# What are break rules?

> Statutory minimum breaks in the Netherlands and Germany: how long, after how many hours and how they may be split. With official sources.

URL: https://timetracking.tech/glossary/break-rules
Language: en
Last updated: 2026-10-24

**Definition:** Break rules set the minimum unpaid breaks an employee must take during a working day, depending on the length of the shift. They are part of working-time law and differ per country.

## Minimum breaks in the Netherlands and Germany

In the Netherlands, adults who work more than 5.5 hours are entitled to at least 30 minutes of break, which may be split into two breaks of 15 minutes. Above 10 hours the minimum is 45 minutes, in parts of at least 15 minutes. A collective agreement may deviate, but at least 15 minutes after 5.5 hours always applies.

In Germany, § 4 ArbZG requires at least 30 minutes for more than 6 and up to 9 hours, and at least 45 minutes for more than 9 hours. Breaks may be split into blocks of at least 15 minutes, and nobody may work more than 6 hours in a row without a break.

- NL: more than 5.5 h → 30 min
- NL: more than 10 h → 45 min
- DE: more than 6 h → 30 min
- DE: more than 9 h → 45 min

## Breaks on timesheets

Breaks are usually unpaid, so they come off the hours worked. A timesheet that only shows a total of hours cannot prove that breaks were taken; record the break length, and ideally when it was taken. TimeTracking records breaks per shift and flags shifts where the break is shorter than the statutory minimum.

- [Break and rest checker](https://timetracking.tech/tools/break-checker)
- [Rest time](https://timetracking.tech/glossary/rest-time)
- [Labour law: Germany](https://timetracking.tech/labor-laws/germany)
- [Labour law: Netherlands](https://timetracking.tech/labor-laws/netherlands)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a break counted as working time?

Statutory breaks are generally unpaid and not counted as working time. Some collective agreements or contracts pay for breaks; check yours.