Vacation Time for Kids Across Borders
Initial Regions Commence Celebrations during Major Festivities
Summer's here, and it's time for a break! The first federal states are kicking off their holidays, with schoolkids in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia leading the charge. Meanwhile, ADAC expects a surge in highway traffic as vacationers from various European countries hit the roads and popular travel destinations.
With around 1,200 roadworks on German highways potentially causing delays, it's going to be a hectic road trip for many. North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous federal state, will embark on its summer holidays on July 11, with traffic expected to be heavy.
Holiday Dates Galore!
Bavaria will be the last federal state to take a break, setting off on August 1. Between August 1 and 10, students from across Germany will be enjoying their vacation, with the new school year 2025/26 getting underway on August 11. The varied holiday start dates in Germany have been a tradition for quite some time now, and this year, there are a whopping eight different ones!
Miles Apart in Holidays
Different school calendars and holiday schedules contribute to this variation. For instance, Bavaria (not just 2022, but the general pattern holds) often starts its summer holidays in late July and concludes them in early September[2]. Other holidays like Ascension, Pentecost, and Christmas also show regional differences in Germany.
When it comes to neighboring countries like France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands, the story remains much the same. They, too, set their own school calendars with varying holiday start dates, creating a difference compared to Germany's system. For example, countries like France tend to have spring and autumn breaks, plus a summer holiday, with the exact weeks varying each year and by region. Switzerland's school holidays, like Germany's, are determined by the canton.
A Whole New Vacation Adventure Every Year
So there you have it! The decentralized nature of Germany's school calendars and the regional variations in neighboring countries ensure no uniform holiday start across borders. German summer holidays usually start in late July or early August, while neighboring countries might begin theirs earlier or later depending on the region.
Alas, a precise list of 2022 holiday start dates for all German states and neighboring countries was not found in the search results. But the differences are all in the decentralized system! Antonia, gonna pack my bag and hit the road; who knows when my friends might finally join me on our holiday adventure!
Upon embarking on their summer vacation, some children may find themselves exploring new travel destinations while also experiencing various weather conditions, given the diverse holiday schedules across European countries.
Having knowledge of these regional differences, one could plan a lifestyle that embraces the charm of multicultural vacations, anticipating a new adventure each year among friends from different countries.
