Agency Work in the Netherlands

Part of the employment law cluster in the employment knowledge graph — connected to occupations, documents, hiring guides, career guides, country guides and employment law.

Agency work in the Netherlands at a glance

Agency work in the Netherlands generally involves a three-party arrangement: a worker is engaged by an agency and assigned to a user undertaking, while the agency remains the formal employer. The user directs the day-to-day work during the assignment. Agency work is a well-established part of the Dutch labour market.

Because three parties are involved, the responsibilities of each — agency, user and worker — and the conditions for assigned workers are central to how the arrangement is framed. Particular requirements can apply to organisations operating in this field.

Key general points

• Agency work typically involves a worker, an agency and a user undertaking.
• The agency is generally the formal employer of the assigned worker.
• The user directs the day-to-day tasks during the assignment.
• Responsibilities are usually split between agency and user.
• Assignment terms describe the role, location and duration.
• Working conditions for assigned workers are a recognised topic.
• Particular requirements can apply to organisations in this field.

What this means for user undertakings

• Be clear on which responsibilities sit with you and which with the agency.
• Provide a clear assignment brief covering role, location and duration.
• Ensure on-site induction and safety arrangements for assigned workers.
• Coordinate closely with the agency on day-to-day matters.
• Confirm the current requirements that apply to agency arrangements.

What this means for workers

• Understand that the agency is generally your formal employer.
• Check the assignment terms covering role, location and duration.
• Know who to contact for employment matters versus day-to-day issues.
• Ask about working conditions before an assignment begins.
• Keep copies of your assignment documents.

Confirm the specifics with the authorities

The detailed rules on agency work in the Netherlands — including the responsibilities of agencies and user undertakings, the conditions for assigned workers and any requirements that apply to operators — can vary by situation and may change over time. Confirm the current position with Rijksoverheid and the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, and seek qualified advice. This page is general information, not legal advice. HRHelperG is not a recruitment agency; it can help connect employers with suitable recruitment partners.

Common misunderstandings

• Assuming the user undertaking is the formal employer of an agency worker.
• Overlooking that responsibilities are split between agency and user.
• Ignoring requirements that may apply to operators in this field.
• Treating assignment terms as interchangeable with a direct contract.
• Forgetting on-site induction and safety duties toward assigned workers.