The school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia for 2024-2025 are planned so that there are a total of six vacation periods for students during the school year. The school year starts on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, with various holidays at regular intervals throughout the year.
The fall break will be in October, Christmas break in late December and early January, Easter break in April, Pentecost break in early June, and summer break from mid-July to late August. These holidays allow students to rest and spend time with their families, while being better prepared for the school term. Let’s take a look at the table below for details.
School system in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
The education system of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is in line with the general structure of Germany, but with some unique features. Gesamtschule, or unified schools, are common in NRW and delay the decision of which educational path students will follow after primary school. This allows students to receive a more flexible education according to their abilities and interests.
Gesamtschulen offer the full range of degrees offered at Gymnasium, Realschule and Hauptschule and are usually full-day schools. However, the Gymnasium is still considered the most prestigious type of school and remains the primary choice for students with high academic achievement.
Vocational training in NRW is extensive and widespread. This is due to the state’s strong industrial infrastructure and close cooperation with local businesses. Vocational schools, which are available during the school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, allow students to consolidate their theoretical knowledge with practical experience, which better prepares young people for the world of work.
Investments in digital education are another striking feature of NRW. The state attaches great importance to the development of digital learning tools and technological infrastructure in schools. These investments ensure that students are better prepared for the modern world and equipped with digital skills. In this regard, NRW is one of the leading states in Germany and ranks high in terms of investments.
NRW also plays a leading role in early language education. It offers compulsory English from primary school onwards and some schools offer a second foreign language as an option. This systematic and comprehensive approach is also found in some other German states, but is more widespread and effective in NRW. Even small villages and settlements have equal access to these language learning opportunities.
The education system in North Rhine-Westphalia is distinguished from other German states by its integrated education structure, strong vocational training partnerships, investments in digital education and early language education. These features enrich the state’s education system and increase students’ academic and professional success.
Activities during the school holidays
The school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia can be spent with various school and municipal support activities for students. The Adventure School in Düsseldorf offers free workshops on environmental and sustainability topics during the summer holidays and includes STEM, arts and crafts courses. In addition, the International School of Düsseldorf (ISD) in Düsseldorf organizes paid summer camps for students during the summer holidays.
Cologne International School in Cologne offers paid STEM workshops, sports activities and art courses during the summer holidays.
In Bonn and Essen there are also various summer programs organized by the municipality. Free and low-cost activities such as summer camps, sports events and cultural workshops are offered.
