Seasonal Jobs & Working Holidays in Netherlands

A Guide to Working in the Netherlands

There are summer, winter and year round positions available to apply for in the Netherlands. Temporary jobs are very popular and the work available can be varied, you could work in a factory on a production line or in the farm and agriculture industry picking fruit like apples and pears from around April to October. You can register with websites and agencies in advance or seek out opportunities locally.

If you are looking for summer employment in Holland, there are holiday companies which operate campsites and resorts and this is a popular place to apply. International staff are hired at the beginning of the year to work at holiday parks making sure everything runs smoothly and the guests are happy. You might need to learn some basic Dutch to stand a good chance of getting employed as a campsite courier.

Working as an au-pair is very popular with Europeans and other Nationalities like Brazilians, no Dutch language is usually required and there are host families seeking staff all year round. Destinations can include The Hague and accommodation and meals are included although wages can be low. You will get though lots of free time to explore the country.

Best Places to Seek Employment

As an English speaker your best chance of getting work is in the larger towns and cities like:

• Amsterdam
• Rotterdam
• The Hague
• Utrecht
• Eindhoven
• Tilburg
• Groningen
• Almere Stad
• Breda
• Nijmegen

How Easy is it to Get a Job

This really depends on what position you are looking for, there is a good education system in this country and so you will usually be competiting against locals and also other internaitonals.

Visa, Eligibility & Requirements

If you ara a citizen of an EEA country it is very easy to work in the Netherlands, you do not need a permit or any documents and you can arrive and seek out employment. Sometimes thought having a work document can be useful, some employers might as for this and also this is helpful if you want to open a bank account in the country. What we recommend is you apply for a residence permit, you will also need to register if you intend on staying for over 3 months.

Wages

Wages in the Netherlands are quite high for European standards but the cost of living is also high. Unless you have accommodation included in your work package, rent and housing is likely to take up a large proportion of your budget. The prices in the larger cities like Amsterdam are higher than the rest of the country. There is a minimum wage structure which currently stands at about €65 per day. 

Top Tips for Working in Holland as a Foreigner