Half-term school holidays are upon us. Families from all over Europe are already descending on the mountains for their ski holidays and soon tourist spots throughout the country will be filled with happy holidaymakers making the most of their winter break. With roads becoming noticeably busier every weekend throughout February and accommodation prices rising accordingly, here is a short guide to European half-term dates, so you can deftly miss the crowds (or prepare for the onslaught).
With travel restrictions now much less-restricted, the road-train of British tourists driving from Calais to the Alps is anticipated in its full glory. British half-term dates are generally decided according to the country you live in, with general time off being as follows: England 14st – 18th February, Wales 21st – 25th February, Scotland 11th to 15th February and Northern Ireland only having two days off (17th & 18th February).
France is split into three zones, with each one having a two-week half-term. Zone A (which includes Bordeaux, Dijon and Grenoble) are off between 13th and 27th February. Zone B (inc. Marseille, Nice, Lille, Reims) enjoy 6th to 20th February. Whilst Zone C (Paris, Montpellier) has the late showing, between 20th February and 6th March. Obviously some of these zones overlap, making French holidaymaking more prevalent between 13th and 27th February.
The Netherlands kids enjoy one week of half term, with the North of the country taking 19th to 27th February off and the South/Central areas 26th February to 6th March.
Whilst there are slight variations according to language zone, young Belgians are generally on holiday between 28th February and 4th March.
Germany is the most unpredictable country in terms of half-term holidays. Each German state decides its own holiday schedule and, depending where they live, Germans have anything from 3 whole weeks to no time whatsoever during the traditional half-term period. Broadly-speaking, German half-term holidays start as early as 31st January and finish as late as 26th February.
So next time you see a convoy of red-lettered Belgian numberplates heading south along the Autoroute or are sat on a ski-lift with a group of Dutch-speaking snowboarders, you will know why. Just spare a thought for the children of Baden-Wurttemberg, Schleswig-Holstein or North Rhine-Westphalia as they toil unremittingly until Easter…
To keep ahead of traffic trends in France, the official government bison fute calendar gives a good indication of predictable busy times on the roads
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