A2 KNM: Employment & Contracts
In the Netherlands, employment is regulated by law. Workers have strong rights including minimum wage, paid vacation (at least 4 weeks), and sick leave. T...
Reviewed against official sources - Updated 2026-05-10
In the Netherlands, employment is regulated by law. Workers have strong rights including minimum wage, paid vacation (at least 4 weeks), and sick leave. There are different types of contracts: permanent (vast contract), temporary (tijdelijk contract), and zero-hours (oproepcontract).
| Dutch | English | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| Vast contract | Permanent contract | Indefinite, most job security |
| Tijdelijk contract | Temporary contract | Fixed end date, max 3 in 3 years |
| Proeftijd | Trial period | 1-2 months, easy termination |
| Minimumloon | Minimum wage | Set by government, age-dependent |
| Vakantiedagen | Vacation days | Minimum 4 weeks paid |
| Ontslagbescherming | Dismissal protection | Employer needs valid reason |
| Work Detail | Dutch | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Payslip | Loonstrook | Shows gross salary, net salary, tax, and deductions |
| Gross salary | Brutoloon | Salary before tax and social premiums |
| Net salary | Nettoloon | Amount paid into your bank account |
| Collective agreement | CAO | Extra work rules for a sector or company |
| Job application | Sollicitatie | CV, motivation letter, and interview |
| Diploma evaluation | Diplomawaardering | Helps employers compare foreign diplomas |
Examples
- Wat voor contract heb je?
- What kind of contract do you have?
- Ik heb een vast contract.
- I have a permanent contract.
- Hoeveel vakantiedagen heb je?
- How many vacation days do you have?
- De proeftijd is één maand.
- The trial period is one month.
Study note
Always get your employment contract in writing! By law, employers must provide written confirmation of your employment terms. Check your contract carefully for: salary, hours, trial period, and vacation days. A CAO (Collectieve Arbeidsovereenkomst) is a collective labor agreement that may give you extra rights.
Practice after reading
Train A2 knowledge of Dutch society with timed KNM practice questions.
