Financial matters

Read up on how the following topics are relevant for taxation, fellowships and salaries.

Understanding your payslip

Your employer must provide you with a pay slip which provides you with information about your salary. This includes information on how your wage is calculated and the amounts that have been withheld. The employer must provide this information when you receive your first salary. After your first salary you will receive a payslip each time something changes in your salary. Most employers provide online pays slip information in which you can see and download your pay slips continuously.

Information on the payslip

Here overview of the items that need to be included on your payslip in Dutch and their English translation

It starts with your personal details in the top section.
Periode- This is the time period over which you have received a salary
Salaris / uurloon / periode / maand /year - This is you gross salary per hour / month /period /year (pre-tax)
Bijz. tarief / heffingskorting (ja) – This is the special tax rate (for bonuses) and an indication if you received a general tax credit (indicated by yes)
Verzekerd voor WW, WiA, ZW, Zvw - This indicates whether you are covered for or contribute to social security
Datum in dienst - This is the date you entered your current employment
Burgerservicenummer (BSN) - Your Dutch citizen registration number
Functieomschrijving - This is your job description or job title
(Normale) gewerkt uren - This indicate the number of your regular working hours
Brutoloon / Belastbaar loon / Loon / Loon voor de loonheffing- This is your taxable wage/salary
Pensioengevend loon - This is your salary for pension purposes
Loonheffing - This is the amount that was deducted for wage tax AND social security contributions
Sociale verzekeringen (SV) - These are the social security contributions
Reiskostenvergoeding - This is the amount to compensate transport and/ or commuting expenses
Nettoloon - This is your nett salary after tax, deductions and refunds, this is what will be paid into your bank account.
Cumulatief – Your cumulated salary over the months of the year
(Opgebouwd) vakantiegeld - This is the (accumulated) holiday allowance

If something is not right

If you have questions about your pay slip first ask your employer for advice. If you need more information you can contact workers unions or labor law lawyers for advice.

Trade union federations

Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV) (click on the globe icon upper right and choose English) and Algemene Onderwijsbond (AOB) are Dutch trade union federations, they guard and advocate employees’ rights in matters related to collective labour agreements, social security, and pensions. They can answer any questions you have about work and income and help you if you have problems with your wages.

Financial matters

Understanding your payslip

Information on the payslip

Here overview of the items that need to be included on your payslip in Dutch and their English translation

If something is not right

Trade union federations

Value added tax (VAT)

Motor vehicle tax

Municipal rates and taxes