Jobs in the Netherlands

Jobs in the Netherlands are about more than an hourly rate in euros. Final income depends on paid hours, the worker’s age, taxes, accommodation, insurance, transport, and the applicable collective agreement. Two vacancies with the same rate can produce different results at the end of the month.

As of 19 August 2026, the WORKIUM catalogueue had relevant vacancies in greenhouses and horticulture: Genson seedling cultivation and Vissers strawberry and asparagus work. Both offers had a gross rate, paid housing and different requirements for candidates.

From 1 July 2026, the statutory minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over is €14.99 gross per hour. Lower age rates apply to younger employees. There is no separate statutory monthly minimum in the Netherlands: payment depends on the hours officially worked.

Table of Contents

• What jobs are available in the Netherlands
• What WORKIUM vacancies show
• How to calculate salary
• Schedules, breaks, and guaranteed hours
• Contract, collective bargaining agreement and vacation pay
• Accommodation, transport, and insurance
• Language and candidate requirements
• How to check a job before leaving

What jobs are available in the Netherlands

For candidates without narrow qualifications, the most common vacancies are in greenhouses, horticulture, agriculture, warehouses, logistics and food production. The specific recruitment varies by season and depends on the employer's orders.

Working in a greenhouse does not always mean one operation indoors. In the Genson vacancy, it was necessary to sort seedlings, plant seedlings in pots, move pallets, plant strawberries in the open field, help with the installation of irrigation and, in season, pick raspberries and strawberries. Part of the work could take place outdoors.

At Vissers, responsibilities included sorting and transplanting seedlings, packing pots onto pallets and trays, moving products on carts and feeding them to the production line. Before applying, it is worth clarifying the weight of the pallets, the proportion of work on slopes, the temperature and the length of the shift.

Read more about working on farms, in greenhouses, with flowers and other categories of vacancies on separate pages.

What WORKIUM vacancies show

At the time of checking, there were two current vacancies in the catalogue, which are examples of which it is easy to compare rates, hours and costs.

Seedling cultivation Genson, Sint-Oedenrode:

• €2,700–3,370 gross per month;
• €14.99 gross per hour;
• men and women 18–60 years old;
• schedule Mon–Fri;
• housing €506 per month;
• vacancy is free;
• WORKIUM bonus €50 after 30 working days.

Vissers Strawberries and Asparagus, America, approximately 25 km from Venlo:

• €2,824–4,563 gross per month;
• €14.71 gross per hour;
• men 23–55 years old;
• schedule Mon–Sat;
• housing €250–530 per month;
• vacancy free;
• WORKIUM bonus €80 after 300 hours worked.

Vissers' rate of €14.71 was the minimum rate applicable from 1 January 2026, but from 1 July the minimum rate for employees aged 21 and over increased to €14.99. Therefore, before processing, you must confirm the updated rate in the contract. The date on the card or an old advertisement cannot replace the current conditions.

The WORKIUM bonus should not be added to the regular monthly salary. At Genson, it depends on 30 working days, at Vissers, it depends on 300 hours. These are different conditions, so it is not worth comparing the bonus with the monthly salary.

How to calculate pay

In the Netherlands, the statutory minimum is set per hour before taxes. For an employee aged 21 and over, the basic calculation from 1 July 2026 is as follows:

• €14.99 × 160 hours = €2,398.40 gross;
• €14.99 × 180 hours = €2,698.20 gross;
• €14.99 × 200 hours = €2,998 gross.

This is arithmetic, not a forecast of the cash payment. The net amount depends on taxes, social contributions, tax benefits and the employee's personal situation.

At Genson, the monthly range started at €2,700 gross. At €14.99, this is approximately 180 billable hours. The upper limit of €3,370 corresponds to approximately 225 hours excluding surcharges. Ask for clarification on how many hours are guaranteed and how many are only available in season.

At Vissers, the maximum amount of €4,563 at €14.71 is more than 310 regular hours. This result cannot be interpreted as a standard month: it may include increased rates, surcharges or other calculation procedures. Ask for a written calculation of this amount before signing the contract.

To correctly compare vacancies:

• use the gross rate;
• only take the hours guaranteed by the contract;
• add separately confirmed additional payments;
• get an individual net forecast;
• subtract housing, insurance and transport;
• do not include a one-time bonus in regular income.

For example, €2,700 gross minus €506 for housing is not €2,194 “on hand”. Taxes and contributions have not yet been deducted, so a settlement sheet or net forecast is needed first.

Schedules, breaks, and guaranteed hours

The Mon-Fri and Mon-Sat labels do not show the duration of the shift. Ask for an example of a real week: start time, end time, breaks, rotation, weekends and overtime. For example, a shift may last from 06:00 to 15:00 or from 07:00 to 16:00, but the actual hours are determined by the employer.

