Wed, 06 May 2026 15:16:27 +0200 Wed, 06 May 2026 15:16:27 +0200 ContentFeeder 2.0 Your contract or CAO states exactly how much you earn. You agreed with this with your employer when you started working. We call this your gross salary. But that amount is not what you get paid at the end of the month; that is your net pay, and it is always considerably...]]> Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:15:47 +0100
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) published new salary thresholds for Highly-skilled Migrants, graduates, Intra-Corporate Transfers, and Blue Card holders in the Netherlands.

From 1 January 2022, the following salary limits will apply, based on gross monthly salary excluding 8% holiday allowance. Highly skilled migrants from 30 years of age or key personnel Intra-Corporate Transferee: € 4,840 (was €4.752) Highly-skilled Migrants younger than 30 years or key personnel Intra-Corporate Transferee: € 3,549 (was €3.484) Orientation year or lower salary threshold: € 2,543 (was €2.497) Blue Card holders: € 5,670 (was €5.670) As a reminder, all amounts are calculated on a...]]> Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:38:54 +0100
In a recent lawsuit in Amsterdam, a verdict was reached that an employer may not halve an employee’s salary because of the coronavirus crisis. The employer in question had done so because the compensation received through the NOW scheme was too low to pay the full salary.

The employer involved in the lawsuit, who runs a restaurant in Amsterdam, found himself in financial trouble as a result of the coronavirus crisis. In March, he applied for compensation through the NOW scheme and received 60% of the wage bill of January 2020 as monthly compensation. He responded by paying all of...]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:46:03 +0200 Salary Negotiations

Last year, the news buzzed with articles about economic discrimination between women and men. The Dutch News Broadcast NOS wrote a short article on why women are less successful when it comes down to salary negotiations. According to the article, women use insecure language more often; they downplay their own qualities and results; they have less confidence during the negotiations.
The article used the discrepancy between the salary of men and women as its topic to focus on the pitfalls of women, but it applies to anyone who wishes to tackle their salary. When it comes to negotiating,...]]> Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:14:56 +0200
Determining how much you are worth in your profession is often a difficult question, especially in industries where there are no fixed salary scales. For such industries, the amount you earn is largely based on negotiations between you and your employer. Here employers often have the advantage of experience, and it can be a daunting task to go up against them as a starter, without the knowledge of how you can get the salary you deserve.

The first thing you should do to determine how much you are worth is to carry out some research. Salary calculators are a dime...]]> Mon, 19 Mar 2018 16:30:03 +0100
The debate about whether money can buy you happiness is an old one, and the answer (if indeed, there is one) to a large extent depends upon the person asking the question. Most people probably want to be in a job which pays well. But at what point does the size of your paycheck no longer result in a greater feeling of happiness? Recent studies offer some clues.

One of the most widely cited of such studies was done by the Scottish-American Nobel Prize winning economist Angus Deaton, in a 2010 paper (with Daniel Kahneman) which looked at the relationship...]]> Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:09:05 +0100
You are looking forward to start working or you are currently working, but do not feel at ease and want a job change. What should you search for? Generally speaking, motivation to look for a particular kind of job depends on each individual, but we can agree on the fact that a decent salary, the one that supports your personal lifestyle and includes social benefits and holidays, would be the basis to start thinking about a company. However, this is far from being the most important and only issue to consider.

When you are looking for your first job, or...]]> Fri, 12 Jan 2018 21:35:28 +0100

Successful companies are starting to realise that increasing wages can help to increase profits and growth by boosting productivity; companies such as Costco, a US warehouse company, have seen a rise in profits compared to its competitors, and they owe their success to increased employee morale through better pay. However, as an employee, it can be difficult to persuade employers that you deserve more money when the company grows. Even if your argument is that employees hard work should be rewarded and it would help further boost working incentives.

When a company’s success can be confidently attributed to one’s hard...]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2017 09:49:14 +0200
After years of wage moderation, it must be over, thinks the trade union movement. Companies make healthy profits and benefit from their employees. Prior to Prince’s Day, the unions traditionally establish their wages. By 2018 there must be a minimum of 3.5% higher wages.

The FNV (The Netherlands Trade Union Confederation), the Dutch largest trade union, will set the next decade for a minimum wage of 3.5%. People who earn little can even get up to 5%, because FNV also demands that everybody would get a minimum of 1000 euros a year extra. Trade union CNV (Christian Trade Union Federation)...]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2017 09:39:45 +0200
It is almost a given that when offered a pay rise, you should accept it. Indeed, it would appear to be madness to reject it. After all, why would anyone refuse to have more money at the end of the month? However, there are some situations where it might be sensible to refuse a wage increase. For instance, there might be a situation in which the amount offered is so low that it is taken as insulting. Another example could involve an offer in which you are made to take on more responsibilities than are worth the increase in pay....]]> Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:57:01 +0200
You have finally done it. After many searches and applications, difficult interviews with questions like: ‘Would you choose this job over your own biological mother?’ you have finally reached the end of your long journey and received a job offer.

