Unemployment in the Netherlands is low – 3.9% in 2025 (EU: 6.0%) – and 83.4% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%). The minimum wage is €14.99 an hour from 1 July 2026 for workers aged 21+, with lower youth rates. Register with your municipality within 5 days to get your BSN, and take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months.
The Netherlands is a country of 18.1 million people with an employment rate well above the EU average: 83.4% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).
Unemployment has edged up from 3.5% in 2022 to 3.9% in 2025, but it is still far below the EU average of 6.0%. Youth unemployment is low too: 8.8% among people aged 15–24, compared with 15.2% in the EU.
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need a residence permit or a work permit – your passport or ID card is enough, and your employer does not need a work permit (TWV) for you. Employers appreciate applications in Dutch, unless the job ad says otherwise.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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