For an adult worker, the law allows a maximum of 12 hours per day and 60 hours per week, but not continuously. The average limit is 48 hours per week over 16 weeks or 55 hours over 4 weeks. There must be at least 11 hours of rest after a working day, and 36 consecutive hours per week.

After more than 5.5 hours of work, the employee is entitled to a 30-minute break; after more than 10 hours, at least 45 minutes. The break is usually unpaid, unless the contract or CAO provides otherwise.

If the card promises up to €4,563 per month but does not show guaranteed hours and additional payments, the upper amount cannot be used for budget planning. Ask for:

• the contracted hours per week;
• minimum shifts per month;
• overtime rate;
• night and weekend bonuses;
• waiting time payment;
• rules for cancelling shifts due to weather or lack of orders.

This is especially important for seasonal work in greenhouses and fields, as weather and order volume can affect the number of hours worked.

Contracts, CAO, and holiday pay

The employee may have a fixed-term, open-ended or agency contract. The main terms and conditions must be provided in writing: employer, place of work, position, start date, term, probationary period, salary, regular or variable hours, overtime and payment arrangements.

If the schedule is unpredictable, the written terms should include guaranteed hours, overtime pay, days and hours of call-in, and notice period for changes.

A CAO is a collective labor agreement for a specific industry or employer. It may specify rates, bonuses, vacation pay, breaks, and overtime. Ask which CAO applies to the job and where to read its rules.

The minimum statutory vacation is four times the number of hours worked per week. For a 40-hour week, this is 160 hours of vacation per year. Ask to be explained whether vacation pay is accrued separately or whether certain benefits are already included in the hourly rate.

Check the contract for:

• the legal name of the employer or agency;
• the exact address of the work;
• gross rate;
• guaranteed hours;
• applicable CAO;
• housing, insurance and transport allowances;
• date of first salary;
• probationary period and dismissal rules.

Accommodation, transport, and insurance

In WORKIUM vacancies, housing cost €506 in Genson and €250–530 in Vissers. A cheaper lower limit does not necessarily mean a better option: you need to know the number of people in the room, utility bills, deposit and travel costs.

Before agreeing on housing, ask for:

• address and photos;
• number of people in the room and house;
• full weekly or monthly salary;
• deposit and return policy;
• distance to work;
• cost of bicycle, bus or corporate transport;
• deadline for moving out after the contract ends.

If you are interested in jobs in the Netherlands with accommodation, detailed housing conditions are available on a separate page.

Dutch health insurance may be mandatory for people coming to live or work in the Netherlands. The general rule is to take out it as soon as possible and no later than four months after arrival, with coverage from the date of commencement of the obligation. The status of Ukrainians and the specific coverage scheme may differ, so before signing the contract, clarify who issues the policy, how much it costs and whether the employer withholds a premium from the salary.

Language and candidate requirements

For some greenhouse work, the employer will train the process on site, but the employee must understand the briefing, safety rules, and the manager’s commands. Specify the language of the training and whether there is a coordinator who can explain the contract and everyday issues.

The phrase “no language skills” does not mean there are no requirements. Working with plants may involve:

• prolonged standing or working at an angle;
• moving trays and pallets;
• repetitive movements;
• variable temperatures;
• working outdoors;
• the pace of the production line.

The Genson vacancy accepted men and women aged 18–60, while Vissers accepted men aged 23–55. These criteria apply to specific offers. Read more about jobs in the Netherlands for men and jobs in the Netherlands for women on the relevant pages.

How to check a vacancy before travelling

Before buying a ticket, ask for all key terms in writing:

• employer or agency;
• address and type of work;
• exact duties;
• gross salary;
• guaranteed hours;
• rules for bonuses and breaks;
• accommodation, transport and insurance;
• type of contract and collective agreement;
• legal basis for work;
• date of first payment and contact person for the coordinator.

Ukrainians who are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive and have proof of residence from the IND can work for hire without a separate work permit; the employer notifies the UWV. This is not a universal rule for every nationality or status. Check your specific reason for taking a shift.

Compare the card with the contract. If the rate, city, employer, guaranteed hours or housing price have changed, ask for an explanation and an updated document. Do not give the original passport to a third party and do not transfer an incomprehensible fee to a private recipient.

Browse current vacancies in the Netherlands on WORKIUM and compare them using the same criteria. The working abroad page explains the general process for choosing safely, while this page focuses on Dutch rates, rules, and conditions.

Browse vacancies

Choose from several vacancies in the Netherlands on WORKIUM. Compare gross salary, guaranteed hours, housing, insurance, transport and contract before applying.