Working in the Netherlands

This section covers the main points for employees and jobseekers: contracts, pay, working hours, leave, sickness, collective agreements, dismissal and basic rights.

Before accepting a job

Start with the written offer and compare it later with the contract and payslip. If something differs, ask for an explanation before you start.

Check the employer, role, workplace, hours, salary, start date and contract type. Keep a copy of the contract and important written agreements.

Employment contract

Keep your contract, payslips, hours record and important messages together. This makes later checks much easier.

Important written information includes the duration of a temporary contract, working hours, salary and payment date, leave, probation period and other conditions.

Temporary or permanent contract

Read each contract condition separately, especially working hours, probation, workplace and pay date. Ask for an explanation before signing if something is unclear.

A temporary contract has an end date; a permanent contract does not. Rules on renewal and moving to a permanent contract depend on the situation and sometimes the collective agreement.

Collective agreement and pay

Do not look only at the monthly salary. Compare the hourly rate, allowances and actual hours with your contract and collective agreement.

A CAO sets collective terms such as salary scales, leave and allowances. Check which CAO applies to your job.

Working hours and leave

Report sickness according to your employer’s procedure as soon as possible and keep proof of the report.

Check your working hours, rest periods, overtime, annual leave and other leave according to your contract, CAO and the law.

Sickness and reporting sick

If you are considering leaving, first decide what you want to achieve and then check notice periods and consequences before signing anything.

Follow your employer’s sickness reporting procedure. Do not share unnecessary medical details with your manager; special privacy rules apply to sickness.

Dismissal

If a contract condition is unclear, do not rely only on a verbal explanation; ask for the wording or explanation in writing so you can review it calmly.

Do not resign or sign a termination agreement under pressure. Check the notice period, end date and any possible compensation first.

Rights of foreign workers

If your residence status is linked to your job or employer, also check the immigration consequences before resigning or changing employer.

A foreign worker employed by a Dutch employer generally has the same rights as a Dutch worker, including pay, holiday allowance, leave, working hours and working conditions.

A dispute with an employer

For a dispute, create a timeline: what happened, when, what was agreed and which document supports it.

Ask for agreements in writing and keep contracts, payslips, time records and messages. Juridisch Loket can be a first legal-help contact for people with a low income.

Contract checklist

Before signing, mark each condition you understand and write down questions about anything unclear.

Contract type • salary • hours • probation • leave • CAO • pension • notice period • workplace • special conditions. Do not sign what you do not understand.