🇳🇱 Hire in Netherlands: cost, rules and best EOR options
Highly English-proficient workforce with strong tech, fintech and logistics talent in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven.
- Employer on-costs: 16–23% of gross salary (on a $60,000 salary, about $69,600–$73,800 total)
- EOR onboarding: Not verified from a retrieved provider source; own entity: Not verified from a retrieved source
- Probation: Up to two months; not allowed for fixed-term contracts under six months (Remote).
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Data confidence: medium, verified 2026-10-05
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What it costs to employ someone in Netherlands
Employer on-costs run roughly 16–23% on top of gross salary. Recomputed 5 Oct 2026, % of base salary excluding holiday allowance. 2026 employer premiums (Belastingdienst percentages as quoted in secondary summaries): AWf/WW 2.74% (permanent) or 7.74% (flexible); Aof 6.26% (small employer) or 7.61% (large); Zvw 6.10%; premium wage capped at EUR 79,409. Low: 2.74 + 6.26 + 6.10 = 15.10% of premium wage; premium wage includes the 8% holiday allowance, so 15.10% x 1.08 = 16.3% of base. High: 7.74 + 7.61 + 6.10 = 21.45% x 1.08 = 23.2%. Excludes employer pension (about 15.2% of base per Remote, set by collective agreement; including it the burden is about 30%+, unverified), WGA/Whk premiums and employer-paid sick leave (70% for up to 104 weeks). Earlier note used Aof 6.27/7.63.
| Contribution | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WW (AWf) unemployment | 2.74% low / 7.74% high | Low for permanent contracts, high for flexible |
| Aof disability | 6.26% small / 7.61% large | Aof 2026 per Belastingdienst figures quoted in Dutch payroll summaries; small = employers up to 25 times average premium wage |
| Zvw health insurance contribution | 6.10% | Up to EUR 79,409 (PwC) |
| Employer pension | About 15.2% of base plus risk premium | Usually through sector/collective agreements, not statute (Remote) |
Employer withholds payroll tax and national insurance (volksverzekeringen) from salary. Employee income tax runs 9.42%-49.50% (Remote).
Mandatory benefits
- 8% holiday allowance (vakantiegeld)
- Continued sick pay: at least 70% of salary (capped at the maximum daily wage) for up to 104 weeks (many contracts pay 100% in year one)
- Pension where collective agreement applies
- Pregnancy and parental leave
Employment rules at a glance
| Payroll | Monthly, paid in arrears on or before last working day (Remote) |
|---|---|
| Probation | Up to two months; not allowed for fixed-term contracts under six months (Remote). |
| Notice & severance | Employer notice scales with service, up to four months (Remote), and dismissal normally needs UWV or court approval. Transition payment: one-third of a monthly salary per year of service from day one, capped at EUR 102,000 or one annual salary if higher (2026, per Dutch payroll press; statutory formula, not fetched from an official page). |
| Working time | Standard 40 hours per week (Remote); many employers use 36-38 hours. Overtime per contract or collective agreement. |
| Paid leave | 20 days statutory (4x weekly hours) at full time; vacation days expire after six months post-year (Remote). Public holidays are not mandatory paid days by statute (practice varies). |
| Minimum wage | EUR 14.99 per hour (age 21+) from 1 July 2026; reference monthly wage EUR 2,337.00 gross (Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs announcement via ondernemersplein.overheid.nl). Lower rates apply under age 21. |
Termination
Employers have five routes: mutual agreement, UWV, subdistrict court, employee consent, summary dismissal for urgent cause (Remote). Dismissal is hard without UWV or court approval.
Employee or contractor in Netherlands?
Dutch tax authority enforcement of bogus self-employment (Wet DBA) resumed in 2025 (not verified); tests look at authority, personal performance and no substitution. Misclassification can mean back payroll tax and premiums.
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Hiring through an EOR in Netherlands
Direct hiring needs a Dutch entity or payroll registration; EOR is common for first hire. Provider timelines not verified.
Typical onboarding: EOR Not verified from a retrieved provider source; own entity Not verified from a retrieved source. UTC+1 winter, UTC+2 summer: 6 hours ahead of US Eastern.
Providers worth shortlisting
| Provider | Best for | EOR pricing | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deel | Companies that want one platform for contractors, EOR and a US PEO, with transparent per-seat list prices. | $599 per EOR employee per month (public list price, checked 2026-10-05) | 150+ countries (vendor claim, per Deel's own and third-party descriptions) | Visit Deel |
| Remote | Teams that want a published price for each product (EOR, global payroll, contractors, contractor of record, US PEO) and an affiliate program with 12-month revenue share. | $699 per employee/month (public list price, checked 2026-10-05) | 90+ countries for EOR (vendor pricing page claim) | Visit Remote |
| Rippling | Companies already running (or willing to adopt) a unified HR, IT and finance platform who want global hiring as an add-on module. | — | Visit Rippling | |
| Oyster | Distributed teams that want published EOR and contractor prices and a long-running affiliate program with tiered revenue share. | $699 per employee/month (public list price, checked 2026-10-05); annual discounts available; refundable deposit required | 120+ countries EOR; contractors in 180+ countries (vendor claim) | Visit Oyster |
| Papaya Global | Mid-size and larger companies that need multi-country payroll orchestration and workforce payments, and will go through a sales process. | 160+ countries (vendor claim as repeated on FlexOffers listing and third-party pages) | Visit Papaya Global | |
| Multiplier | Cost-conscious teams that want EOR priced below $500 per employee with an annual discount. | Third-party summary of Multiplier's pricing: EOR from $459/employee/month on annual contracts and $499 on monthly contracts (not confirmed; multiplier pricing page returned 403 to our fetch) | — | Visit Multiplier |
| Remofirst | Small teams that want the lowest published EOR starting price and a free contractor tier. | Starting at $199 per person/month (public list price, checked 2026-10-05); 'no hidden fees, setup fees, or minimum contract terms' per vendor page | 185+ countries for EOR (vendor claim) | Visit Remofirst |
| Pebl (formerly Velocity Global) | Companies that want an EOR with a tiered reseller/partner program and are comfortable with a recently rebranded vendor. | Third-party reports a flat $399 per employee/month (not confirmed on vendor page; hellopebl.com/pricing returned 404) | 185+ countries (third-party report) | Visit Pebl (formerly Velocity Global) |
Paying and covering your team in Netherlands
Related
FAQ
What are employer premiums in the Netherlands?
For 2026, roughly WW 2.74% (permanent), Aof 6.27%-7.63% and Zvw 6.10%, on income up to EUR 79,409.
Is holiday allowance mandatory?
Yes, 8% vakantiegeld.
How long is sick pay?
Up to 104 weeks under Dutch law (Remote).
Can I fire at will?
No. Dismissal needs UWV or court approval or a mutual agreement.