Working in Amsterdam (2026): jobs, sponsors, startup contracts and what to do if you are dismissed
Working in Amsterdam raises its own questions: which employers can sponsor you, what a startup may put in your contract, and what to do when the job ends. This guide answers them with 2026 figures and rules, and shows when an employment lawyer is worth a call.
FindLawyer gives practical initial guidance, prepares your case and matches you with a suitable independent lawyer. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.
Rules and figures from Rijksoverheid, the IND, UWV, the Civil Code and the City of Amsterdam · Checked 15 September 2026
Short answer
Working in Amsterdam in 2026 means a tight job market: UWV counts 3.5 times as many vacancies as short-term jobseekers in the region, with jobs still growing in ICT and specialist business services. Many internationals join startups and scale-ups, so check the probation period, any non-compete clause and how your stock options are taxed before you sign. If you are dismissed, deadlines start at once: apply for WW within a week, go to the kantonrechter within 2 months, and on a highly skilled migrant permit you generally have 3 months to find a new sponsor.
Key facts for 2026
- 41,150 vacancies were open on average in Greater Amsterdam in the first half of 2025.
- 22% of working Amsterdammers are self-employed, against 16% nationally.
- €5,942 a month is what an Amsterdam sponsor must pay a highly skilled migrant of 30 or over in 2026.
- 2 months is the longest probation period; a contract of 6 months or less may have none.
- 1 year is the maximum length of a non-compete clause in the bill the cabinet plans to send to parliament.
- 2 months after your contract ends is the deadline to ask the kantonrechter to annul a dismissal.
- 3 months is the usual search period for a new sponsor after a highly skilled migrant loses their job.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
Job market
Working in Amsterdam: the job market in 2026
Amsterdam employers still struggle to fill jobs, although the market is cooling a little.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancies in Greater Amsterdam, first half of 2025 (average) | 41,150 | UWV |
| Vacancies per short-term jobseeker | 3.5 | UWV |
| Growth in the number of jobs, 2024 to 2027 | 2.5% | UWV |
| Amsterdammers aged 15 to 75 with work, 2024 | 73% | O&S |
| Working Amsterdammers on a flexible contract | 30% | O&S |
| Working Amsterdammers who are self-employed (nationally 16%) | 22% | O&S |
| Unemployment in Amsterdam, 2024 | 5.1% | O&S |
- Where the jobs grow. UWV expects more jobs in ICT and specialist business services, and fewer in agency work and in transport and logistics. The number of self-employed jobs falls, because the Tax Administration checks harder for false self-employment (UWV). Freelancing? Read our guide to freelancing and the DBA rules.
- Where it goes next. The city’s research office expects employment in Greater Amsterdam to grow slightly faster than nationally up to 2030, driven by knowledge and services such as specialist business services and information and communication (O&S).
- Contracts. Almost half of the 551 thousand working Amsterdammers had a permanent employment contract in 2024, fewer than nationally (O&S). Our employment contract guide explains each type.
Sponsors
Jobs in Amsterdam for English speakers: sponsors and salaries
If you come from outside the EU, the job only works if the employer is a recognised sponsor and pays at least the IND salary threshold.
The IND register of recognised sponsors lists many well-known names, such as Booking.com B.V., Adyen N.V., Mollie B.V., Picnic International B.V. and Optiver Holding B.V., alongside entries with Amsterdam in the name: Stichting Amsterdam UMC, Euronext Amsterdam N.V., Flow Traders Amsterdam Services B.V. and the International School of Amsterdam (IND register). The register shows names and Chamber of Commerce numbers, not where people work or in which language, so check each vacancy. Our sponsorship jobs guide shows how to search it.
| 2026 gross monthly salary threshold | Amount |
|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older | €5,942 |
| Highly skilled migrant, under 30 | €4,357 |
| Reduced criterion (for example after an orientation year) | €3,122 |
Source: IND. The route itself is in our highly skilled migrant visa guide, and what you keep after tax in our salary calculator and 30% ruling guide. Every employee aged 21 or over earns at least €14.99 gross an hour from 1 July 2026 (Rijksoverheid); see our minimum wage guide. Arriving? Register first: our IND and registration in Amsterdam guide covers the City Office and IN Amsterdam.
