At the start of May, summer still seems far away. Yet many families are already planning their holidays now. For owners of a holiday home, this is the moment to set up summer 2026 properly. If you make the right choices now, you avoid gaps in the calendar in July or weeks that went too cheaply.
In this article, we set out the school holidays and go through the decisions you would do well to take this month.
The 2026 school holidays at a glance
Summer is not a two-month block with the same demand everywhere. Different groups of guests are on holiday at different times.
- Flanders: the summer holidays run from 1 July to 31 August 2026.
- Wallonia and Brussels: the last school day before the summer is Friday 3 July 2026. French-speaking families therefore leave from the first weekend of July.
- The Netherlands works with three regions. Region North is on holiday from 4 July to 16 August 2026. Region South from 11 July to 23 August. Region Central from 18 July to 30 August.
There are also fixed public holidays. 21 July 2026 falls on a Tuesday, 15 August 2026 on a Saturday.
What does this mean in practice? At the start of July, it is mainly Belgian families who go on holiday. From mid-July, the Dutch regions join them, and all groups overlap. At the end of August, part of the Dutch demand falls away, while Flemish families are free until 31 August. If your property attracts many Dutch guests, the weeks from mid-July to mid-August are your strongest period.
Early bookings or holding on to peak weeks
Every year, owners ask themselves the same question: do you accept early bookings, or wait for better prices? Both choices have advantages and disadvantages.
An early booking gives certainty. You know where you stand, and the guest has time to prepare. The risk is that you rent out a peak week at a price that later turns out to be too low.
Waiting gives a chance of a higher price, but also the risk of an empty week if demand disappoints.
A balanced approach usually works best:
- Set your prices for the peak weeks at a correct level now, based on demand in your region.
- Simply let bookings at that price come in. A well-priced early booking is not a loss.
- Keep an eye on your prices. If the calendar fills up faster than expected, raise the remaining weeks.
- If it goes more slowly, make small corrections in June rather than big discounts in July.
Minimum stay: a week or not
Many owners rent out only by the week in summer, from Saturday to Saturday. That makes planning simple: one changeover a week, one clean, less wear and tear.
Still, that does not suit every property. A family home on the coast lends itself well to weekly rentals. A flat in town or a small property for couples often rents better with shorter stays.
A few considerations:
- If you work with full weeks, choose a fixed changeover day that suits your target group. Dutch guests often leave on a Saturday.
- Outside the peak weeks, allow shorter stays, for example of three or four nights.
- Look a few weeks ahead for single gaps. If two or three nights remain open between two bookings, lower the minimum for that period.
- A flexible changeover day can help, but take the cleaning schedule into account.
Garden, terrace and beach gear
In summer, guests often choose a property based on its outdoor space. Make sure it is in order before the first summer guests arrive.
- Check garden furniture, parasols and cushions. Replace whatever is worn.
- Have the garden maintained: mow the lawn, trim the hedges, pull the weeds.
- Provide a working barbecue with instructions, and state the rules for its use.
- Think of outdoor lighting for summer evenings.
On the coast, small extras make a big difference. A few beach chairs, a windbreak, a cool box and toys for children are often mentioned in positive reviews. Keep them in a fixed place, so the cleaning team can quickly see whether everything is back.
Then update your photos. A sunny terrace or a laid table in the garden appeals more to summer guests than a photo of the living room in winter.
Planning changeovers: capacity for cleaning and linen
Summer brings many changeovers in a short time. On Saturdays in July and August, cleaning capacity is scarce in many coastal municipalities. So make arrangements now.
- Book the cleaning for all summer changeover days.
- Arrange a back-up in case of illness or unexpected busy periods.
- Provide enough sets of linen and towels, so you do not have to wait for the laundry.
- Keep a stock of basic products: toilet paper, washing-up liquid, bin bags, coffee.
A changeover that runs late leaves a guest standing at a closed door. That is a bad start to a holiday, and it often ends up in the review.
Keeping the property cool: air conditioning and fans
Hot days are no longer the exception in summer. A property that gets too warm inside leads to complaints. Bedrooms under the roof in particular quickly become unbearable.
A few measures:
- Provide a fan in every bedroom. That is a small cost with a big effect.
- Hang blackout curtains or roller shutters, especially in rooms on the sunny side.
- Explain in your welcome guide how guests can keep the property cool: windows closed during the day, open in the evening.
- If you are considering air conditioning, have a professional advise you on the right unit and the installation.
State honestly in your listing what the property offers. A guest who knows there are fans and no air conditioning is less likely to be disappointed.
A plan for the coming weeks
If you want to get summer 2026 off to a good start, this is a manageable order:
- Check your prices per week today, taking the school holidays into account.
- Decide on your minimum stay and changeover day.
- Book the cleaning for all Saturdays in July and August.
- Update the garden, terrace and beach gear in May.
- Refresh your photos as soon as the garden looks summery.
- Arrange fans and blackout in June.
Help with a busy summer
A summer with many changeovers calls for good planning and quick follow-up. YourDomi sets prices daily based on market data, communicates with your guests seven days a week in several languages and works with its own cleaning team with a fixed checklist and photo check. Where it fits, we also provide linen. Would you like to know what that means for your property? Request a personal proposal.
