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Dutch salaries and payslips: the basics

Sources checked on · Launch candidate pending human review · Translated from the Spanish original

In the Netherlands the statutory minimum wage is set per hour and the government adjusts it twice a year. From 1 July 2026 it is €14.99 gross per hour for workers aged 21 and over; from 1 January to 30 June 2026 it was €14.71 (source: Rijksoverheid). Job offers are stated gross: what reaches your account is the net amount.

Who this is for

Anyone who works or will work in the Netherlands and wants to understand their contract and payslip.

What you need

  • Your contract or written offer.
  • Your payslips.
  • The applicable collective agreement (CAO), if there is one.

Steps

  1. Check the current minimum wage with the official source and compare it with your hourly wage.
  2. Ask how many hours are guaranteed and whether the figure is per hour, week or month.
  3. Read your payslip: gross pay and how it is made up (basic pay, holiday pay), hours, period, contract type and deductions.
  4. Work out the net amount: gross minus tax and contributions, and minus any deductions you agreed to.
  5. Check your holiday pay: at least 8% of gross pay. It is often paid in May or June, and at least once a year.
  6. If you think you are not being paid correctly, ask a union or Het Juridisch Loket.

Relevant exceptions

  • Under 21: a youth minimum wage depending on age; for example €7.50 per hour at 18 from 1 July 2026 (Rijksoverheid).
  • If the collective agreement provides no holiday pay, the wage must be at least 108% of the minimum (WorkinNL).
  • If you earn more than three times the minimum wage, lower holiday pay can be agreed in writing (WorkinNL).

Common mistakes

  • Comparing the gross amount of an offer with the net pay in your home country.
  • Not checking the hours on every payslip.
  • Accepting housing or insurance deductions without having them in writing.
  • Thinking holiday pay counts towards the minimum wage: it does not.

Amounts change on 1 January and 1 July. Figure checked on 14 October 2026 with Rijksoverheid (the WorkinNL page still showed the January figure); check the current one before relying on it.

Official sources

Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am under 21?

A lower youth minimum wage applies, depending on your age.

Can deductions take me below the minimum wage?

Your employer must not pay you less than the minimum wage. Only certain deductions are allowed from it, such as housing or health insurance, and only with your prior consent.

Can I be paid cash without a payslip?

Be wary. The payslip is proof of what you earn and that your contributions are paid.

Related

Employment contract: what to check before signing

What to check in a Dutch employment contract: who employs you, hourly wage, hours, collective agreement, deductions, holidays and housing.

Basic rights at work

The minimum employment rights in the Netherlands and where to go if they are not respected.

Taxes: the basics to get started

What you should know about payroll deductions, the annual tax return and public allowances in the Netherlands.

Does your case not fit? Read about personal guidance. This is general information, not legal, employment or tax advice.