Dismissed, underpaid, or pushed out in Rotterdam?
Shift work, agency contracts and unpaid overtime cause more disputes in Rotterdam than anywhere else. FindLawyer is an English-speaking matching service — book a free 15-minute call and we introduce you to a Dutch employment lawyer who handles Rotterdam cases.
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How it works
1. Book a free call
Pick a time for a free 15-minute consultation. No cost, no obligation.
2. Explain your situation
Tell us what happened, how urgent it is, and what documents you have.
3. Decide with no pressure
If a lawyer is the right route, we explain the matching fee before you commit.
4. Get matched fast
We introduce you to a Dutch employment lawyer who handles Rotterdam cases within 2 business days.
Employment problems common in Rotterdam
Rotterdam runs on the port, logistics, maritime services, construction and healthcare — sectors built on shift rosters, agency staffing and overtime. That is exactly where wage and dismissal disputes cluster, and where evidence like timesheets decides the outcome.
Unpaid overtime, allowances and shift pay
Port, logistics and construction work runs on irregular rosters, night shifts and overtime — and that is where pay goes wrong. Under BW 7:616 and BW 7:625 you are entitled to your agreed wage on time, plus a statutory increase when payment is late. Rosters, timesheets and shift logs are usually the decisive evidence.
If your overtime, weekend or shift allowances have not been paid correctly, keep every roster and payslip — a demand letter often recovers the money before any court step.
Agency, uitzend and payroll contracts — who is your real employer?
Much of Rotterdam’s workforce is hired through staffing agencies (uitzendbureaus) or payroll companies. That affects who owes you wages, how notice works, and when repeated contracts convert to a permanent one under the chain rules (BW 7:668a). Phase A/B/C status and agency clauses are frequently misapplied.
If you have been let go or your contract “won’t be renewed,” it is worth checking whether your real legal position is stronger than the agency told you.
Being handed a settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst)
Rotterdam employers, like everywhere in the Netherlands, often propose a vaststellingsovereenkomst instead of going to court. Signing too quickly can cost you your WW unemployment benefit, and the first draft is rarely the best offer. You usually have a reflection period, and the end date, transition payment and reference are negotiable.
Do not sign the same day — a short review often improves the terms and protects your benefits.
Being dismissed — the two routes
A dismissal runs either through UWV (economic or redundancy grounds) or the subdistrict court (kantonrechter, personal grounds). Either way you may be owed the statutory transition payment (transitievergoeding), and a rushed or poorly-documented dismissal can be challenged.
Where Rotterdam cases are handled
Employment disputes in Rotterdam fall under Rechtbank Rotterdam (Wilhelminaplein) and the local UWV office. The lawyers we match you with work at these bodies routinely.
FindLawyer.nl is a matching service, not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What we can match you with a lawyer for
“I’ve been dismissed”
Check whether your dismissal followed Dutch law, and what compensation you may be owed.
- Was there a valid ground under BW 7:669?
- Notice, warnings and hearing-right checks.
- Transition payment (transitievergoeding) review.
- Options to negotiate or challenge.
“I’ve been asked to sign a settlement”
Have a settlement agreement reviewed before you sign — protect your WW benefit and improve the terms.
- WW-safe wording checks.
- End date, reference and garden-leave terms.
- Transition payment and extra compensation.
- Use of your reflection period.
“I haven’t been paid correctly”
Recover unpaid wages, overtime, bonus or holiday pay with evidence-led support.
- Wage claims under BW 7:616 / 7:625.
- Statutory increase for late payment.
- Payslip and roster evidence.
- Demand letter before court.
“I’m sick and being pressured”
Know your rights during illness and reintegration under the Poortwachter rules.
- Wage continuation under BW 7:629.
- Reintegration obligations, both sides.
- Disputes with the bedrijfsarts.
- Protection against dismissal while ill.
“A non-compete is blocking me”
Test whether your non-compete is enforceable and get room to take your next role.
- Validity review under BW 7:653.
- Was the clause properly motivated?
- Urgency around a new start date.
- Carve-outs and settlements.
“There’s a conflict at work”
Get direction on warnings, suspension, investigations or a forced exit.
- Good-employership analysis (BW 7:611).
- Are warnings proportionate?
- Support in hearings or interviews.
- A route to reduce your risk.
Not sure where you stand? Start with a free call.
Fifteen minutes, in English, no obligation. We help you understand your situation and, if it makes sense, match you with a Dutch employment lawyer who handles Rotterdam cases.
- English-speaking from the first minute
- Introduction within 2 business days
- NOvA-registered partner lawyers
Rotterdam employment FAQ
Yes. Under BW 7:616 and 7:625 you are owed your agreed wage on time, plus a statutory increase for late payment. Rosters, timesheets and payslips are the key evidence. A demand letter often recovers the amount before court is needed.
It depends on your contract type (uitzend, payroll, phase A/B/C) and how long you worked. Repeated contracts can convert to permanent under BW 7:668a. Agencies sometimes understate your rights, so it is worth a quick check.
Not the same day. Signing a vaststellingsovereenkomst incorrectly can cost your WW benefit, and first drafts are usually improvable. You typically have a reflection period, and the end date, transition payment and reference are negotiable.
Possibly. Employers must give timely written notice (aanzegging), and repeated fixed-term contracts can convert to permanent under BW 7:668a. If the real reason is a dispute, other protections may apply.
Your first 15-minute intake with FindLawyer is free and in English. If your case fits, we introduce you to a Dutch employment lawyer who handles Rotterdam files, usually within two business days.
No. FindLawyer.nl is a matching service. We connect you with an independent, NOvA-registered partner law firm that provides the actual legal advice and representation.
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