Netherlands : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

UK graduates stand a good chance of finding a job in the Netherlands, especially with one of the large international companies.

Generally, Dutch companies do not recruit graduates for permanent positions. The vast majority of first job offers to graduates are temporary one-year contracts. Graduates are expected to have a degree in a related discipline. Temping agencies (Uitzendbureaus) are significant players in the job market, and companies frequently use them in the pre-selection of new employees.

• Typical problems encountered: very competitive job market as available jobs has decreased recently, and unemployment is very low.
• How to improve your chances: network with international companies who have a branch in the Netherlands, write speculative applications and, above all, get some work experience.
• Language requirements: to work in the Netherlands, a basic level of Dutch is an advantage, even when employed in companies where English is the working language. Learn Dutch provides distance learning courses at various levels.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining and electrical machinery.
• Recent growth areas: financial services and the hotel industry.
• Industries in decline: transport equipment, graphic media and building materials.
• Shortage occupations: engineering, production, buying and procurement staff, sales representatives and designers.
• Major companies: ING Group, Royal Dutch/Shell Group, ABN-Amro Holding, Unilever, Fortis, Aegon Insurance Group, Philips, Heineken, Rabobank and Mittal Steel are some of the biggest companies in the Netherlands.
• Search for more companies: there are various sources of information to help you find out about companies that operate in the Netherlands. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce has a searchable trade register of member companies (in Dutch). The Dutch Yellow Pages (Gouden Gids) has details of companies based in the Netherlands. Kompass is a worldwide business directory searchable by country and product/service. The Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce has a list of member companies operating in the Netherlands.
• Major cities: Amsterdam (capital and largest), Rotterdam (largest seaport in Europe), The Hague (Den Haag‘s Gravenhage - seat of government and residence of the royal family), Utrecht and Eindhoven.

What’s it like working in the Netherlands?

• Average working hours: by law, people cannot work more than nine hours a day and 45 hours a week. The average working week is between 36-40 hours. In business sectors it is becoming common for people to choose a four-day week, for example, working four nine hour days.
• Holidays: a minimum of 20 days' holiday with most companies offering between 20-25 days per year. Public holidays include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, Queen’s Day (30 April), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
• Average graduate starting salary: €28,850
• Tax rates: taxes paid in the Netherlands are determined based on your income. The percentages can be quite high, although they have dropped recently. More information about the current tax rates in the Netherlands can be found on Expatax .
• Working practices and customs: dress code is much the same as in the UK with suits for business/banking environments and smart casual for other sectors.