Salaries, payslip, working hours, holidays and leave

Salaries

Wages are average compared to the rest of Europe. They are higher than in Spain and Italy, but lower than in England and Germany. The average salary is from €25,000 to €30,000 a year. Salaries are usually paid monthly at the end of the month. Twice a year you will receive an extra payment. Once at Christmas (sometimes as a 13th month), and in summer (May/June) which is considered as vacation money.

Payslip and Jaaropgave

The Pay Slip is a document that gives the details of your salary during that particular month. It provides information such as days present/absent, basic earnings, other allowances, deductions and taxes. More about payslip.
The Jaaropgave is the official government form you get from your employer at the end of the year. It outlines your earnings and the amount of taxes you paid that year. You should receive it by the end of February. Keep this document somewhere safe as this is very useful when you want to claim your tax refund or apply for allowances.

Working hours

According to Dutch law you are allowed to work a maximum of 9 hours a day and 45 hours a week, and a maximum of 2080 hours a year (which boils down to an average of 40 hours a week). The working week is usually Monday to Friday. There is a legal minimum of one day's rest a week, normally Sunday. Persons whose religion observes a day of rest on another day than Sunday, may request for a restday on Friday (or Saturday). A Normal workday starts between 8:00 and 9:00 and finishes between 17:00 and 18:00, with two 15 minute coffeebreaks and a  half hour lunch break.

Holidays

You are entitled to a minimum of 20 days a year for holidays. Employers often allow five extra days. Employees receive normal pay during their holidays plus a bonus of 8% of their annual income, generally paid out in May. Furthermore there are about 12 National Holiday days a year, including Easter, Christmas and New Years Day. When day fall on a weekday, you have the day off whilst receiving normal pay.

Leave

Next to your holiday leave you are entitled leave to deal with care and calamities (i.e. death of family member, funerals, sudden illness or accidents of family members, fire, burglary, etc), pregnancy  leave and parental leave. Your HRM-contact person can tell you more about the specific options.