The season for seasonal work is approaching and the Netherlands seems to be one of the most popular destinations among temporary workers. Work in greenhouses, with tulips or in horticulture – this is only a small part of the job offers in the Netherlands. What does seasonal work really look like in the Netherlands? Details in the article.
Due to the lifting of covid restrictions in individual European countries and around the world, entry to the country of tulips is possible without any additional documents or certificates. Only when traveling by plane it is necessary to fill in the so-called health form.
Seasonal work in the Netherlands – cooperation with employment agencies
Departure for seasonal work most often takes place through employment agencies. This is the fastest and most advantageous option (agencies oversee the entire process of recruitment / travel to the workplace).
But! You need to be careful, so as not to fall into the trap of the employment agency, which is aimed at deceiving us. Unfortunately, just in the period of seasonal works, the list of similar agencies is dynamically expanding.
What to do in order not to be deceived?
- Check the agency details (NIP – Tax Identification Number/ KRAZ – National Register of Employment Agencies / KRS – National Court Registry etc.)
- Read the contract in detail before signing it (pay attention to the text in small print)
Important! The contract must be drawn up in the language of the employee (in the case of employment abroad, several copies are created)
- Do not go to work without a previously signed contract
- Do not return original documents
- Check the date of payment of wages (whether it is included)
Minimum rates in the Netherlands 2022
In terms of minimum rates, the Netherlands differs from other European countries. Mainly because in this country there is an obligation for the so-called age-old. So the older a person is, the more he can earn. The amount of the minimum rates in the Netherlands changes twice a year: in January and July. Here are the minimum rates that apply from 01/01/2022:
| Age of employee | Monthly minimum rate | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum daily rate |
| 21 years and more | € 1.725,00 | € 398,10 | € 79,62 |
| 20 years | € 1.380,00 | € 318,50 | € 63,70 |
| 19 years | € 1.035,00 | € 238,85 | € 47,77 |
| 18 years | € 862,50 | € 199,05 | € 39,81 |
| 17 years | € 681,40 | € 157,25 | € 31,45 |
| 16 years | € 595,15 | € 137,35 | € 27,47 |
| 15 years | € 517,50 | € 119,45 | € 23,89 |
What is worth paying attention to when deciding on seasonal work in the Netherlands?
First of all, it is worth paying attention to the employment agency with which we decided to go to work. If you are not entirely convinced about the cooperation with the agency, we recommend checking job offers on europa.jobs, where quite often there are offers directly from Dutch employers.
Another decision worth considering is the choice of industry / seasonal work in the Netherlands. In the seasonal period, you can count on employment in the following industries:
- gardening
- greenhouses
- planting / growing / harvesting flowers (mostly tulips)
- agriculture
- order picking (check what the commissioner does)
- harvesting fruits / vegetables
- hospitality
Seasonal work and work on vacation in the Netherlands – what is the difference?
The difference between seasonal and vacation work is minimal. These are jobs for a short period of time (most often in summer) in the aforementioned sectors.
What is worth paying attention to?
- Summer jobs most often relate to students. The employer wants to hire young people for a maximum of 2 or 3 months.
- Going further, the agency (employer) may set upper earnings limits (i.e. age-old). It is worth asking about it before going directly to work.
- Working conditions (more on this later in the article) for vacation work may differ slightly from seasonal work. Although there are no top-down guidelines, it all depends directly on the employer’s decision.
Seasonal work conditions in the Netherlands
Seasonal work conditions in the Netherlands look quite decent. First of all, the employment requirements for seasonal work are minimal. There appear many offers without:
- experience
- language knowledge
- CV
Employment with free (partially paid) accommodation or food is practiced quite often. Then a person who goes abroad to work for the first time does not have to worry about additional formalities.
Moreover, most often we are talking about accommodation directly at the workplace (or next to it). Otherwise, the employer offers transport to the workplace.
Interestingly! Just in the case of seasonal work, there will be no problem with finding a job for larger groups or couples.
Due to the demanding working conditions (in the open air, at high temperatures), the employer has an obligation to provide, among others:
- longer breaks
- additional days off
- water for drinking
What does an example change in seasonal work look like?
- Wake up early (changes most often start at 5-6 in the morning)
- Transport to the workplace
- The first break (eventually breakfast) around 9 a.m.
- Lunch (11 a.m.-12 p.m.)
- Subsequent breaks (10-15 minutes on average)
- Return home around 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Seasonal work for couples in the Netherlands – what does it look like?
In the case of seasonal work, it is impossible not to mention the possibility of a joint trip. During the season, the demand for employees increases several times. That is why employers decide to hire couples or larger groups.
Working conditions when employing a couple are practically no different from ordinary employment. However, immediately before departure, it is worth asking about the following details:
- Does the job offer apply to a joint position for a couple?
- Will in the work schedule, common days off (eventually hours) be included?
- What does the accommodation for couples look like?
- What about the dismissal of a partner?
Earnings for seasonal works in the Netherlands
Below are examples of earnings for seasonal work in the Netherlands:
| Profession / Industry | Sample gross earnings |
| Commissioner | EUR 11-12 |
| Production worker | EUR 11-12 |
| Growing flowers | EUR 10.5-11.5 |
| Greenhouse worker | EUR 11-13 |
| Hotel worker | EUR 10.5-11.5 |
| Cook | EUR 10-11 |
Employment in the Netherlands – necessary links
- The Social Insurance Institution in the Netherlands (UWV)
- Labor office in the Netherlands (UWV WERKbedrijf)
- Dutch Association of Temporary Employment Agencies (ABU)
- Association for Compliance with the Collective Agreement for Temporary Workers (CAO voor Uitzendkrachten)
Related entries:
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