Opinions about work in the Netherlands. 5 good reasons to work in this country

Working in the Netherlands attracts an increasing number of temporary workers. There is a steady increase in the number of job offers not only for skilled workers, but also for those who are looking for manual work for just a few months. You can read various opinions about what working in the Netherlands is like. Is it worth to believe in them and work in this country?

Job in The Netherlands for unskilled workers

Educated people with a communicative knowledge of English and high qualifications can easily find well-paid work in the Netherlands. Doctors, lawyers, IT specialists or architects can count on the best salaries, but there is no shortage of interesting job offers in the Netherlands for workers with much lower qualifications.

Unskilled workers

A quick look at the website of the READY STEADY GO recruitment agency is enough to see that the job offers abroad for unskilled workers are very attractive. Dutch companies offer good working conditions, and if the Employee works hard and shows willingness to work, they can count on development, higher wages and a better job position.

Short-term employment

Employment agencies in the Netherlands are often looking for Employees for temporary and seasonal work. Even if you take up an occupation that does not require too many skills and is only available for a few months, you can count on an attractive salary.

So, if you do not want to stay permanently in the Netherlands, but only for a short period of time, READY STEADY GO agency will certainly find the right job for you.

Job for couples

Working in the Netherlands is frequently preferred by couples who want to earn and put money aside for a wedding, starting a business, their own flat or simply to pay off their financial obligations. Employment agencies abroad also organise such trips for couples. When you choose to go with READY STEADY GO, you can be sure that, as a couple, you will be accommodated together in a double room and that each of you will receive job offers adjusted to your profile.

Earnings above EUR 1600 gross

Whether you are looking for work yourself or through an employment agency, you are certainly looking for an occupation that pays adequately. Adequately, that is, so that you have enough money to live in the Netherlands and put aside part of your salary.

Salary in The Netherlands

This level of earnings is not difficult to achieve. There is a minimum wage per hour and a minimum wage per month. However, these are set twice a year, usually in January and July, and apply to full-time employees. On 1 January 2022, the minimum wage was set at €1,725 gross per month, which is €398 per week and €78 per day.

Age-based rate

The Netherlands is a country that prioritises education. For this reason, the country has what is known as an ‘age rate’ – people under the age of 21 earn less for the same work than older people. This way, the Dutch want to encourage education among young people.

When verifying the pay for a job, it is therefore worth paying attention to whether the employer’s age-rating rules apply. You can read more about how to verify offers in the article Don’t be caught off guard – what to look out for in job offers?

High wages and living standard

The average worker, who earns the lowest legal wage in Poland, cannot count on a satisfying standard of living. In most cases, he or she only has enough money to pay basic bills and buy average-quality food or clothing.

Earnings in The Netherlands vs. earning in Poland

In the Netherlands, although the cost of living is slightly higher than in Poland, an Employee who earns the minimum wage can afford much more than a Pole working in Poland.

Living standard

The money received as part of your salary allows you to rent a flat, pay for health insurance and buy the necessities of life, as well as save money. The price ratio in shops to the salary received is much better than in Polish conditions, so Employees in the Netherlands can afford more than the average Employee in Poland.

Accommodation

The idea of going to work in the Netherlands involves renting a flat or a room. Employees of an employment agency can count on accommodation organised by the agency, which allows them to save on rent and feel secure.

SNF housing standards

The housing available to those coming to work must comply with the standards set by the SNF (Stichting Normeding Flexwonen). These standards concern living space as well as safety and compliance with hygiene rules in staff accommodation.

Work smart, not too long – work-life balance

Working conditions in the Netherlands are often based on the principle of work-life balance. Work is important, but it should not significantly affect family life and leisure.

The number of working hours per week therefore varies on average between 35 and 40. In real terms, however, you stay at the workplace a little longer, as there is one unpaid break per eight hours of work. This is usually broken down into 3 parts: twice 15 minutes each and once 30 minutes.

Working hours and overtime

The maximum working time is 12 hours per day, including lunch break, and 60 hours per week. Employees of employment agencies in the Netherlands who travel for work purposes often prefer to work longer hours in order to earn more. Therefore, they choose jobs that guarantee them the possibility to work overtime and receive additional remuneration for this.

Wage extras

Salary in the Netherlands includes not only the basic remuneration, but also various types of allowances. The READY STEADY GO agency lists their types and amounts in its offers.

So you can count on, among other things, a holiday allowance and a shift allowance. Both are expressed as a percentage of the gross euro basic wage.

Who takes care of the formalities?

If you are looking for a job on your own, you will have to take care of these yourself. Employment agencies take care of this for their Employees, which is why many people choose to organise their departure in cooperation with an agency. You can read about why it is still a good idea to work with an employment agency here Working abroad – how to find a job in The Netherlands?

Take care of your CV

If you are determined to find a good job that will give you the chance to grow and earn high wages, all you need to do is prepare your CV well and commit to your duties. We wrote about how to do this in the article How do I write a CV to work in the Netherlands?

Working in the Netherlands without Dutch knowledge

There are a lot of myths about working in the Netherlands, also about communication issues. The fact is that the Dutch speak English well and it is enough to know English communicatively to be able to communicate with both superiors at work and colleagues without any problems. Of course, when taking up employment, knowledge of Dutch is an advantage, but communicating in Dutch is not a requirement.

Improve your English with the help of an agency

When going to work in the Netherlands, it is a good idea to speak English. However, if you don’t speak English well enough, you can still attend language courses, including those organised by the READY STEADY GO agency.

English through an app

Employees of this agency also have the free Vivolang learning platform at their disposal to learn industry-specific English. For everyday communication in English or Dutch, the well-known Google Translator will also come in handy. For more details, see the post on what to bring on a trip to work abroad.

Opinions about working in The Netherlands versus the reality

As you can see, working in the Netherlands has many advantages and is definitely worth considering even if it is only for a short period of time. Using the help of the READY STEADY GO agency, you can find an interesting offer of permanent, temporary or seasonal work, thanks to which you will gain new work experience and money.

Don’t be caught off guard – what to look out for in job offers? in the Netherlands and choose the best offer today!