Notice period in Netherlands (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In the Netherlands the employee gives one month's notice and the employer one month for contracts under five years, rising to four months from fifteen years. Probation in a permanent contract is at most two months. The employer owes a transition payment of one third of a month's wage per year of service.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notice from the employeeNotice period | One month, ending at the end of a calendar month unless agreed otherwise. A written agreement may lengthen it to at most six months, but then the employer's notice must be at least twice as long. [1] |
| Notice from the employerNotice period | One month, ending at the end of a calendar month, if the contract has lasted less than five years on the day of notice. It is also one month once the employee has reached state pension age. [1] |
| Longer notice for long serviceNotice period | Two months after five years but under ten, three months after ten years but under fifteen, and four months after fifteen years or more of employment. [1] |
| Probation periodNotice period | At most two months in a contract for an indefinite period. A probation period must be agreed in writing and applies to both parties equally. None is allowed in a contract of six months or less. [1] |
| Severance payNotice period | A transition payment (transitievergoeding) is due when the employer ends the contract: one third of the monthly wage for each year of service, pro rata for part years, to a maximum of EUR 102,000 or, if higher, twelve months' wage. The maximum is adjusted each 1 January. [1] |
Notes
- The wetten.nl page for article 672 states that a future amendment is planned from 1 January 2028; its content was not read.
- The transition payment also covers some cases where the employee ends the contract because of seriously culpable conduct by the employer (art. 673 lid 1 onder b).
Sources
- Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid (wetten.overheid.nl): Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7 (BWBR0005290), artikelen 652, 672 en 673 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.