Working in The Hague (2026): international organisations, embassies, contracts and dismissal
Working in The Hague often means an international organisation, an embassy or a fixed-term post, and each raises its own first question. This guide gives the 2026 figures, the rules on temporary contracts and dismissal, and the point at which an employment lawyer is worth calling.
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Rules and figures from Rijksoverheid, UWV, the IND, the Civil Code and the Municipality of The Hague · Checked 15 September 2026
Short answer
Working in The Hague often means working in its international sector: the city counts more than 500 international organisations, which provide nearly 30,000 jobs in The Hague. Staff of embassies and international organisations usually hold a treaty-based privileged status, so the first question in any dispute is which rules apply to you. On a Dutch contract the normal rules hold: a temporary contract of 6 months or more needs written notice of renewal or not, and a dismissal claim at the kantonrechter must be filed within 2 months.
Key facts for 2026
- 500+ international organisations work in The Hague, providing nearly 30,000 jobs in the city.
- 40 intergovernmental organisations, almost, are hosted by the Netherlands, most of them in The Hague.
- 18,900 vacancies were open on average in Haaglanden in the first half of 2025.
- 1 month before a temporary contract of 6 months or more ends, the employer must say in writing whether it continues.
- 3 contracts is the most you can get in a row before the next one is permanent, unless a CAO says otherwise.
- 2 months after the 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 is dismissed.
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 The Hague: the regional job market in 2026
Employers in the Haaglanden region still have more vacancies than they can fill, although job growth is slowing.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancies in Haaglanden, first half of 2025 (average) | 18,900 | UWV |
| Vacancies per short-term jobseeker | nearly 3.5 | UWV |
| Growth in jobs, 2024 to 2027 | 1.4% | UWV |
| People aged 15 to 75 in work, 2015 and 2024 | 63.7% and 70.6% | UWV |
| Registered jobseekers at UWV, June 2025 | 58,300 | UWV |
- Growing and shrinking. UWV expects jobs to keep growing in care and welfare, specialist business services and construction, and to fall in wholesale and in agency work. Employee jobs are still added, but self-employed jobs decline as the Tax Administration checks harder for false self-employment (UWV); see our freelancing and DBA guide.
- English at work. The government notes that 90% of Dutch people speak English (Government.nl). Your contract type matters more: read the employment contract guide.
International sector
International organisations and embassies: check which rules apply to you
The Hague’s biggest employer group is its international sector, and working there can mean that Dutch rules are not your starting point.
- The size of the sector. The city counts more than 500 international organisations, which spend €8.6 billion a year in the Hague region, €4.4 billion of it with businesses and organisations in the city, and provide nearly 30,000 jobs in The Hague. Almost all foreign embassies and consulates are here too, and most organisations sit in the International Zone, between the city centre and Scheveningen around the World Forum and the Johan de Wittlaan (Municipality of The Hague).
- The oldest employers. The Netherlands hosts almost 40 intergovernmental organisations, most of them in The Hague; the Permanent Court of Arbitration dates from 1899 and the International Court of Justice from 1945 (Government.nl).
- Your status. Most people who come to work for an international organisation or to represent another country receive a privileged status: their right to live and work here rests on a treaty rather than on Dutch immigration law, and an MFA card serves as ID and residence permit (The Hague International Centre). Arriving? Our IND and registration in The Hague guide covers the MFA card route.
- Dismissed or not renewed? Find your contract and staff regulations and note any internal deadline straight away, then read dismissed by an international organisation or embassy in The Hague, which explains how the question of forum and immunity is settled.
Sponsors
Jobs in The Hague for English speakers: sponsors and salary thresholds
Outside the privileged route, a non-EU employee in The Hague usually needs an employer on the IND sponsor register and a salary at or above the threshold.
Register entries with The Hague in their name include De Haagse Hogeschool, Hotelschool The Hague and Stichting The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law; well-known names such as KPN are listed too (IND register). The register does not say where people work, so check each vacancy; our sponsorship jobs guide explains the search.
| 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 |
Thresholds: IND. The permit itself is in our highly skilled migrant visa guide; your net pay in the salary calculator and the 30% ruling guide.
Contracts
Temporary contracts in The Hague: renewal notice and the chain rule
Project posts, secondments and fixed terms are common in The Hague, and Dutch law puts two clear limits on them.
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of renewal or not (aanzegtermijn) | On a temporary contract of 6 months or more, the employer says in writing at least 1 month before the end whether it continues, and on what terms. Silence costs the employer 1 month’s salary; lateness a proportionate amount. | Rijksoverheid |
| The chain rule (ketenregeling) | More than 3 temporary contracts with the same employer, or more than 3 years of them in a row, make the contract permanent, if the gaps are at most 6 months. A collective agreement can differ. | Rijksoverheid |
| From 1 January 2028 | The Wet meer zekerheid flexwerkers, approved by the Eerste Kamer on 7 July 2026, gives flexible workers more certainty; in the Tweede Kamer version, no new temporary contract may follow 3 temporary contracts for 3 years. | Rijksoverheid, Rijksoverheid |
Your employer’s notice on a permanent contract grows with service: 1 month under 5 years, 2 months from 5 to 10, 3 from 10 to 15 and 4 after 15 (Rijksoverheid). The details are in our notice period guide and the probation guide; sick pay in sick leave.