However, after straining through all the fine print and the listed salary, you have to wonder to yourself: ‘How much is my job worth?’ The offer has been made, the hiring manager is interested, and now the ball is in your court. What is the next step? Negotiation.

Become Informed

Many online resources have cropped up recently to help gauge...]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2017 17:21:08 +0200

If there is something Dutch people are good at, it is at combining work and free time, and being able to enjoy both. The Dutch work the least hours of any other nation in the European Union. The average number of working hours of other countries in Europe is 37.5 hours a week. In the Netherlands, by comparison, Dutch people work an average of 30.6 hours per week, which results in 364 hours less in a year.

We could go even further and compare those working hours to other countries around the globe. The people in North America work on...]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2017 22:10:12 +0200

Brutto(gross) salary is best defined as the sum of salary before the deduction of tax and insurance(s). Netto(net) salary is the result of initial pay including tax and other sorts of deductions made. These deductions depend on local/national legislation where employees are required to pay certain amounts of tax to the government.

This could be an example of what the salary slip would look like:

Earnings of January 2022: 2,000EUR
Bonus: + 150EUR
= 2,150EUR
(This would be considered the brutto salary)

Deductions:
Payroll tax with discount: 236,33
Special payroll rate – 5,62
11,11% Pension rate – 158,28
8,99 % Extra pension add on – 0,00
0,414 % Insurance – 11,18
0,285 %...]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2016 09:45:40 +0200
Negotiations with a boss or supervisor can be a daunting task for employees; nonetheless it is sometimes a necessary means for improvement under unsatisfactory working conditions. The aim of a negotiation can vary from typical requests such as higher wages, more responsibilities and better working hours to improvements in the working environment such as a bigger office, newer equipment or safer working conditions. In any case, negotiating is usually the better option to improve a situation instead of pursuing a better job elsewhere.

In addition to knowing what you wish to get out of a negotiation, making use of suitable...]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2017 11:00:09 +0200 As an internationally recognized hub of trade and high tech industry, the Netherlands attracts numerous multinational companies to its shores. With a vibrant open economy, stable industrial relations, and low inflation and unemployment, the country boasts high wages and excellent working conditions. According to Eurostat, the Dutch earn the third highest full-time wage in the EU, after Denmark and Luxembourg.

Industry in the Netherlands is focused around food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining and other high technology areas, as well as a strong service sector. As such, the highest paid jobs tend to be in these fields. Furthermore, it means that...]]> Mon, 29 May 2017 12:09:39 +0200 There are not many people who will be able to explain in detail how pensions work. Among many adults it is an abstract concept that is to be tackled a few decades down the road. I have to admit, I am not an exception. Once in a while, the topic resurfaces. Usually it is a letter from my employer informing me about the current affairs. I often start reading it only to lose interest after finishing the third paragraph. With the nearing elections, pensions and the age of retirement (AOW leeftijd), which is 67 years and three months at the...]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2017 12:03:18 +0200 Good employers will know when your salary should increase as a reward for great work. Sometimes, however, you might feel you are due a pay rise that has not arrived. Asking for a raise can be a tricky conversation. For example, you do not want to come across as too arrogant or demanding, nor give the impression that you are ungrateful. Sometimes the response to a raise will be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ regardless of how you present your case. If your boss is open to persuasion, however,good preparation and research can make all the difference.

The first and most...]]> Mon, 03 Apr 2017 10:46:52 +0200 Working in another country comes with several adjustments, including differences in salaries, currencies, and benefit expectations. An appropriate salary in one country may be drastically below the cost of living in another and weighing that out can be confusing. As an expat, it is important to know what should be expected when working in the Netherlands and what is open to negotiation before signing a contract.

Salary will always be dependent upon age, position, and experience and thus will vary for each person. This is especially true for expats and those hired as highly skilled migrant workers. This usually puts...]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:27:09 +0100 Myth #1 –“A Salary Is A Fixed Amount” vs. “You Can Always Negotiate”
The truth is somewhere in the middle and which one applies to your situation depends mainly on the industry you work in. Many employers categorise their employees strictly in grades and tables, so there might be less wiggle room than you think. However, sometimes you can persuade you future employer to rank you a grade or two higher.

Myth #2 - A Beginning Salary Is Just a Start
While that may be true, most raises constitute a percentage of your current salary. So if you accept a...]]> Sun, 06 Nov 2016 22:24:36 +0100        This benefit has been put in place in order to attract foreigners with specific sets of skills that are not common among applicants on the Dutch job market, and its aim is to compensate some of the expenses related to relocation. Effectively, it makes up to 30% of your taxable salary non-taxable. Plus, you can exchange your foreign driver’s licence for a Dutch one without having to take any additional lessons or exams. In order to benefit from it, you will have to meet certain requirements.
        Who Is it for?          The main condition is that the eligible expat...]]> Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:30:02 +0200
Discussing about salary is a sensitive topic to bring up for most people. A negotiation about salary is a private matter, depending on what job you have. This makes it “easy for people to be underpaid, as nobody will really know what you earn apart from the employer and employee” (Ryan, Forbes). Some jobs might not have enough money to really compensate workers and the work they have done.

