Commuting

When you travel between your home and your workplace, we say you are commuting. You can commute in various ways, for example by car, bicycle or public transport.

Commuting by yourself

If you travel to work on your own, you can choose how you do this. You can travel by car, bicycle or public transport. It is up to you to make sure your bicycle or car works properly. If you travel by train or bus, you use your OV chipkaart or debit card to check in.

Commuting allowance

In some cases, your employer pays some or all of your commuting costs. This is called a commuting allowance. You might get this, depending on the sector you work in. To find out if you have a right to this, check which CAO applies to you and talk to your boss.

Transport provided by employment agency

If you work through an employment agency, your boss might arrange for you to travel between your home and your workplace by car or bus. In some cases you do not have to pay for this. However, it is also possible that some of the costs will be taken out of your wages. This is only allowed if you earn more than the minimum wage and if you have also clearly agreed to this. If you have any doubts, contact Het Juridisch Loket.

Frequently asked questions:

• Can I choose how I travel to work? In the Netherlands, you are able to choose how you travel to work. If you live close to where you work, you can walk. You can also go by bicycle, car or public transport. If you do this, you must always follow the traffic rules. Your boss might arrange transport, for example by bus. You do not have to use this transport but you can if you want to. Ask your boss if you get an allowance for commuting.
• Can I get a bicycle that I can use for commuting? In some cases, you can borrow a bicycle from your boss or get money to buy a bicycle. This depends on the sector in which you work. Any arrangements can be found in your CAO, which lists the arrangements agreed between employers and employees.
• What do I need to do if I have an accident on my way to work? You can take leave if you have an accident on your way to work and you need to go to hospital, for example. This is called emergency leave. You can only take it in exceptional personal situations and unexpected situations, such as an accident. You must always tell your boss, and you will still receive your salary. If you are covered by a CAO, separate arrangements might have been made. Ask your employer about this.