Working in the Netherlands

The most effective way to source work in the Netherlands is to get a recommendation from someone your prospective employer knows. The Dutch take personal recommendations seriously, and this will always be the best way to find a job. Of course, the Internet is a fantastic source for those who do not have a network in place. The Public Employment Service is the government work placement office, and can be a helpful place to try.

 

Dutch law protects employees, and provides them with a lot of benefits. Employees are not allowed to work more than the average of 40 hours a week, and no person may work more than 45 hours in a given week. There are usually two 15-minute breaks, and an hour-and-a-half lunch break, with a weekend on Saturday and Sunday. One is entitled by law to at least one day off per week. An employee is entitled to twenty days of paid leave per year, with an employer entitled to five days extra.

 

Expats moving to the Netherlands must immediately visit the local tax office and get a BSN number. This will be required by an employer, as they will have mandatory contributions to make on the behalf of the employee.

Work advice portal: www.undutchables.nl/working-in-the-netherlands

 

Visa and Work Permits

For EU citizens, there are no restrictions on finding work in the Netherlands.

On the other hand, heavy restrictions on non-EU residents have been put in place to avoid flooding the job market. A company can bypass these if they require scarce skills; however, getting a work permit in the Netherlands without these scarce skills can be next to impossible. 

The only way to get a permit as a non-EU citizen who does not have a Dutch partner, is to apply directly to a company. Unfortunately, the company has to prove that the applicant’s skills cannot be found anywhere in the EU, which is highly unlikely. If leaving the company, the expat employee is not entitled to work with another employer until new papers have been issued.