# Setting up public holidays and leave types

Operational guides · Updated: 2026-02-07 · Bas Software
Web version: https://www.bas.software/en/onboarding/operational-guides/setting-up-public-holidays-and-leave-types

Set up public holidays per region (NL or BE), configure leave types and learn how leave requests work. The basics of leave registration in Bas.

This article explains how to set up public holidays and leave types in Bas. These are the first steps for HR.

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## Step 1 - Checking public holidays per region

Bas comes with Dutch public holidays set up by default. Check that these are correct and adjust them where needed - especially if you operate in Belgium.

Go to **Settings** > **HR** > **Public holidays**.

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## Step 2 - Dutch public holidays (default)

| Public holiday | Date | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Fixed date |
| Good Friday | Variable | Not a day off everywhere, check your CLA |
| Easter Monday | Variable | -- |
| King's Day | 27 April | Fixed date (moves to 26 April if 27 April falls on a Sunday) |
| Liberation Day | 5 May | A day off once every 5 years (lustrum year), check your CLA |
| Ascension Day | Variable | -- |
| Whit Monday | Variable | -- |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Fixed date |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Fixed date |

Tip: Set up public holidays per region so the work schedule automatically takes them into account. In the Netherlands, you can also show school holidays per region (North, Central, South) in the schedule. Useful for anticipating busy periods before and after holidays.

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## Step 3 - Belgian public holidays

If you operate in Belgium, you'll need to adjust the public holidays. Belgium has a different set:

| Belgium | Date |
| --- | --- |
| New Year's Day | 1 January |
| Labour Day | 1 May |
| Flemish Community Holiday | 11 July |
| National Day | 21 July |
| Assumption of Mary | 15 August |
| All Saints' Day | 1 November |
| Armistice Day | 11 November |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |

And in addition, the variable public holidays: Easter Monday, Ascension Day and Whit Monday.

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## Step 4 - Reviewing leave types

Bas comes with a number of standard leave types. You can turn them on or off based on what's relevant for your company.

Go to **Settings** > **HR** > **Leave types**.

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## Step 5 - Standard leave types

| Leave type | Explanation | On by default? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Holiday** | Regular holiday leave based on contracted hours | Yes |
| **Special leave** | Leave for special circumstances (marriage, bereavement, moving house) | Yes |
| **Sick leave** | Registering sickness reports | Yes |
| **Unpaid leave** | Leave without continued pay | Yes |
| **Parental leave** | Statutory parental leave | No |

Tip: Start simple. Only turn on the leave types you actually use. Most companies get by with holiday, special leave and sick leave. Expand later if needed.

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## Step 6 - How does leave registration work?

The employee submits a leave request (via the app or through the office). The manager approves or rejects the request. If approved, the employee is automatically **removed from the schedule** for that day (or days). The leave balance is updated.

This is the flow: 1. Employee requests leave 2. Manager approves or rejects it 3. If approved: automatically removed from the schedule 4. Leave balance is updated

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## Step 7 - Registering leave at the office

Leave can be registered either via the Bas Medewerker app or via the back office.

For employees who don't use the app, you register their leave at the office. Go to the employee in the system. Choose **Register leave**. Enter the dates. Choose the leave type. Save.

The employee is automatically removed from the schedule for those days.

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## Step 8 - Sickness reporting

There are two ways to register sickness:

**Via the schedule**: the employee is removed from the schedule for that day. This is sufficient for day-to-day scheduling.

**Via the HR module**: the sickness report is formally registered with a start and end date. This is needed for your HR records.

Option 1 is sufficient for day-to-day scheduling. For your HR records, you'll want option 2.

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## Tips

- Set up public holidays per region (NL North, Central, South or BE)
- Only turn on leave types you actually use
- Leave can be registered via the app or through the office
- When approved, the employee is automatically removed from the schedule

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## Please note

- Dutch and Belgian public holidays differ
- Good Friday and Liberation Day are not a day off everywhere, check your CLA
- Start simple with holiday, special leave and sick leave
- Expand later with parental leave or other types

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**Next article:** [Understanding and setting up time tracking](https://www.bas.software/en/onboarding/operational-guides/understanding-and-setting-up-time-registration)