Welcome to the Netherlands: the first steps
The Netherlands is a popular country for migrant workers from all over Europe and beyond. Whether you come from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey or another country, if you want to work in the Netherlands there are a number of practical matters that you need to arrange. In this guide, we take you step by step through everything you need to know.
As an EU citizen, you have the right to work in the Netherlands without a work permit. You only need to register your residence with the municipality if you intend to stay in the Netherlands for longer than four months. For non-EU citizens, different rules apply and a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) and employment permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) are usually required.
The BSN number: your key to the Netherlands
The Citizen Service Number (BSN) is the most important number you need in the Netherlands. You need it for your employer, the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst), health insurance and many other matters. To obtain a BSN, you must register with the municipality where you live. For this, you need a valid identity document, a birth certificate (at some municipalities) and proof of your residential address.
If you do not have a fixed address, you can register with some municipalities as a non-resident at an RNI counter (Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen). You will then receive a BSN but will not be registered as a resident. This is for example useful if you do seasonal work.
Health insurance: mandatory for everyone
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is required to take out basic health insurance with a Dutch health insurer. The basic health insurance covers, among other things, general practitioner visits, hospital care and medicines. The premium amounts to an average of around 140 euros per month. In addition, there is a deductible, which in 2026 stands at 385 euros per year.
You must insure yourself within four months after the commencement of your work in the Netherlands. If you fail to do so, you may be fined by the CAK. Some temp agencies arrange collective insurance for their employees, but always verify whether this has actually been done.
Housing: your rights as tenant
Good and affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges for labour migrants in the Netherlands. If your employer or temporary employment agency offers housing, pay attention to the quality. The accommodation must comply with fire safety requirements and there must be sufficient sanitary facilities. You must have at least 10 square metres of living space per person.
Your employer may withhold a maximum of 25% of the statutory minimum wage for housing. This must be agreed in writing. Important: your housing may not be dependent on your employment. If your contract ends, your employer may not evict you from the dwelling immediately. A reasonable eviction notice period applies.
Taxes and allowances
As an employee in the Netherlands, you pay wage tax (loonbelasting) and national insurance contributions (premies volksverzekeringen). These are withheld from your salary by your employer. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for allowances (toeslagen), such as healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) to reduce the costs of your health insurance, rent allowance (huurtoeslag) if you rent a home with low rent, and child-related budget (kindgebonden budget) if you have children.
You can apply for these benefits at the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst) via MijnToeslagen. It is also important to know that as a labour migrant you may be entitled to the 30% ruling (30%-regeling) if you have specific expertise, or that you must pay tax in your home country on certain income. A tax advisor can help you with this.
Your rights as an employee
As a labour migrant, you have exactly the same labour rights in the Netherlands as Dutch employees. This means the right to at least the minimum wage, a maximum of 40 hours per week (unless otherwise provided in the collective labour agreement (CAO)), holiday allowance of 8%, at least 20 days of leave per year for full-time work, a safe workplace, and protection against discrimination.
If you experience problems at work or with your employer, do not hesitate to seek help. At Arslan Advocaten, we speak multiple languages and understand the specific challenges that labour migrants face. We are ready to assist you with legal advice and representation.