Losing your job in the Netherlands: what you should know (and the next steps)

So you’ve lost your job in the Netherlands — yep, that sucks. Of course, after drowning your sorrows in a king-sized bowl of bitterballen, you’re probably asking yourself: what next? 

Here’s what you need to know about losing your job in the Netherlands, from termination to unemployment and beyond (like a sweet new gig!)

Ways you can lose your job in the Netherlands

Whether you’ve just moved to the Netherlands, you’ve just entered the labour market, or you just need a refresher on the Dutch employment rules, it’s always smart to know what to expect. 

READ MORE | The easy guide to understanding your Dutch employment contract

So, since not all countries are the same, here are the deets on all the ways in which you can lose your job in the Netherlands (fun, we know!). 

Your temporary contract expires

Temporary contracts are very common in the Netherlands and have both pros and cons. 

On the one hand, a temporary contract offers more flexibility as you can swap workplaces and career paths relatively fast. On the other hand, it also means less career stability and predictability. 

It makes sense then, that one of the most common ways someone can lose their job in the Netherlands is by having their temporary contract expire and not be renewed by their employer. 

You don’t pass probation

Probation, or a trial period, is also common practice when hiring in the Netherlands. You might have a trial period included in your employment agreement if it’s mentioned in your contract or if it is part of the Collective Labour Agreement of your sector. 

During the probation period, either the employer or the employee can terminate the contract without grounds. 

In other words, you can lose your job during your trial period, and your employer doesn’t even have to tell you why. 

READ MORE | 13 companies in the Netherlands that hire internationals

There are several cases where your employer cannot require a trial period, however. For example, if your contract is for six months or less or if the probation is not agreed upon in writing. 

You’re made redundant

Being made redundant is not a fun experience, but it can happen to the best of us. Basically, you can lose your job in the Netherlands if your employer claims that it doesn’t make sense for the company to keep you employed anymore. 

This can, for example, be due to financial reasons — the company needs to cut down on costs, and one way of doing so is to let employees go. 

The good (?) news is that your employer can’t just fire you out of nowhere. There are tons of rules and regulations they have to overcome first — but we’ll discuss that below. 

You have poor performance or made a huge mistake

Surprise, surprise: if you refuse to do your job or fail to do what is required or expected based on your contract, that can be grounds for you to lose your job in the Netherlands. 

This can, for example, be due to excessive absence from work, wilful misconduct (like theft or faking your diploma), or when your employer has given you the tools and opportunities to improve your performance, but you don’t improve (enough). 

It’s smart to note, however, that your employer should always provide useful feedback, for example in evaluation sessions. You should then be able to use this as pointers to improve your performance to avoid ending up in a situation where you lose your job. 

Losing your job in the Netherlands isn’t that easy

If you’re reading this because you’re scared you might be about to lose your job, this might offer you some comfort: firing someone in the Netherlands is not a quick and easy affair. In fact, it’s quite difficult to lose your job here in the lowlands. 

READ MORE | 7 ways a Dutch job is different

Basically, if your employer wants to let you go and you don’t agree with the decision, your employer has to apply for permission to fire you at the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). 

In fact, your employer even has to ask the agency for permission if the reasons for dismissing you are based on financial issues, or based on your incapacity to conduct your work. That’s the easy route. 

If your employer wants to dismiss you for other reasons, they’ll have to take the case to the sub-district court, which will check whether the grounds and legal aspects of the dismissal are all in order. 

According to the Dutch government, reasonable grounds for dismissal are: 

economic reasons, like a company restructure, relocation, or bankruptcy
if an employee is disabled for more than two years
if the employee is often sick resulting in serious impacts for the business and accommodations can’t be made
unsatisfactory work performance that hasn’t improved despite warnings and opportunities for improvement
wilful misconduct or culpable negligence, like coming to work drunk or refusing to work without good reason
if the employee has serious objections to the activities and no alternative work is available
if the employee/employer relationship is seriously damaged and cannot be rectified
if the employee is imprisoned
if the employee is not legally allowed to work the Netherlands
if the employee is failing to perform at work.

Finally, if you’re pregnant, sick, or even just don’t want to work on Sundays — these aren’t grounds for dismissal in the Netherlands. 

Simply put, it takes quite a lot to be fired in this country. 

How you will be terminated

If you’re anxious about the future of your employment, it might calm your nerves to understand the process before and after a possible termination. 

The meeting

The first formal step in the termination process is typically a meeting. It’s likely that the leadership of your workplace and an HR representative will be present at said meeting, and it will most likely be conducted face-to-face.