Startups
Startup contracts in Amsterdam: probation, stock options, non-competes
Startups and scale-ups often pay part of your reward in stock options and add clauses that matter later, so read these four before you sign.
| Clause | The rule now | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Probation period (proeftijd) | In writing. At most 1 month on a temporary contract of more than 6 months but under 2 years; at most 2 months on a permanent contract or a temporary one of 2 years or more; none on a contract of 6 months or less. | Rijksoverheid |
| Dismissal during probation | No notice period and no reasonable ground needed, but whoever ends the contract gives the reason in writing if asked. A follow-up contract normally has no new probation. | Rijksoverheid |
| Stock options | Taxed when the shares from your options become tradable, even if you do not sell them. | Rijksoverheid |
| Non-compete clause (concurrentiebeding) | Not allowed in a temporary contract, unless the contract explains the weighty business interest; without that explanation it is not valid. | Rijksoverheid |
- Stock options may change. The cabinet has proposed taxing employees of startups and scale-ups only when they actually sell their shares, even after leaving the company, and on 65% of the benefit. It aims to start the scheme on 1 January 2027; until then the current rule applies (Rijksoverheid).
- Non-competes may change. About 1/3 of employees now have one (Rijksoverheid). The cabinet’s bill limits a clause to 1 year, requires it to name the area it covers, and makes the employer pay compensation when it invokes the clause. The bill is expected to reach parliament at the end of 2026, so it is not law yet (Rijksoverheid). See our non-compete clause guide.
- Dismissed during probation? You are still entitled to a transition payment, from the first day of your contract (Rijksoverheid). Our probation period guide has the details.
Your rights
Pay, leave and notice: the rules every Amsterdam contract must meet
Whatever your offer letter says, Dutch law sets a floor that your employer cannot contract out of in these areas.
| Right | The minimum | Source | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday allowance | At least 8% of your gross annual salary | Rijksoverheid | Holiday allowance |
| Sick pay | At least 70% of your wage in year 1, and at least the minimum wage; 70% in year 2 | Rijksoverheid | Sick leave |
| Your notice when you resign | 1 month on a permanent contract | Rijksoverheid | Notice period |
| Your employer’s notice | 1 month under 5 years of service, 2 months from 5 to 10 years, 3 from 10 to 15, 4 after 15 | Rijksoverheid | Notice period |
If you agree a notice period longer than 1 month, your employer’s notice must be twice as long as yours (Rijksoverheid). Expecting a child? Read our maternity leave guide. Wages late or missing? See what to do when your employer does not pay.
Dismissal
Dismissed in Amsterdam: deadlines, the court and your permit
A dismissal in Amsterdam starts several clocks at once, and missing one can cost you money or your residence permit.
- Do not sign on the spot A settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) fixes your end date, your payment and your WW rights. Our settlement agreement guide explains what to check first.
- Apply for WW in time If you have already been unemployed for more than a week when you apply, UWV will probably pay a lower benefit or none for a while. UWV decides within 4 weeks of your first day without work if it has your application by then (UWV).
- Check your transition payment You get 1/3 of a monthly salary per full year of service, up to €102,000 gross in 2026 or one annual salary if that is higher (Rijksoverheid). Use our transition payment calculator.
- Mind the court deadlines A request to the kantonrechter to annul a notice of dismissal, or for fair compensation, expires 2 months after the contract ended; one about the transition payment after 3 months (Civil Code 7:686a). Our 2-month deadline guide explains which applies.
- On a permit? Start the search period clock If you are not to blame, the IND gives you 3 months to find another recognised sponsor, or up to 6 months if you have held your permit for 2 years or more; it starts on the day the contract was dissolved and never outlasts your permit (IND). Read dismissed on a highly skilled migrant permit in Amsterdam first.
The court. Employment cases in Amsterdam are heard by the kantonrechter of the Rechtbank Amsterdam, Parnassusweg 280, open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 (Rechtspraak.nl). Start with what to do when you are dismissed; for dismissal on the spot see instant dismissal, and for a permit at risk what happens to your permit when you lose your job.
Legal help
Employment lawyer in Amsterdam: when to call one
Call a lawyer before you sign anything that ends your job, and at once if your residence permit depends on it.
- Handed a settlement agreement: a lawyer checks the end date, the payment and the WW wording, and can negotiate them.
