Working in the Netherlands

With a full-time job in the Netherlands, you work about 36–40 hours per week. Any hours worked beyond that are considered overtime and are paid at a slightly higher hourly rate. You accrue at least 20 paid vacation days per year, but many companies offer more than that. All these rules are established by law to ensure a good work-life balance for everyone in the Netherlands. As a temporary worker, you must receive EXACTLY the same pay as all your coworkers who do the same work. You have a legal right to that!

The minimum wage is €13.27 per hour for anyone who is at least 21 years old (2024). That amounts to a monthly salary of €2,317.83. In addition, you’ll receive at least 8% in vacation pay. It’s traditionally paid out in a single lump sum in May or June, so you can enjoy this money during your summer vacation. These financial arrangements ensure that you earn a living wage, allowing you to enjoy your personal life as well. Companies in the Netherlands are subject to strict regulations to ensure your safety at work.

There is a housing shortage in the Netherlands, but if you work with us, you won’t have to worry about that. We offer comfortable and affordable housing so you can focus on earning money. Your comfort is important to us, because the more at home you feel, the better you’ll feel at work. That’s why our homes feature fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms, as well as spacious living areas so you can bond with your roommates and enjoy your free time. You’ll share a bedroom with no more than one other housemate. In many cases, we also offer single rooms. All of our EU-People housing is conveniently located near your workplace. You’ll enjoy all of this and more for approximately €90 per week after applying the extraterritorial tax deduction.

Would you like to learn more about our accommodations? Read all about them at: Working in the Netherlands with Accommodation.

Would you like to bring your partner with you while you work in the Netherlands? We help couples find a great place to work with the option to live together in our housing. At the start of your application process, our recruiters will review both your and your partner’s resumes. Based on that, we’ll try to find a company that can make use of both of your skills. Whenever possible, we’ll try to accommodate your preferences for working together or separately, and if you live in our housing, you can share a room. Read more about working in the Netherlands as a couple at: Working in the Netherlands for Couples.

Yes, you can work in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch! Many people in the Netherlands speak English well—especially young people. For most of our jobs, you’ll feel right at home if you speak a little English (level B1 or higher). Sometimes we even have openings where very limited English is okay.

For more in-depth information, please see: Working in the Netherlands Without Knowing the Language. (Page coming soon!)

If you work in the Netherlands, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. To start with, you’ll need a citizen service number (BSN) and mandatory health insurance. There are also various benefits you can apply for, such as an extraterritorial tax credit, healthcare allowance, and more. These things can be difficult to arrange if you’re not familiar with Dutch law and don’t speak the language. But don’t worry: if you work with us in the Netherlands, we’ll be happy to help you take care of these matters!

If you want to be well-prepared for working in the Netherlands, be sure to read our blog post on “The Top 5 Most Important Things You Need to Take Care of Before You Start Working in the Netherlands.”.