Working hours in the Netherlands: the Arbeidstijdenwet explained for employers

Dutch working hours follow one main law, the Arbeidstijdenwet, or Working Hours Act. It sets maximum hours, breaks, rest periods and time-recording duties. This guide explains working hours in the Netherlands for foreign employers. For the British rules, read our companion guide to working time rules in the UK.

What is the Arbeidstijdenwet?

The Arbeidstijdenwet is the Dutch law on working hours, breaks and rest. According to the Netherlands Labour Authority, it applies to everyone aged 18 or older who works for an employer. That includes interns, agency workers and posted workers. Moreover, the act implements the EU Working Time Directive across Dutch workplaces.

However, the act does not regulate overtime pay. Instead, your contract or collective labour agreement (CAO) decides whether extra hours earn extra pay. A CAO can also adjust some limits, within the absolute caps the law sets.

What are the maximum working hours in the Netherlands?

Under the Arbeidstijdenwet, an employee may work up to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week. Over longer periods, averages also apply. Weekly hours may not exceed 55 on average over four weeks. Over sixteen weeks, the average drops to 48 hours per week.

Limit	Maximum
Per shift	12 hours
Per week	60 hours
Average over 4 weeks	55 hours per week
Average over 16 weeks	48 hours per week
Per night shift	10 hours

Unlike the UK, the Netherlands has no general opt-out from the 48-hour average. A narrow exception covers on-call presence duties, for example in healthcare. There, a worker may agree in writing to average up to 60 hours over 26 weeks. The Dutch government’s overview of working and rest times (in Dutch) lists every limit.

What breaks and rest periods does the Arbeidstijdenwet require?

Employees who work more than 5.5 hours need at least 30 minutes of break. After more than 10 hours, the minimum rises to 45 minutes. Employers may split these breaks into blocks of at least 15 minutes.

• Daily rest: at least 11 consecutive hours per 24 hours, reducible to 8 hours once every 7 days.
• Weekly rest: 36 consecutive hours per 7 days. Alternatively, 72 hours per 14 days, in blocks of at least 32 hours.
• Night shifts: a shift with more than one hour of work between midnight and 06:00, capped at 10 hours.

Do employers have to record working hours in the Netherlands?

Yes. Article 4:3 of the Arbeidstijdenwet requires employers to record each employee’s working and rest times. Employers must keep these records for at least 52 weeks. In addition, the work schedule must be in writing and available to staff.

The CJEU’s Deutsche Bank ruling (C-55/18) of 14 May 2019 reinforced this duty. It requires an objective, reliable and accessible system that measures daily working time. Dutch commentators expected little impact, because the Arbeidstijdenwet already required registration. Even so, the ruling’s focus is time actually worked, not just the planned roster.

Who is exempt from the Arbeidstijdenwet?

Employees earning at least three times the statutory minimum wage are largely exempt. For them, the rules on working times, rest and registration do not apply. However, the exemption never covers night shifts, serious safety or health risks, or mining and wind park work.

Conversely, stricter rules protect workers under 18 and pregnant or recently delivered employees.

Working hours in the Netherlands for cross-border and remote teams

Dutch working hours rules follow the work, not the employer’s home country. Staff of a foreign company who work in the Netherlands fall under the Arbeidstijdenwet. Posted workers also receive these working and rest rules as part of the Dutch core employment terms.

Conversely, staff working from another EU country usually fall under that country’s limits. Each member state applies the Working Time Directive through its own national law, so details differ. Therefore, multi-country teams need one system that applies the right national rules to each person.

Choosing time-tracking tools that meet Dutch rules

Legal duties come first, and tools second. A compliant system records start times, end times and breaks for every employee. It should also flag breaches, such as rest periods under 11 hours. Finally, it must keep records for at least 52 weeks.

• Capture hours actually worked, not only scheduled shifts.
• Apply country-specific limits for staff outside the Netherlands.
• Produce records quickly for a Labour Authority inspection.
• Process employee data in line with the GDPR.

Privacy needs particular care. In 2020, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined a company €725,000 for fingerprint clock-ins. Biometric time clocks therefore need explicit, freely given consent or a genuine security need. To test your wider HR set-up, try our NL expansion readiness assessment.

Moving talent across borders with clarity, compliance and trust

Compliant working hours protect people and keep international teams moving. Gaps in time records can lead to Labour Authority fines and weak evidence in overtime disputes. As a global enabler for talent movement, Octagon Professionals has supported international employers since 1987.

Through Payroll EOR Administration, our HR experts manage timesheets, payroll and compliance across markets. Meanwhile, you keep full control over salaries, benefits and working arrangements. Contact Octagon Professionals to build working time compliance into your growth plans.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum working hours per week in the Netherlands?

Dutch law caps work at 60 hours in any single week and 12 hours per shift. Averages apply as well: 55 hours per week across four weeks, and 48 hours across sixteen weeks. Collective agreements can vary some limits. However, the absolute caps in the Arbeidstijdenwet still apply.

Is time registration mandatory in the Netherlands?

Yes. Dutch employers must record each employee’s working and rest times and keep the records for at least 52 weeks. The law prescribes no single format, so digital and paper systems can both work. High earners are generally exempt, unless they work night shifts or in hazardous roles.

How long is a break in the Netherlands by law?

A Dutch employee who works more than 5.5 hours is entitled to a 30-minute break. Employees may take it as two 15-minute pauses. Shifts longer than 10 hours require 45 minutes in total. Whether breaks are paid depends on the employment contract or collective agreement.

Does the Arbeidstijdenwet apply to foreign employers?

Yes. The Arbeidstijdenwet covers work carried out in the Netherlands, whatever the employer’s home country. It also covers posted workers and agency staff. A foreign company with Dutch-based staff must therefore respect Dutch limits on hours, breaks and rest. An employer of record can take on these duties as the legal employer.