The unpleasant affair will probably not last very long (10-15 minutes is usually sufficient), and the meeting will consist of the employer explaining the reasons for your dismissal, as well as your benefits and rights as a (former) employee. 

The termination contract

According to Dutch law, your employer cannot fire you without having it all down in writing. So, if both parties, the employee and the employer, agree to end the employment relationship, a contract must be created and signed to document the process. 

That means you’ll likely be handed a termination agreement when your employer delivers the bad news. 

The termination contract should include everything you need to know about the next steps, such as: 

when the final payment will be transferred, 
when the employment contract will end, 
the nature of the dismissal, 
and everything else relevant to the situation. 

READ MORE | Dutch bureaucracy in 3(00) easy steps

The notice period 

Whether you choose to quit your job, or you’re being forced to, Dutch law says that a notice period has to be given. There are a few exceptions to this, such as if you’re being dismissed during the trial period of your employment. 

Unless you have agreed on something else, the statutory notice period in the Netherlands is generally one month, but it varies depending on how long you have been in the job. 

If you and your employer agree that the dismissal or the resignation goes into effect immediately, you can agree on such terms, as long as it is put down in writing. 

Note: your notice period may also be impacted if you have a Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Severance payments 

If you are being let off against your will in the Netherlands, you are entitled to the remainder of your salary, as well as an extra payment to ease the transition from employment. 

The amount you can expect to receive in severance payments as a newly dismissed person in the Netherlands is equal to one-third of your monthly salary, times the number of years you have occupied your position. 

In addition, you might be granted other benefits, such as insurance money, vacation money, or help obtaining a new job, all depending on your employer and the nature of your dismissal. 

There are, of course, some exceptions to this rule. If you’re dismissed due to seriously culpable behaviour, for example, or if you’ve reached retirement age, you are not entitled to severance payment. 

Your options after losing your job in the Netherlands

If you have been so unfortunate as to lose your job in the Netherlands, it might feel like your life is falling apart. There are, however, a few things you can do to make the best of a frustrating situation. 

First of all, if you believe that your dismissal was unfair, it might be good to know that you can be entitled to extra severance payments. This has to be decided in court, during the regular proceedings of dismissal without mutual consent. 

Secondly, and possibly most obviously, if you have lost your job in the Netherlands, you’re probably eligible to apply for unemployment benefits (WW-uitkering). 

Unemployment benefits are meant as a temporary income for anyone who has lost their job through no fault of their own. To receive the money, you must be situated in the Netherlands, and you must be willing to take on any job position offered to you. 

You can apply for unemployment benefits online but will need to meet certain conditions, like working a minimum number of weeks prior to the dismissal and not becoming unemployed through your own fault.

Finally, you can start hunting for a new occupation. There are several Dutch websites, recruitment agencies, and platforms available for anyone looking for a job in the Netherlands. 

If you feel like you need a little break from the whole job thing (and really, who can blame you?), you can also consider going back to studying. 

The Netherlands has some of the best universities in Europe, offering a great alternative for professionals looking to develop their skills, fill out their CV, or just start a new adventure after a job loss.

How will losing your job impact your Dutch visa? 

If your stay in the Netherlands depends on your employment, it might be even more stressful to lose your job for you than for Dutch people. 

However, nothing will happen to your residence permit overnight. If your employer dismisses you, you’ll still have a minimum of three months to search for a new job in the Netherlands. Depending on your visa, you might even get as much as five years.

READ MORE | Can I work in the Netherlands? Complete guide to work permits and visas to land a Dutch job

How the 30% ruling is affected if you lose your Dutch job

The 30% ruling is a tax break for highly-skilled expats and internationals to attract them to work in the Netherlands (where the cost of living might be higher than they’re used to). 

If you lose your job in the Netherlands, you generally lose your 30% ruling benefits too. However, if you manage to sign a contract for new employment within three months of your dismissal, your 30% ruling will stay in effect for the remaining duration of the arrangement, as long as you submit a new application. 

In other words, if you get a new job within three months of losing your old job, nothing changes with regard to your 30% benefits, but you will have to apply for the benefits again. 

There is one small catch, however. Since a 30% ruling application can only be submitted by the employer and the employee jointly, you are, to some extent, at the mercy of your (new) boss to get the benefits. So, if your employer doesn’t want to make an effort to give you a tax break, you’re not entitled by law to get it. 

Losing your job in the Netherlands can be a stressful experience, but there are many solutions available to soften the blow, ease the transition, and carry you safely through it all. 

Do you have useful experiences with job loss in the Netherlands? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Losing your job in the Netherlands: Frequently asked questions