of paid holiday per year under the Holiday Act, accruing 2.08 days per month. Many collective agreements add 5 feriefridage, bringing the total to 6 weeks. The holiday year runs from 1 September to 31 August with a usage period extending to 31 December.

What is feriepenge and how is it calculated?

Feriepenge is your holiday pay. Salaried employees receive normal salary during holiday plus a 1% ferietillæg (holiday supplement). Hourly workers have 12.5% of gross salary deposited into FerieKonto, which they draw from when taking holiday.

What happens if I get sick during my holiday?

You can reclaim sick days if you notify your employer on the first day, provide a doctor's note from day one (at your own cost), and the illness is not self-inflicted. However, there is a 5-day deductible per holiday year — you absorb the first 5 sick days before reclaiming any.

Can I transfer unused holiday days to the next year?

The 5th week (days 21-25) can be transferred by written agreement before 31 December. The first 4 weeks must generally be used within the holiday year. Days unused due to illness or maternity leave transfer automatically.

What are feriefridage and do all workers get them?

Feriefridage are extra days off beyond the 25 statutory days, negotiated through collective agreements or individual contracts. Most agreements provide 5 extra days. They are not automatic — if not in your contract or agreement, you do not have them. Unused feriefridage are typically paid out rather than forfeited.

Conclusion

Denmark's holiday system is designed to ensure every worker gets genuine time off — not just on paper, but in practice. The simultaneous accrual model means you do not have to wait months before taking a well-deserved break, and the 12.5% feriepenge system ensures hourly workers are financially supported during holidays just as salaried employees are.

The key is to understand your entitlements, plan your holiday proactively, and know the rules around illness, transfer, and termination. Whether you are a seasoned Danish employee or just starting your first job in Denmark, knowing Ferieloven puts you in control of your time off.