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
