The Netherlands undoubtedly remains at the top of the most popular countries for migration. At the turn of recent years, the situation has not changed, on the contrary – the number of foreign employees in Dutch plants is constantly growing. However, at the moment when we decide to go, another question arises: where to work in the Netherlands? Later in the article we will compare cities in the Netherlands in terms of the demand for employees.
Entering and staying in the Netherlands
Going to work in the Netherlands is not subjected to additional formalities, however, after arrival, it is worth taking care of, among others:
- issuing the Sofi tax number (sofinummer)
- taking out health insurance
- signing an employment contract
If the stay in the Netherlands exceeds 4 months, it is worth taking care of:
- registration at the place of residence (for this you will need an apartment rental / purchase agreement)
- BSN number (tax number issued for a longer period of time)
- application to the Immigration and Naturalization Office (IND)
- getting DigID. It is an electronic signature that allows you to send any online applications (e.g. tax return or application for social benefits).
Important! In the case of being employed by an employment agency, you don’t have to worry about it. Most often, all the above-mentioned formalities are part of the agency’s duties.
Minimum rates in the Netherlands 2022
In terms of minimum rates, the Netherlands stands out from other European countries. This is mainly because in this country there applies 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 01/07/2022:
| Age of the employee | Minimum monthly rate | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum daily rate |
| 21 years and more | € 1,756.20 | € 405.30 | € 81.06 |
| 20 years | € 1,404.95 | € 324.25 | € 64.85 |
| 19 years | € 1,053.70 | € 243.20 | € 48.64 |
| 18 years | € 878.10 | € 202.65 | € 40.53 |
| 17 years | € 693.70 | € 160.10 | € 32.02 |
| 16 years | € 605.90 | € 139.85 | € 27.97 |
| 15 years | € 526.85 | € 121.60 | € 24.32 |
Where to work in the Netherlands? Some important points
Before we move on to listing specific Dutch cities, there are a few important points worth mentioning:
- Greater demand for employees is usually noticed in large cities. However, this does not mean that finding a job will be much easier. Mainly due to strong competition on the employment market and several times higher the costs of living.
- Regardless of the city, almost everywhere there is a shortage of qualified employees / industry specialists. If it is possible to work remotely, the choice of the final destination will depend only on private preferences and financial possibilities.
- The most popular cities are most often crowded with economic migrants, which increases the likelihood of applying for similar positions (which again means a lot of competition)
- Seasonal work proves to be the best in touristic places. Then employers are looking for employees for a short but very intensive period of work. Therefore, we can expect even several times higher hourly rates.
- The larger the city is, the longer it takes to complete official formalities. The reason is still the same – the influx of economic migrants.
- Not knowing the language is only accepted in big cities. Mainly due to the fact that in larger cities, the Dutch more often use, for example, English (names of streets / bus stops / menus in a restaurant are translated into English). In the Netherlands there are also districts where most foreigners live. There are also shops with foreign food. In such a situation, we can forget about the language barrier.
Important!
If you are considering moving permanently to the Netherlands, we recommend (of course, if possible) to change your place of stay from time to time, to have a comparison. In the future, it will make it easier to decide on the city, in which we would like to settle permanently.
Where to work in the Netherlands? The most popular cities in the Netherlands
The following is a list of the most popular cities in the Netherlands with a demand for foreign workers:
Amsterdam
It’s not for a reason that we are starting from the capital of the country – Amsterdam. It is one of the largest cities in the Netherlands and the most popular tourist destination in Europe (apart from Paris, of course). In Amsterdam, jobs will certainly be available both seasonal and long-term. Costs of living in the capital are not the cheapest, that’s why we recommend looking for apartments on the outskirts of the city or in smaller neighboring towns.
In Amsterdam, there can be noticed a need for:
- manual workers
- warehouse workers
- employees in the hotel / catering
- fitters
- builders
Apart from that, there will be work for specialists / professionals in specialized industries (IT / accounting / banking / welding).
Eindhoven
A large part of foreigners decide to go to Eindhoven, a town in the south of the Netherlands. It is in this part of the country that the largest number of foreign intermediaries / employment agencies is accumulated. Walking the streets of the city, we will surely come across shops with foreign food.
Important! Earnings will be different from those in Amsterdam or The Hague – they will be lower. However, in return, we have the opportunity to save on everyday expenses.
We can easily find a job as:
- warehouse worker
- manual worker
- car mechanic
- electrician
- shop assistant
- receptionist
Rotterdam and The Hague
The other popular destinations among foreign economic migrants are Rotterdam and The Hague. Both cities are located right next to each other. The Hague is located on the coast of the North Sea and is considered a tourist town. This in turn, means a demand for seasonal / temporary workers in the hotel / catering sector.
Apart from that, in these areas there is a constant demand for workers in the agricultural / horticultural sector (e.g. working in greenhouses, harvesting fruit / vegetables).
Where else is it worth going to work in the Netherlands?
- Tilburg
- Utrecht
- Breda
- Almere
- Venlo
- Elburg
In the above-mentioned places, employees are most often hired in factories, warehouses and distribution centers.
Where to look for a job in the Netherlands? Summary
| City in the Netherlands | Job |
Amsterdam | manual worker warehouse worker employee in the hotel / catering fitter builders |
Eindhoven | warehouse worker manual worker car mechanic electrician shop assistant receptionist |
Rotterdam and The Hague | gastronomy / hotel industry horticulture agriculture harvesting working in greenhouses |
Seasonal work in the Netherlands – what is worth paying attention to?
Why is it worth going to the Netherlands?
Finally, we will try to answer the key question, which certainly more than one person is trying to answer, i.e. why is it worth going to the Netherlands? For this purpose, we will answer the most frequently asked questions to dispel any doubts.
- Is there a demand for workers in the Netherlands?
Yes, and to a large extent. Moreover, the interest in the Netherlands as a country for economic migration is constantly growing every year. We are talking here about both seasonal and permanent employees.
- Is the paperwork process for formalities adapted to migrants?
The whole process is as simplified as possible, and literally every EU citizen can easily settle in the Netherlands.
- What is the salary level?
As already mentioned, hourly rates in the Netherlands depend on age. At the same time, earnings and the standard of living in the country are among the highest in Europe.
- Are the costs of living adequate to the earnings?
Of course, the average living expenses in the Netherlands are adjusted to the salary level. In addition, relatively low interest rates at banks, allow you to take out a loan (e.g. an apartment loan).
- Attitude towards foreigners.
In this case, we cannot have anything to complain about. Firstly, as already mentioned, there are some places in which are only foreign districts. Secondly, over 25% of the population of the Netherlands are immigrants from all over the world.
- Is the knowledge of the Dutch language required?
For physical / temporary work, language knowledge is usually not required, but in the long run, we recommend enrolling in a Dutch language course. Especially if we are considering a permanent departure.
