What makes up the package

Monthly salary

Dutch offers usually quote gross per month. Multiply by 12, then add holiday allowance.

Holiday allowance

At least 8% of your annual salary, often paid in May. Sometimes already included: check the wording.

13th month

An extra month's salary in many collective agreements, usually paid in December.

Pension

Most employers contribute; check your own share and whether the scheme is employer-paid.

Travel

Commuting allowance up to €0.23/km tax-free, or an NS Business Card.

Home working

Up to €2.45 per home-working day tax-free in 2026.

Lease car

Private use is taxed as bijtelling. See bijtelling explained.

Training budget

Common in tech and consulting; ask for the yearly amount.

Comparing two offers

1
Convert to a yearly gross
Monthly × 12, plus 8% holiday allowance, plus any 13th month or fixed bonus.
2
Check the pension share
A higher employee contribution lowers your net pay now but builds your pension.
3
Turn it into net
Use the take-home salary calculator, or see €60k and €80k worked out.
4
Value the perks
Travel, home working, training and extra holidays above the legal minimum all have real value.

Fixed-term vs permanent: Bepaalde tijd vs onbepaalde tijd. After three fixed-term contracts or three years, the next one is permanent by law.
Probation (proeftijd): At most one month for contracts up to two years, two months for longer or permanent contracts. None for contracts of six months or less.
Notice period: Usually one month for the employee; longer for the employer, depending on how long you worked there.
Holidays: At least four times your weekly hours per year (20 days full-time); many employers give 25.
Collective agreement (cao): If your sector has one, it sets minimum pay, hours and extras.
Non-compete: Only valid in permanent contracts, or in fixed-term ones with a written reason.

Ask whether the offer includes the 30% ruling, and whether the salary is quoted before or after it. See the 30% ruling.

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

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