While at other times, the company might not realize how much work employees have so as to make a higher deserved pay. Situations like these are often difficult to address to...]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:24:59 +0200
You have searched, sent CV’s, and been interviewed until your brain hurts, and now you have finally secured the perfect job. Congratulations! After the excitement wears off, it is time to start going over the contracts and salary, which can be a bit overwhelming. Along with the payment you will receive, comes several benefits that the Dutch Labour Laws provide. These are agreed upon through Collective Bargaining Agreement (CAO) between employers and various trade unions. It is important to go over your contract before signing to ensure everything iscorrect, and to consult legal counsel if anything stands out as a...]]> Mon, 01 Aug 2016 11:56:26 +0200 As of 2016 onwards, employers and Labour Offices should include the taxes on special allowances such as holiday pay, bonus or the 13th month in a different way. This makes the net wage different from what people were accustomed to.
Employers and Labour Offices are taking the tax on the wages of their employees or beneficiaries, and then paying it to the tax authorities: the payroll tax. Withholding income tax is done according to certain tables.
As holiday pay or other special remuneration is paid at once, the employer or benefits agency will withhold deductions, same as of the monthly...]]> Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:52:46 +0200 Individuals can find it as hard to move from a low paying job to a sustainable and better paid job, as to move from welfare into work. For many, being stuck in a job with little prospect of progression can be very difficult to find ways to move on and move up. We agree that giving people the opportunity to use their potential in employment is important. However, this is often linked with greater duties and responsibilities for employees when looking for a new job that can secure a higher salary.

The issue is simple and clear; this can have...]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:42:30 +0100 You’ve finally done it. After thousands of applications and a dozen probing, difficult interviews with questions like, “would you choose this job over your own biological mother?”, you’ve finally reached the end of your long journey: a job offer!
However, after straining through all the fine print and the listed salary, you have to wonder to yourself: “how much is my job worth?” The offer has been made, the hiring manager is interested, and now the ball is in your court. The next step? Negotiation.

Get informed
Many online resources have cropped up recently to help gauge your price on...]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 18:13:15 +0100 Imagine this scenario: you've been working in a company for two years. You've managed to keep yourself afloat, while also helping the company out. You see yourself going above and beyond the boundaries of your responsibilities. Perhaps it's time that your good behaviour is rewarded, or so you think.

Perhaps there are other incentives for wanting a raise as well: your situation at home has changed, you're looking to earn greater savings. Regardless of this, the strategy is still the same. You'll need to ask for a raise.

However, you can't expect management to notice your hard work, and expct...]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:47:09 +0100 A new report from ADP showed that job-hopping pays off, at least in the United States,. ADP has done research among US workers in relation to wage developments for the third quarter of 2015. For employees in the same job, working for the same employer as last year, wages rose 3.5 percent. For Employees who switched employers, their pay rise increased by 6.5 percent.

However, this largely depends on the sector in which employees work. In the education and health care sectors, employees changing jobs only saw a 0.4 percent increase in their salary. In construction, job hoppers went ahead...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:59:58 +0100 The World Economic Forum (WEF) publishes the Global Gender Gap Index. The Global Gender Gap Index provides insight into the disparity between men and women for more than ninety percent of the world population. The Netherlands rises this year from fourteenth to thirteenth place.

The inequality between men and women over the past ten years decreased by 4 percent. Women now earn about what men earned in 2006. If we continue at this slow pace the WEF is expecting the gap to close entirely in about 118 years. This means that by the year 2133, the disparity between men and...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:48:56 +0100 Salary is always a large factor in whether you will take a job, or not. Often, you'll find yourself questioning whether the position you're applying for is worth it. This is where salary negotiations come in. How do you make sure your job is worth the effort and time you put into it? By preparing yourself with the situation, and having some knowledge on the matter.

With proper preparation you'll find that the negotiation can be quite easy. This has the benefit of making you feel a lot more confident in yourself. Without further ado, here are some top tips...]]> Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:38:31 +0100 Negotiating your salary package in the Netherlands involves more than determining the amount of your salary. Bonuses, holidays, and other benefits are offered as a package with your salary but to negotiate a fair deal, you should be prepared; knowing what benefits to expect and how much extras you should ask for.
What you should ask for and expect, however, depends on your qualifications and work experience. For example, an entry-level position with a Master's degree typically offers a monthly base salary between €2,300 – €2,500 gross. Bonuses are given every May equivalent to 8% of your annual earnings, which...]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2015 11:20:47 +0200