Contract

If you work in the Netherlands, you usually get a contract. This contains arrangements concerning your work, such as how many hours you work and how much your wages are.

Your contract in the Netherlands

A contract is a document containing arrangements concerning your work. It is also called a contract of employment. The contract states, among other things, how many hours you work and how much you get in wages. A contract can be temporary or permanent. You should sign the contract before you start working to make sure you have rights if something goes wrong. Read your contract carefully, and ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

Working through an employment agency

As a temporary agency worker, you have an employment agency agreement with the employment agency. The agency is your employer, but you work for another company. The contract contains arrangements concerning your wages, working hours and working conditions. The rules that apply to employment agency agreements are different from the rules that apply to other contracts.

Help with questions about your contract

If you have questions about your contract or employment rights, visit a Work in NL information point or contact Het Juridisch Loket for free advice and explanations.

Assistance for exploited workers If you have questions about your situation or feel badly treated at work, you can contact FairWork. This organisation helps people from other countries who work in the Netherlands. It provides help for free and you can remain anonymous if you want to. You can call +31 20 760 08 09 or +31 6 51771249, or send an email to info@fairwork.nu.

Frequently asked questions

• I have to work longer than my contract says. Is that allowed? In the Netherlands, there are rules about how many hours you can work each day and each week. If you think you work too much, talk to your employer and show your employer your contract. Some CAOs contain additional rules on working hours.
• Can my employer tell me I have to work more hours than my contract says? Your employer is allowed to ask you to work extra hours. For example, it may do that when things are busy. You will be paid for this work. You must never work more than 12 hours in one day. You must also not work more than 60 hours a week, and you must not work that many hours every week. Keep track of how many hours you work.
• What types of contracts are there in the Netherlands? And what is the difference between a permanent contract and a temporary contract? Permanent and temporary contracts are two types of contract. A permanent contract does not have an end date. A temporary contract ends on an agreed date. After three temporary contracts or three years, you are usually given a permanent contract. Other types of contract are on-call contracts. These can be an on-call contract with a preparatory agreement, or a zero-hours contract or a min-max contract. After six months, you may ask for a contract with fixed hours. After one year, your employer must offer you a fixed-hours contract.