What applies to me

When you are working or living as a permanent resident in the Netherlands you are normally participating in the Dutch national insurance system.

Research stay based on a fellowship
Fellows are often exempt from participating in Dutch social security and pension schemes.

Research stay based on an employment contract
If you are going to spend time researching in the Netherlands on the basis of an employment contract you are participating in the Dutch social security system. Furthermore you participate in the company's occupation pension scheme.
The contributions of the social security system and the company's pension scheme are partly paid by your employer and partly paid by yourself. On your payslip you can see what you contribute.

The most common situations:

1. You are employed
you are participating in the Dutch social security system, (both general and employment insurance schemes) and you are participating in the company's pension scheme.

2. You are NOT employed and are NOT staying here for longer than one year 
you are NOT participating in the Dutch social security system, you can apply for allowances.

3. You are NOT employed and are staying in the Netherlands for longer than three years
you are participating in the Dutch national social security system. You are not participating in the employment insurances nor in a company pension scheme. (also read option 5 - it might apply to you) You can apply for allowances.

4. You are NOT employed and are staying in the Netherlands for longer than one year but less than three years (also read option 5 - it tmight apply to you)
you might participate in the national social security system. You are not participating in the employment insurances nor in a company pension scheme. You can apply for allowances.

5. You are NOT employed, under 30 years old and are doing research
you might be exempt from the national social security even if you stay in the Netherlands for longer than 3 years. Ask your Human Resource Manager, or call our helpdesk to find out if this is the case for you.

(Someone falls within the national social security system if at least one of the following two grounds apply:
- you are employed and thus fall under the wagetaxlegislation.
- you are a permanent resident.
However, foreign students and researchers under the age of 30 won't fall in the Dutch social security system if they are not employed. This is explained in more detail in the factsheet 'Healthcare insurance for international reseachers'.

Exceptions
Researchers on one of 6 fellowships are exempt from the social security system by the SVB (the organisation in charge of implementation of social policy).
These fellowships are:
- Ford Foundation
- HEC fellowship
- Bolashak fellowship
- NFP fellowship
- Research fellowships from the government of Thailand
- Research fellowships from the Vietnamese government
If you think you fall under these categories but are not sure, ask your human resource manager or international office contactperson.

Your situation is different
If your situation is different, contact one of our service centres to find out what applies to you.