In this guide
A move can coincide with a natural career decision point, especially for someone relocating for a partner or after a long period in one field. The framework below separates immigration, financial and labour-market constraints from personal preference.
Sometimes the change is forced: a role does not transfer, the Dutch equivalent of the profession requires a local licence, or the sector is small here. Sometimes the change is chosen.
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Practical Starting Points
Freelancing is one way in. Registering as a ZZP costs €85.15 at the KvK (2026). Whether you may work as self-employed depends on your residence status, so check that first (see below).
English is the working language in some workplaces. That differs per employer and sector, so check the vacancy text. For what Dutch working life looks like day to day, see our Dutch work culture guide.
Step One: Understand Diploma Recognition
Check whether your profession is regulated
According to Nuffic, you check this in the European Commission database of regulated professions. If your profession is regulated in the Netherlands, you must request permission to work by applying for professional recognition with the competent authority. For pharmacists, physiotherapists and nurses a European Professional Card (EPC) is available. If it is not regulated, you may carry out the profession here.
Non-regulated professions
If your employer wants to know what your diploma is worth, Nuffic has an overview of more than 100 education systems that shows to which Dutch diploma yours is compared. If your diploma is not listed or the employer wants an official document, you or your employer can apply for a credential evaluation on the IDW website. That application is not free. For a broader view of working in the Netherlands as an expat, including permit requirements, see the companies hiring internationals guide.
Regulated professions
Healthcare: Doctors, nurses and other regulated healthcare professionals register with the BIG-register before practising. Check the BIG-register for the route that applies to your qualification.
Other regulated professions (for example legal and teaching professions): the competent authority differs per profession. Look up your profession in the European Commission database and contact the authority listed there.
UWV Retraining Support
UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen) is the Dutch employee insurance agency. If you are unemployed and registered with UWV, ask your UWV adviser which support for training or retraining is currently available. The STAP budget is no longer available.
If you are employed and want to change direction, look at employer-funded training or sector training funds (O&O-fondsen), or fund the retraining yourself.
The ZZP Pivot: Freelancing Into a New Career
Working as a freelancer for a specific project is a smaller commitment for a client than hiring an employee. Over time, projects in the new sector can build a portfolio. Check first that your residence status allows self-employment; see the complete ZZP guide for expats.
Setting up as a ZZP
Register at the KvK (Kamer van Koophandel, the Chamber of Commerce); the one-time registration fee is €85.15 (2026). You receive a KvK number. If the Belastingdienst decides you are an entrepreneur for VAT, you receive a BTW (VAT) number usually within two weeks after registering with the KvK (KvK). See our complete ZZP guide for the full tax and administrative picture.
Managing money during the ZZP transition
If you invoice clients in other currencies, a multi-currency account can help. Wise offers balances in several currencies; check its current fees and features on its site.
Open a Wise account for your ZZP transition →
ZZP taxes during transition
The Dutch tax system has deductions for entrepreneurs, such as the zelfstandigenaftrek, the MKB-winstvrijstelling (12.7% for 2026) and the startersaftrek. Whether you qualify depends, among other things, on the hours criterion. The best tax advisors for expats guide explains when professional help is worth it.
See our 30% ruling guide if you have the ruling as an employee; ask your adviser how a move to self-employment affects it.
Language as a Barrier
Dutch is not required in every workplace, but it can be in some. Check the vacancy text and the language of the team. If Dutch matters for your target sector, see our Dutch language learning guide, which covers courses and the inburgering (integration) pathway. The salary comparison tool shows how income levels differ across sectors.
Sectors to Explore
We do not rank sectors by openness to career changers because we have no official source for that. Use the vacancies in your target sector as your guide. Our networking guide for expats and job interview tips for the Netherlands apply across sectors.
Retraining Options in the Netherlands
Bootcamps and online courses. Check the provider’s own site for content, duration and price, and ask about the results of earlier cohorts.
HBO deeltijd (part-time higher education). Universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) offer part-time degree programmes in many fields. Check the programme page of the school for study load, language and price.
Certifications. In some fields employers ask for specific certifications; check vacancies in your target field to see which ones appear.
The Age Question
Age discrimination in employment is prohibited by the Wet gelijke behandeling op grond van leeftijd bij de arbeid. If you suspect discrimination, you can contact your local anti-discrimination service (discriminatie.nl) or the College voor de Rechten van de Mens. Practical points: describe your cross-sector experience in terms of what the new role needs, and show concrete results from recent projects or freelance work.
Planning the Transition
Build a financial buffer before you begin, understand the Dutch cost of living in your city, and plan for lower income during the transition. If you work via ZZP, consider a dedicated business bank account and a tool like Wise for international invoice payments. If you have the 30% ruling, ask your tax advisor how a ZZP transition or a lower income period affects it. For banking, see our best bank accounts for expats guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my foreign qualifications recognised in the Netherlands?
First check whether your profession is regulated, using the European Commission database for regulated professions (Nuffic explains the steps). If it is regulated, you must apply for professional recognition from the competent authority; for pharmacists, physiotherapists and nurses a European Professional Card exists. If it is not regulated, you may work in the profession, and if your employer wants to know what your diploma is worth, Nuffic has an overview of more than 100 education systems and you can apply for a paid credential evaluation via IDW.
Is the STAP budget still available for retraining in the Netherlands?
No, the STAP budget is no longer available. Check UWV and Rijksoverheid for current retraining support, and ask your employer or sector training fund (O&O-fonds) about training budgets.
Can I retrain as a ZZP while changing careers in the Netherlands?
Yes. Working as a self-employed person while moving into a new sector can build a portfolio. The KvK registration fee is €85.15 (2026). Depending on your residence permit, self-employment may need its own permission; check with the IND before you start.
Does age discrimination exist in the Dutch job market?
Discrimination on the grounds of age in employment is prohibited by the Wet gelijke behandeling op grond van leeftijd bij de arbeid. If you suspect discrimination, you can contact your local anti-discrimination service (discriminatie.nl) or the College voor de Rechten van de Mens.