Dismissal
Dismissed in The Hague: the steps, the deadlines and the court
On a Dutch contract, a dismissal in The Hague sets several deadlines running on the same day.
- Hold off on signing A settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) fixes the end date, the payment and your unemployment benefit; read our settlement agreement guide first.
- Apply to UWV within a week Unemployed for more than a week when you apply? UWV will probably pay less, or nothing, for a while (UWV).
- Work out the transition payment It is 1/3 of a monthly salary for each full year of service, capped at €102,000 gross in 2026 or one year’s salary if that is more (Rijksoverheid); try our calculator.
- Diary the court deadline Asking the kantonrechter to annul a notice of dismissal or award fair compensation (article 7:681) must happen within 2 months after the contract ends (Civil Code); see our 2-month deadline guide.
- On a highly skilled migrant permit, start looking for a sponsor If the dismissal is not your fault, the IND allows 3 months to find a new recognised sponsor, or up to 6 months after 2 years on your permit, counted from the day the contract was dissolved (IND).
The court. The kantonrechter of Rechtbank Den Haag handles employment cases (Rechtspraak.nl); the court receives visitors at Prins Clauslaan 60 on weekdays from 8.30 to 17.00 (Rechtspraak.nl). Start with what to do when you are dismissed, and on a permit read what happens to your permit.
Legal help
Employment lawyer in The Hague: when a call pays off
Call before a deadline runs out, which in the international sector can mean the first week.
- International organisation or embassy: a lawyer first establishes which rules and which forum apply; see our deep dive.
- Not renewed or pushed out: a lawyer checks the renewal notice, the chain rule and any settlement; our wrongful termination guide covers compensation.
- Costs: FindLawyer’s first call is free for 15 minutes, and on a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid.
Dismissed or not renewed in The Hague? 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 The Hague.
Dismissed by an international organisation or embassy
Which forum, which deadline.
DismissalDismissed: what to do
Your first week, step by step.
Exit dealsSettlement agreement
Before you sign the exit deal.
PaySeverance pay
The transition payment explained.
ArrivingIND and registration in The Hague
The International Centre and the MFA card.
HousingRenting in The Hague
Rents, permits and your deposit.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is working in The Hague like for internationals?
Much of it revolves around the international sector: more than 500 international organisations, almost all foreign embassies and consulates, and nearly 30,000 jobs in the city. Outside that sector, UWV expects more jobs in care, specialist business services and construction. In Haaglanden there are nearly 3.5 times as many vacancies as short-term jobseekers.
Does Dutch employment law apply if I work for an international organisation?
Not automatically. Staff of international organisations and embassies usually have a privileged status that rests on a treaty, not on Dutch immigration law, so your staff regulations and contract decide which rules and which dispute route apply. Check this before any internal deadline runs out; our guide to dismissal by an international organisation or embassy explains the questions to ask.
My temporary contract ends soon. What must my employer tell me?
If your contract lasts 6 months or longer, your employer must tell you in writing, at least 1 month before it ends, whether it will be renewed and on what terms. If the employer says nothing, it owes you 1 month’s salary; if it is late, a proportionate amount, such as a week’s salary for a week.
When does a series of temporary contracts become permanent?
When you have had more than 3 temporary contracts with the same employer, or worked on temporary contracts for longer than 3 years in a row, with gaps of at most 6 months. A collective agreement can set different rules. A new law approved on 7 July 2026 will tighten this from 1 January 2028.
Where do employment cases in The Hague go?
To the kantonrechter of Rechtbank Den Haag, which handles employment cases; its The Hague location is at Prins Clauslaan 60, and the Leiden and Gouda locations deal only with kanton cases. A request to annul a dismissal must reach the court within 2 months of the contract ending.
Is there a free employment lawyer consultation in The Hague?
FindLawyer begins with a free 15-minute call and then introduces you to an English-speaking Dutch employment lawyer who fits your case, from a settlement agreement to a dismissal by an embassy. The lawyer’s fees are set out before you go ahead, and on a low income subsidised legal aid may cover part of the cost.
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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026
- UWV: Haaglanden region in figures 2025 (in Dutch)
- Government.nl: the Netherlands as host country for international organisations
- Municipality of The Hague: international city of peace and justice (in Dutch)
- The Hague International Centre: registration for privileged status holders
- IND: public register of recognised sponsors, work
- IND: required amounts and income requirements
- Rijksoverheid: what is the notice of (non-)renewal? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: when does my temporary contract become permanent? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: bill for more security for flexible workers adopted by the Tweede Kamer, 12 May 2026 (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: my employer’s notice period (in Dutch)
- UWV: applying for unemployment benefit (WW) (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how high is the transition payment? (in Dutch)
- Dutch Civil Code, Book 7, articles 681 and 686a (in Dutch)
- IND: brochure on working as a highly skilled migrant (form 3072, PDF)
- Rechtspraak.nl: Rechtbank Den Haag, district and the kantonrechter (in Dutch)
- Rechtspraak.nl: Rechtbank Den Haag 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 The Hague 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.