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Employment contract: what to check before signing

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

Before you sign, ask for the contract in writing and in a language you understand. What is not written down is hard to claim. This guide is general: it does not assess your own contract.

Who this is for

Anyone who has received a job offer, directly or through an agency.

What you need

  • The written offer or contract.
  • The collective agreement (CAO), if one applies.
  • The current minimum wage, to compare.

Steps

  1. Identify who employs you: the company or an agency. With an agency, you sign with the agency, not with the company where you work (WorkinNL).
  2. Check the gross hourly wage: never below the current minimum.
  3. Look at guaranteed hours, shifts, duration and probation period.
  4. Ask which collective agreement applies and ask to see it.
  5. Get every deduction in writing. Only certain deductions are allowed from the minimum wage, such as housing or health insurance, and only with your prior consent (WorkinNL).
  6. Check holiday pay (at least 8% of gross pay) and days off.
  7. If housing comes with the job, get in writing what happens to the home if the contract ends.
  8. If something does not add up, ask before signing: a union, Het Juridisch Loket or the Labour Authority.

Relevant exceptions

  • If you earn more than three times the minimum wage, lower holiday pay can be agreed in writing (WorkinNL).
  • When you start through an agency, you can be dismissed more quickly and, if you do not work, you may not be paid (WorkinNL).

Common mistakes

  • Signing a contract you do not understand.
  • Accepting deductions verbally.
  • Paying to get the job.
  • Not keeping a copy of the signed contract.

From 2027 all employment agencies will need approval to operate, according to WorkinNL.

Official sources

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

Frequently asked questions

Is working through an agency normal?

Yes, it is very common. As an agency worker you are entitled to the same pay, breaks and holidays as the company's permanent staff (WorkinNL).

Can I be charged for getting the job?

You should not pay to get a job. If you are asked for money in advance, be wary and get guidance.

What if I do not understand the contract?

Do not sign yet. Ask for a translation or go to an advice service.

Related

Dutch salaries and payslips: the basics

The 2026 hourly minimum wage, gross and net, what a payslip shows, the 8% holiday pay and which deductions are allowed.

Basic rights at work

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

How to get your BSN

What the BSN is, where to get it (municipality or RNI desk), what to bring and the official deadlines when you arrive in the Netherlands.

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