There are lots of opportunities for professionals to work in the Netherlands, with a wide range of international and multinational companies, aimed at placing foreign workers in jobs in the Netherlands.
It has a relatively stable economy backed by plenty of foreign investment (encouraged by advantageous tax conditions), and comprises a diverse, well-educated population, about 21 percent of whom are foreign or ethnic minorities. Although unemployment and flexible contracts rose during the years of Dutch economic crisis, the Netherlands still has among the lowest unemployment rates in the EU (5.6 percent in December 2016, ranked 5th), below the EU average (8.3 percent).
Highly skilled workers (also called ‘knowledge workers) are in great demand for jobs in the Netherlands, so much so that there’s a fast-track immigration process to get them in, plus tax benefits (the ‘30 percent tax ruling’) for some international employees. This group includes engineers, those with technical skills, IT specialists, those working in finance, as well as people with experience of working in sales, marketing and customer service. Other in-demand jobs in the Netherlands include professionals and graduates working in health care, tax, interim managers and education. You can see the industries with the highest vacancies, plus vacancies in the public and education sectors.
In terms of salary, according to the Dutch university and college guide Keuze Studiegids, dentistry was the most lucrative subject to study in the Netherlands. On the other hand, graduates of art history and cultural studies were the least likely to find work with a good salary, with some 15 percent earning monthly wages less than EUR 900, alongside graduates of degrees in cultural anthropology, environmental sciences and international law; many international law graduates, for example, start at NGOs where wages are typically low. New graduates, however, reportedly find it easiest to find work with a high salary.
Work environment and Dutch management culture
The Dutch usually work a 36–40 hour week, sometimes spread over just four days. Work in the Netherlands is very well-structured within organizations, so that most of it is done during normal working hours (ie. between 9am and 5pm) and, except at management level, employees are not typically expected to work overtime.
Dutch society is very egalitarian and this translates into the workplace. Dutch companies often have a horizontal organisational structure and they usually follow step-by-step plans. Decisions are taken after all the options have been discussed, so the decision-making process can be quite protracted. Meetings are often planned well-ahead, held frequently, run informally and, as the goal is for everyone present to reach a consensus, can last a very long time.
Work and residence permits
If you’re from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA – EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland, you are free to live and work in the Netherlands without the need for a work or residence permit.
If you’re from anywhere else, your employer will typically need a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you, and you must also hold a residence permit. Most employees will qualify for the single work and residence permit, although some categories of people, such as students and seasonal workers, still need separate work and residence permits. Others, such as highly skilled workers and holders of the EU Blue Card, only need residence permits, not work permits. Read our comprehensive guide to work permits in the Netherlands.
Social security number
You will also need a Citizen Service Number (burgerservicenummer or BSN) before you start work in the Netherlands. Everyone needs this personal tax and social security number, and you get it when you register at the city hall on your arrival.
Languages
You don’t have to speak Dutch to work in the Netherlands – in fact, English is the main business language in many companies – but it increases your chances if you do. You will probably end up working in the Netherlands for a large international company if you don’t speak Dutch. If you work for a smaller company then you will generally need to be able to speak Dutch in order to participate in a meeting or make a presentation. Professionals who speak French, German, Flemish or a Scandinavian language are always in demand. To learn Dutch, you can find many Dutch language courses in the Netherlands.
Qualifications and references
Your chance of finding work in the Netherlands is greater if you hold at least a Bachelor’s degree.
If you get an interview for a job, you’ll need to show original testimonials or references from former employers. So, make sure you bring diplomas, degree certificates and employer testimonials when you move to the Netherlands.