Skip to content
Skip to content

Public holidays in Europe 2025 – How to plan transport without hitting a dead end?

Planning international transport isn’t just about kilometers, tonnage, or freight rates. It’s also – or even primarily – about knowing your consignee’s calendar. In 2025, Europe (including key destinations for Polish exports such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) have many national public holidays. Each of them can mean delays, missed deliveries, or unexpected downtime.

For carriers and freight forwarders, it all comes down to one thing: knowing when not to drive, or even better, when not to plan delivery at all.

Why do public holidays matter in logistics?
On holidays, in most European countries:
Warehouses are closed or operating on reduced hours,

Standard delivery windows may not apply,

Driving bans for trucks are in force,

Administration offices are closed – you can’t issue documents, register transport, or submit complaints.

Many companies also use “bridge days” – turning a holiday into a long weekend. That means even if it’s not a public holiday, nobody’s working anyway.

When not to plan a delivery?
Key public holidays in Europe in 2025
Some dates should immediately trigger a warning light when planning international deliveries. On these days, logistics stops, warehouses are closed, and truck traffic may be restricted.

🇩🇪 Germany

April 18 – Good Friday (Karfreitag)

April 21 – Easter Monday

May 1 – Labour Day

May 29 – Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)

June 9 – Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)

October 3 – German Unity Day

December 25–26 – Christmas

🇫🇷 France

April 21 – Easter Monday

May 1 – Labour Day

May 8 – Victory in Europe Day

May 29 – Ascension Day

June 9 – Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)

July 14 – Bastille Day (National Day)

August 15 – Assumption of Mary

November 1 – All Saints’ Day

November 11 – Armistice Day (WWI)

December 25 – Christmas

🇮🇹 Italy

April 25 – Liberation Day

May 1 – Labour Day

June 2 – Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica)

August 15 – Assumption of Mary (Ferragosto)

December 8 – Immaculate Conception

December 25–26 – Christmas

🇳🇱 Netherlands

April 27 – King’s Day (Koningsdag)

May 5 – Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) – observed every 5 years (2025 included)

May 29 – Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)

June 9 – Whit Monday (Tweede Pinksterdag)

December 25 – Christmas

🇧🇪 Belgium

April 21 – Easter Monday

May 1 – Labour Day

May 29 – Ascension Day (Onze-Lieve-Heer Hemelvaart)

June 9 – Whit Monday (Pinkstermaandag)

July 21 – Belgian National Day

August 15 – Assumption of Mary

November 1 – All Saints’ Day

November 11 – Armistice Day (Wapenstilstand)

December 25 – Christmas

🇪🇸 Spain (nationwide holidays – regional ones may vary)

April 18 – Good Friday (Viernes Santo)

May 1 – Labour Day

August 15 – Assumption of Mary (Asunción de la Virgen)

October 12 – National Day of Spain (Fiesta Nacional de España)

November 1 – All Saints’ Day

December 6 – Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución)

December 8 – Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción)

December 25 – Christmas

🇦🇹 Austria

April 21 – Easter Monday

May 1 – Labour Day

May 29 – Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)

June 9 – Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)

August 15 – Assumption of Mary

October 26 – Austrian National Day

November 1 – All Saints’ Day

December 8 – Immaculate Conception

December 25–26 – Christmas

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (England & Wales)

April 21 – Easter Monday

May 5 – Early May Bank Holiday

May 26 – Spring Bank Holiday

August 25 – Summer Bank Holiday

December 25 – Christmas

December 26 – Boxing Day

Common planning mistakes to avoid:

❌ Scheduling deliveries on public holidays – no one will be there to receive them

❌ Sending goods without confirming warehouse availability – delays or rejection guaranteed

❌ Ignoring truck bans – risk of fines and downtime

❌ Overloading the calendar for the day after a holiday – traffic jams at the ramp included

What should transport and freight companies implement?

✅ Holiday calendars integrated into your TMS

✅ Alerts for clients and drivers about upcoming public holidays

✅ Early communication with consignees – confirm warehouse availability

✅ Time buffers – especially for exports to countries with frequent long weekends

✅ Continuous monitoring of truck driving bans – especially in countries like Germany and Austria

Public holidays across Europe directly impact delivery times and supply chain efficiency. Ignoring them can cost more than time – it can cost money, contracts, and trust.

Today, planning and being aware of local specifics isn’t optional – it’s essential.

If you want your goods to arrive on time, you also need to know when not to drive.

Need a logistics partner who knows the European calendar better than Google?

Get in touch: offer@exportsy.pl

karteczka na tablicy korkowej

Ostatnie posty

© 2025 Exportsy