- Wrongful dismissal: the 2-month court deadline makes a quick call worthwhile; see our wrongful termination guide.
- A non-compete or option dispute: whether a clause is valid depends on the exact wording.
- A free first consultation: FindLawyer starts with a free 15-minute call, and on a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid.
Dismissed or pushed to sign in Amsterdam? Talk to an employment lawyer
Need help with this? We match you with an English-speaking Dutch employment lawyer. Free 15-minute matching call first. Lawyer fees are paid to the firm and explained before you proceed.
Keep reading
Related guides
More of our guides for working in Amsterdam.
Dismissed on a highly skilled migrant permit
The first steps for Amsterdam permit holders.
DismissalDismissed: what to do
Your first week, step by step.
Exit dealsSettlement agreement
Before you sign the exit deal.
ClausesNon-compete clause
When it binds you, and the new bill.
ArrivingIND and registration in Amsterdam
City Office, IN Amsterdam, your BSN.
HousingRenting in Amsterdam
Rents, permits and your deposit.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What should I know before working in Amsterdam?
The job market is tight: there are 3.5 times as many vacancies as short-term jobseekers in Greater Amsterdam. Nearly half of working Amsterdammers have a permanent contract, while 30% are on a flexible contract and 22% are self-employed. From outside the EU you usually need a recognised sponsor and a salary above the IND threshold. Read the probation, notice and non-compete clauses before you sign.
Can a startup give me a probation period and a non-compete on a temporary contract?
A probation period, yes, if it is in writing: at most 1 month on a temporary contract of more than 6 months but under 2 years, and none at all on a contract of 6 months or less. A non-compete in a temporary contract is only valid if the contract explains the weighty business interest behind it; without that motivation the clause is not valid.
How are stock options from my employer taxed in the Netherlands?
Today you pay tax as soon as the shares you get from your options become tradable, even if you do not sell them. The cabinet has proposed that employees of startups and scale-ups pay tax only when they actually sell, on 65% of the benefit. That is still a proposal, aimed at 1 January 2027, so check the rules that apply when you exercise.
How long can I stay after losing my highly skilled migrant job in Amsterdam?
If the dismissal is not your fault, the IND generally gives you 3 months to find another recognised sponsor, and up to 6 months if you have held your residence permit for 2 years or more. The search period starts on the day your employment contract was dissolved and never runs past the end date of your permit.
Where is the kantonrechter in Amsterdam, and how long do I have?
Employment cases in Amsterdam go to the kantonrechter of the Rechtbank Amsterdam, Parnassusweg 280. A request to annul a notice of dismissal, or for fair compensation instead, must be filed within 2 months after the contract ended. A claim for an unpaid transition payment can be made within 3 months. Talk to a lawyer early, because these dates are strict.
Is there a free employment lawyer consultation in Amsterdam?
FindLawyer starts with a free 15-minute call and then matches you with an English-speaking Dutch employment lawyer for your case, whether it is wrongful dismissal, a settlement agreement or a permit at risk. The lawyer’s fees are explained before you proceed, and on a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid.
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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026
- UWV: Greater Amsterdam region in figures 2025 (in Dutch)
- Onderzoek en Statistiek Amsterdam: work in figures 2025 (in Dutch)
- Onderzoek en Statistiek Amsterdam: labour market forecast Greater Amsterdam 2025-2030 (in Dutch)
- IND: public register of recognised sponsors, work
- IND: required amounts and income requirements
- Rijksoverheid: minimum wage amounts 2026 (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how long is a probation period? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: rules for a probation period (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: consultation on tax measures for startups and scale-ups, 1 April 2026 (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: what is a non-compete clause? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: more freedom for employees through a modernised non-compete clause (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how high is the transition payment? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how much holiday allowance do I get? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how much pay do I get when I am ill? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: my notice period when I resign (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: my employer’s notice period (in Dutch)
- UWV: applying for unemployment benefit (WW) (in Dutch)
- Dutch Civil Code, Book 7, article 686a (in Dutch)
- IND: brochure on working as a highly skilled migrant (form 3072, PDF)
- Rechtspraak.nl: Rechtbank Amsterdam visitor information (in Dutch)
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about working in Amsterdam and employment law, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.