Looking for a job in the Netherlands? Yeah, it's different here.

Whether you just arrived or you've been here a while — Dutch hiring has its own rules. Your CV format, how LinkedIn works, the interview style. We'll walk you through all of it.

Grab the free Dutch CV template Actually free. Just your email.

Why nothing seems to be working

It's not you — you're just playing by the wrong rules.

Your CV is probably in the wrong format. Dutch recruiters expect a specific layout, your date of birth, and a whole separate letter called a motivatiebrief. Even if you've been here for years, you might still be sending a CV that looks foreign to them. Easy fix once you know what they want.

LinkedIn is everything here — recruiters literally scroll it all day. But there's a Dutch way to use it, and most expats figure this out way too late.

Dutch interviews will surprise you. They'll ask your salary on the first call. They'll tell you straight up what they didn't like. "We'll be in touch" usually means they won't. It's not rude, it's just how it goes here. Takes a little getting used to.

"Dutch required" on every job post? Half the time they don't even mean it. Some companies copy-paste it on everything. Others are dead serious. Knowing which is which saves you months.

And no — "just network!" is not a strategy.

We've been the expat sending CVs into the void. We've sat through the interview where the manager told us — to our face — what they didn't like. Whether it was our first week or our third year here, Dutch hiring kept throwing us off. We made this so it doesn't have to be that way for you.


What we're cooking up

A practical toolkit for expats who are done guessing. Coming soon.

Dutch CV + motivatiebrief Templates in the format they actually want. Properly Dutch, not "international."
How hiring works here The LinkedIn playbook, recruiter culture, and realistic timelines.
Interview survival guide Salary negotiation, common questions, how to handle the directness.
200+ English-friendly companies By city, industry, and size. The list everyone asks for.
Sell your international background Your experience abroad is an asset — here's how to make them see it.
The midnight Google stuff BSN, DigiD, 30% ruling, 13th month, holiday allowance. All in one place.

87 applications, 2 replies. Then I reformatted my CV the Dutch way and targeted the right companies. 4 interviews in two weeks.
Moved from Brazil to Amsterdam

Quick ones

Anyone job hunting in the Netherlands who didn't grow up here. Newly arrived, been here for years, between jobs, switching careers, looking for your first role or your next one — if you're not Dutch and you're looking for work, this is for you.

Loads of companies here work in English — tech, finance, anything international. We'll point you to the right ones and be upfront about which roles really need Dutch.

Soon! Grab the template and you'll be the first to know. Early birds get a discount too.

Yep. No credit card, no gotcha. If it's helpful, you'll probably want the full toolkit when it drops.