Where to find job vacancies
If you are looking for work in the Netherlands, you might want to know where to find job vacancies in the Netherlands. First off, if you don’t use LinkedIn yet, consider using it for your job search in the Netherlands. In addition to being your digital CV and “business card”, you’ll also find many attractive vacancies on LinkedIn, especially for non-Dutch speakers. Before diving into the Dutch job market, polish your LinkedIn profile and add some (not too long) descriptions, catchy phrases and, most importantly, a recent picture of yourself. Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is essential to finding work in the Netherlands.
The biggest website for vacancies in the Netherlands is Indeed, which, unfortunately, is unavailable in English. However, Indeed offers most vacancies in the Netherlands because it scrapes job openings from other websites to offer them on its platform.
Other websites to find work in the Netherlands are:
These are the websites Dutchies also use for their job search. Unfortunately, all the sites above are available in Dutch only. However, some job descriptions are available in English, and in most job specifications, you’ll see whether Dutch is required.
Some websites (of job or recruitment agencies) offer job openings specifically for internationals. See e.g.
- Iamexpat
- Undutchables
- Jobs in Amsterdam and the other cities listed there (e.g. Jobs in The Hague or Utrecht)
- Together Abroad
Europeanlanguagejobs.com often lists vacancies for non-Dutch speakers in the Netherlands. If you come from France or Sweden, try workwid.fr and workwide.se. Also, try Facebook groups like English-speaking vacancies in the Netherlands or Jobs for German speakers in the Netherlands.
Tips for your application
Finding a job in the Netherlands is not always easy. Finding work in the Netherlands might take a while, even though you are highly qualified and possess all the necessary qualifications. As with housing in the Netherlands, the most important tip we can give is not to give up. However, there are more things you can do. Here are some tips for your quest to find work in the Netherlands.
- Learn (some) Dutch. Even though this is the hardest to achieve, your job chances increase if you speak (some) Dutch. Although most expat jobs don’t require you to speak Dutch, many companies feel more comfortable choosing you if you do so. If you live and work in the Netherlands, you will benefit from speaking Dutch simply because you will get the funny comments your colleagues make at the coffee machine, and you can integrate much faster.
- “Dutchify” your CV. In addition to your work experience in the Netherlands, including your date of birth, place of residence, a recent picture, and your hobbies and interests in your CV is common. However, only mention hobbies and activities that actually add something to your profile, like volunteering experience or sports. In France, for example, it is common to put the Countries you’ve travelled to in your CV; it is not so in the Netherlands.
ProTip: Mention a Dutch (or international) education comparable to yours.
ProTip for applicants outside the EU: Mention whether you have a residency and working permit for the Netherlands. Not every company can apply for such a permit. - Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. Make sure recruiters can find you and know that you are available.
- Work with Job Agencies. In some countries, job agencies don’t have the best reputation; not so in the Netherlands. Consider working with job agencies like Manpower, Undutchables (for internationals), Unique, Randstad (not available in English) and tempo team (no English website).
- Choose the dress code for your job application. In most companies, you are not expected to suit up for your job interview (depending on the branches). Go for casual chic.
- Prepare to be asked direct questions. Dutchies are straightforward; you will probably also learn that at your job interviews. They try to find out who you are outside of work and might ask questions about your interests, family, etc.
