Netherlands

The Netherlands is an EU and Schengen member. The main sponsored work route for non-EU professionals is the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) permit, alongside the EU Blue Card.

🇪🇺 EU Member 🛂 Schengen Zone
Updated October 2026 2 min read
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For information only. This guide provides general information only and does not constitute immigration, legal, or financial advice. Visa rules, salary thresholds, and qualification requirements change frequently. Always verify critical decisions with official government sources and a qualified professional. Full disclaimer ↗

Find Work in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 as an expat professional

Is the Netherlands Hiring in 2026/2027?

The Netherlands has one of Europe's strongest expat job markets, especially Amsterdam tech corridor

Unemployment rate: 4.0%

Guides by Profession

In demand in the Netherlands

Professions where employer demand exceeds available local supply. Non-EU candidates often have a strong path to visa sponsorship.

Last refreshed: May 2026 · Sources: UWV - Dashboard Spanningsindicator, UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt, European Labour Authority - Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2024

Healthcare & Medical

2 in demand⌄

Registered Nurse

€38,736–52,152

✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Care Worker (Elderly Care)

€31,721–41,658

Engineering & Architecture

2 in demand⌄

Civil Engineer

✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Electrical Engineer

✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Skilled Trades

2 in demand⌄

Electrician

€33,000–42,480

Plumber / Heating Technician

Technology & IT

1 in demand⌄

Cybersecurity Specialist

✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Education & Research

1 in demand⌄

Secondary School Teacher (STEM)

€43,980–67,032

Hospitality & Service

1 in demand⌄

Chef / Cook

Transport & Logistics

1 in demand⌄

Truck Driver

Construction & Manufacturing

1 in demand⌄

Construction Project Manager

✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Less in demand right now

Professions where local supply meets or exceeds employer demand. Visa sponsorship is harder for non-EU candidates in these fields. Higher competition; specialist niches, language skills, and direct employer connections matter more.

Last refreshed: May 2026 · Sources: UWV - Dashboard Spanningsindicator, UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt, European Labour Authority - Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2024

Business & Finance

2 surplus⌄

Marketing Manager (general)

Many domestic and EU candidates compete for generalist marketing roles. Better odds in niche B2B, analytics-heavy, or technical sectors.

General Business Analyst

Broad business roles are competitive without sector specialisation and Dutch-language capability.

Other Professional & Creative

2 surplus⌄

Journalist

A saturated market with limited full-time openings. Dutch fluency and local network access are usually required.

Content Writer (general)

Strong supply and freelance competition. Specialised technical or multilingual content has better prospects.

Best Job Portals for expats in the Netherlands

🔗

LinkedIn

Global professional platform with strong employer visibility.

Best for: All sectors, international roles

🇬🇧 English jobs available

🔍

Glassdoor

Compare employers, interview experiences, and salary bands.

Best for: Salary research and company reviews

🇬🇧 English jobs available

🇳🇱

Nationale Vacaturebank

One of the largest Dutch vacancy platforms.

Best for: Largest Dutch job board

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Intermediair

Focused listings for professional and specialist careers.

Best for: Professional and academic roles in the Netherlands

Visa to Work in the Netherlands

You need a work visa before starting employment in the Netherlands.

See the full visa guide →

Companies in the Netherlands known for international hiring

These employers have established pipelines for non-EU talent, regularly sponsor highly skilled migrant permits, and have significant international employee populations. This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement.

ASML

Semiconductor Equipment

World leader in chip lithography machines; Eindhoven HQ. Strong India presence in engineering — sponsorship is standard and well-documented.

Booking.com

Tech / Travel

Amsterdam HQ; English-only working language. Large international engineering team with a known relocation programme for senior hires.

Philips

Healthcare Technology

Global R&D hub in the Netherlands. Sponsors highly skilled migrant permits for healthcare tech and software engineers routinely.

Adyen

Fintech

Amsterdam-based global payments company. Competitive salaries with HSMP sponsorship; engineering culture similar to scale-up, not corporate.

ING (Technology)

Finance / Technology

ING's tech arm has English-first teams across data engineering and cloud; well-established process for international hires.

Uber (Amsterdam)

Tech / Mobility

EMEA HQ is Amsterdam; multiple engineering teams based here with straightforward permit sponsorship for experienced engineers.

Settily does not have a commercial relationship with any employer listed here.

⚖️ Information on this page is general only. Visa, tax, legal, and financial rules can change; verify details with official authorities in the Netherlands and licensed professionals. Settily may earn affiliate commissions from some links.

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