Dutch autumn break 2026: when is it and where should you go?
The dates per region, and nine destinations that are genuinely worth it from the Netherlands in those two weeks. With an indicative price, flight time and the temperature you can expect in October.
Plan your trip to Malta: flight, hotel and total price in one go
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Short answer: the 2026 autumn break runs from 10 to 18 October in the northern region and from 17 to 25 October in the central and southern regions. If you still want to swim, Cyprus (25 to 33 degrees), Crete and Rhodes (24 to 29 degrees), Malta (22 to 28 degrees) and Hurghada (25 to 30 degrees) are the best options from the Netherlands. For a city break, October is the single best month of the year for Rome, Budapest and Lisbon.
When is the Dutch autumn break in 2026?
| Region | Autumn break 2026 | Length |
|---|---|---|
| North | 10 to 18 October 2026 | 9 days, 2 weekends |
| Central | 17 to 25 October 2026 | 9 days, 2 weekends |
| South | 17 to 25 October 2026 | 9 days, 2 weekends |
These are the advisory dates from the Dutch Ministry of Education. Individual schools may deviate, so always check the school guide. Source: Rijksoverheid. Worth noting this year: central and south fall in exactly the same week, and the north goes a week earlier, so families in the north travel in the cheaper week.
Crete, Greece
Route from the Netherlands: direct flight from Eindhoven to Heraklion, around 3 hours 30. Return from 120 euro.
What it costs: studio or room from 25 euro per night, mid-range hotel 60 to 110 euro. Budget 450 to 600 euro per person for a week including flights.
Why in the autumn break: September into October gives 24 to 28 degrees and a sea still warm from the summer. The island is big enough to have plenty to do on a grey day too: Knossos, the old town of Chania and the Samaria gorge.
See Crete with live pricesRhodes, Greece
Route from the Netherlands: direct flight from Eindhoven, return from 130 euro.
What it costs: studio from 25 euro per night, mid-range hotel 60 to 110 euro.
Why in the autumn break: May, June and September into October are the best months with 24 to 29 degrees, a warm sea and far fewer people than in July and August. The medieval walled town is a lot more pleasant at 25 degrees than at 35.
See Rhodes with live pricesPaphos, Cyprus
Route from the Netherlands: direct flight from Schiphol, return from 120 euro.
What it costs: apartment from 45 euro per night, mid-range hotel 70 to 130 euro.
Why in the autumn break: May to November is high season with 25 to 33 degrees and a sea that stays warm into October. Cyprus is one of the few places within five hours of the Netherlands where you still spend the whole day in shorts.
See Paphos with live pricesMalta
Route from the Netherlands: direct flight from Eindhoven, return from 55 euro, the cheapest flight on this list.
What it costs: hostel from 18 euro per night, mid-range hotel 60 to 130 euro.
Why in the autumn break: April to June and September to November are ideal with 22 to 28 degrees and a sea that stays around 24 degrees into October. Sun and city in one: Valletta, the Blue Grotto and Gozo all fit into nine days.
See Malta with live pricesTenerife, Canary Islands
Route from the Netherlands: direct from Eindhoven and Schiphol in about 4.5 hours, return from 100 euro.
What it costs: hostel from 25 euro per night, mid-range hotel 70 to 130 euro. A week from around 540 euro per person.
Why in the autumn break: the Canaries have a stable climate year round, so you are not gambling on the weather. With Mount Teide, the laurel forests in the north and the beaches in the south there is plenty to do even on a cloudy day.
See Tenerife with live pricesHurghada, Egypt
Route from the Netherlands: direct from Eindhoven and Schiphol in about 5 hours, return from 190 euro.
What it costs: budget hotel from 25 euro per night, resort 50 to 90 euro. Seven days from around 450 euro per person.
Why in the autumn break: October to November and March to May are the most pleasant months with 25 to 30 degrees and a warm sea, ideal for snorkelling or diving. Summer is simply too hot there, and the autumn break lands exactly right.
See Hurghada with live pricesRome, Italy
Route from the Netherlands: direct flights from Schiphol and Eindhoven, return from 80 euro.
What it costs: hostel from 15 euro per night, mid-range hotel 60 to 150 euro.
Why in the autumn break: October is the best month of the year for Rome: 17 degrees on average, up to 27, only 9 rainy days and 30 to 40 percent fewer tourists than at the summer peak. Seeing the Colosseum without an hour queueing in the sun is exactly the difference.
See Rome with live pricesBudapest, Hungary
Route from the Netherlands: Wizz Air flies direct from Eindhoven to Budapest in 1 hour 55, return from 60 euro.
What it costs: hostel from 12 euro per night, mid-range hotel 50 to 80 euro. The cheapest city break on this list.
Why in the autumn break: April to June and September to October are ideal with 18 to 25 degrees, quieter than the summer peak, and the thermal baths are at their best when the air is cooler.
See Budapest with live pricesLisbon, Portugal
Route from the Netherlands: Ryanair and Transavia fly direct from Eindhoven to Lisbon in about 3 hours, return from 60 euro.
What it costs: hostel from 18 euro per night, mid-range hotel 60 to 150 euro.
Why in the autumn break: April to June and September to October are ideal with pleasant temperatures around 20 to 25 degrees, fewer crowds and lower prices than at the summer peak. Warm enough for an afternoon on the coast at Cascais.
See Lisbon with live pricesCheapTrips compares live flight and hotel prices for all of these destinations. Enter your departure airport and your autumn break week and you will see straight away what the trip really costs.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the Dutch autumn break in 2026?
The 2026 autumn break runs from 10 to 18 October in the northern region and from 17 to 25 October in the central and southern regions. These are the advisory dates from the Dutch Ministry of Education; schools may deviate, so check the school guide.
Which school holiday region am I in?
The northern region covers roughly Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland and the north of Gelderland. The central region includes Utrecht, North Holland and parts of Gelderland and South Holland. The southern region covers Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg and the south of Gelderland and South Holland. The official breakdown is published on rijksoverheid.nl.
Where is it still warm enough to swim during the autumn break?
Cyprus is the warmest option within five hours of flying, at 25 to 33 degrees with a sea that stays warm into October. Crete and Rhodes sit at 24 to 29 degrees, Malta at 22 to 28 degrees with sea temperatures around 24 degrees, and Hurghada at 25 to 30 degrees.
Is travelling during the autumn break more expensive?
Yes, demand peaks in those two weeks and that shows in flight and hotel prices. Two things genuinely help: if you live in the northern region you travel a week before the rest of the country, which is noticeably cheaper. And a destination outside the obvious top choices, such as Malta or Budapest, stays affordable even in the holiday weeks.
When is the best time to book for the autumn break?
For the autumn break, six to ten weeks ahead is usually the sweet spot. Leave it to the final weeks and the direct flights from Eindhoven and Schiphol on the popular days are the first to sell out.