Jobs
How to search, where to do it safely and what to check before you say yes.
Where to find real job offers
Ruta NL does not publish job offers yet. These search sites are official and free:
- EURES: the European job portal, with offers in the Netherlands and advisers.
- WorkinNL: official information for European workers.
These are links to official sites. Ruta NL has no agreements with any job site or company.
Employment agencies
How they work and what to ask them in writing.
Before you accept
What to check in the contract.
Salaries
Gross, net and what to check on your payslip.
Your rights
The legal minimum and where to turn.
Work with housing
What to ask for in writing when the home comes with the job.
Language
What changes if you speak neither English nor Dutch.
Quick guide to working in the Netherlands
What is worth knowing before you accept a job. Conditions depend on each contract and each collective agreement: not everyone works under the same conditions.
Employment agencies
Many EU workers start through an agency: you sign your contract with the agency, not with the company where you work. Check that it is registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and certified. According to WorkinNL, from 2027 all agencies will need approval to operate.
Contracts
Always ask for the contract in writing and in a language you understand: who employs you, hourly wage, guaranteed hours, duration and deductions.
Temporary work
As an agency worker you have almost the same rights as in a regular job: pay, breaks, working hours and holidays. At first you can be dismissed more quickly and, if you do not work, you may not be paid.
Without Dutch, or with English
Some jobs only need English, especially in large companies, logistics and some services. Without English or Dutch there are fewer options and more risk of not understanding what you sign.
Logistics and warehouses
Usually shift work, sometimes at night, and often through agencies. Check the real journey to the warehouse at the time of your shift.
Hospitality
Variable hours, weekends and seasons. Check your guaranteed hours and how overtime is paid under your contract or collective agreement.
Manufacturing
Shift work with safety rules. You are entitled to training, protective equipment and instructions you understand.
Gross and net
Job offers are stated gross. What reaches your account is the net amount, after tax, contributions and agreed deductions.
Deductions
Only certain deductions are allowed from the minimum wage, such as housing or health insurance, and only with your prior consent.
Payslips
Your payslip shows gross pay, hours, period, contract type and deductions. Always check it and keep it.
Hours and breaks
There are limits on working hours and compulsory breaks. If your schedule does not match what was agreed, ask for an explanation in writing.
Warning signs of labour fraud
- You are asked to pay in advance for the job, the contract or the accommodation.
- You are not given a written contract, or you are asked to sign something you do not understand.
- You are paid in cash without a payslip.
- Someone keeps your identity document or your bank card.
- The accommodation does not let you register with the municipality.
- The agency is not in the Chamber of Commerce register or will not tell you its legal name.
If any of this happens to you, contact the Labour Authority, a union or Het Juridisch Loket. In an emergency, call the emergency services.