Registered Nurse
~18,000 open positions · €38000-56000
↗ ~10% above national average for healthcare shortages
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Netherlands
The Netherlands is home to a cosmopolitan expat community, a strong tech and finance sector, and unique pathways including the DAFT visa for US entrepreneurs.
🇪🇺 EU Member 🛂 Schengen Zone
Updated April 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 🇳🇱 Netherlands as an expat professional
Is Netherlands Hiring in 2026/2027?
Netherlands has one of Europe's strongest expat job markets, especially Amsterdam tech corridor
Unemployment rate: 3.6%
Guides by Profession
In demand in 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
2in demand⌄
Healthcare & Medical
2in demand⌄
Care Worker (Elderly Care)
~12,000 open positions · €32000-43000
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Technology & IT
2in demand⌄
Technology & IT
2in demand⌄
Software Engineer / Developer
~16,000 open positions · €60000-90000
↗ ~20% strong demand in fintech and SaaS
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Cybersecurity Specialist
~5,000 open positions · €65000-98000
↗ ~24% demand accelerated by NIS2 compliance
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Engineering & Architecture
2in demand⌄
Engineering & Architecture
2in demand⌄
Civil Engineer
~6,000 open positions · €50000-78000
↗ ~11% infrastructure and water projects are expanding
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Electrical Engineer
~5,000 open positions · €52000-80000
↗ ~12% energy transition work drives demand
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Skilled Trades
2in demand⌄
Skilled Trades
2in demand⌄
Electrician
~9,000 open positions · €36000-52000
↗ ~14% grid upgrades and retrofits increase demand
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Plumber / Heating Technician
~7,000 open positions · €35000-50000
↗ ~10% heat pump and efficiency upgrades are growing
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Education & Research
1in demand⌄
Education & Research
1in demand⌄
Secondary School Teacher (STEM)
~4,000 open positions · €42000-65000
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Hospitality & Service
1in demand⌄
Hospitality & Service
1in demand⌄
Chef / Cook
~6,000 open positions · €30000-45000
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Transport & Logistics
1in demand⌄
Transport & Logistics
1in demand⌄
Truck Driver
~8,000 open positions · €36000-52000
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
Construction & Manufacturing
1in demand⌄
Construction & Manufacturing
1in demand⌄
Construction Project Manager
~4,000 open positions · €55000-82000
✓ Fast-track visa eligible - Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Source: UWV - Dashboard Vacaturemarkt (December 2025)
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
2surplus⌄
Business & Finance
2surplus⌄
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
2surplus⌄
Other Professional & Creative
2surplus⌄
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 Netherlands
🔗
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
🎓
Intermediair
Focused listings for professional and specialist careers.
Best for: Professional and academic roles in Netherlands
Visa to Work in Netherlands
You need a work visa before starting employment in Netherlands.
See the full visa guide →Companies in 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 is not exhaustive — it reflects what the Settily community has shared from direct experience.
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.
Community-sourced. 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 Netherlands authorities and licensed professionals. Settily may earn affiliate commissions from some links.
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