Companies Hiring Internationals in NL 2026

The Netherlands is one of the most international labour markets in Europe. More than 2.5 million people living in the Netherlands were born abroad, and in cities like Amsterdam and Eindhoven, you will find entire office floors where the only working language is English. Finding the right company is the key to making this work in your favour.

This guide covers the companies most actively hiring internationals, what they offer, how to approach them, and the practical steps that increase your chances of landing the role.

Why the Netherlands Attracts International Talent

Several structural factors make the Dutch job market unusually open to international candidates:

English proficiency: The Netherlands consistently ranks first or second globally for English proficiency as a second language (EF EPI). This means working in English is normal, not exceptional, in most multinationals.

Multinational headquarters: The Netherlands has an unusually high concentration of EMEA or global headquarters — Shell, Unilever (joint), ASML, Philips, Booking.com, Adyen, Heineken, NN Group — relative to its population. These companies already have international talent pipelines and actively recruit globally.

The 30% ruling: The Dutch 30% ruling tax incentive reduces effective income tax for internationally recruited employees. This makes offering competitive net salaries easier for employers, which attracts them to international hiring in the first place.

IND recognised sponsors: More than 10,000 Dutch employers are IND-recognised sponsors, meaning they can hire highly skilled migrants via the kennismigrant (highly skilled migrant) route. This legal structure makes international hiring administratively manageable for employers who use it regularly. See the highly skilled migrant visa guide for eligibility details.

Top Companies Hiring Internationals: By Sector

Technology

ASML — Eindhoven

ASML is arguably the most important technology company in the Netherlands and one of the most internationally staffed. It manufactures the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines that produce the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips — a position with no direct competitors.

ASML hires at every level from recent graduates to senior researchers. The company runs structured international recruitment campaigns and has dedicated relocation support, including help with housing, visa, and Dutch integration. English is the working language across the company.

Booking.com — Amsterdam

Booking.com employs over 17,000 people in Amsterdam and is one of the most culturally diverse workplaces in the Netherlands. The company specifically advertises its international environment — over 70 nationalities represented in the Amsterdam office.

The hiring bar is high — Booking.com uses structured interviews with case studies and technical assessments. Preparation time is well spent. Salaries are competitive by Dutch standards. See the salary negotiation guide before entering any offer discussions.

Adyen — Amsterdam

Adyen is one of the Netherlands’ fintech success stories, providing payment infrastructure to global enterprises. It has grown rapidly and continues to hire internationally for technical and commercial roles.

TomTom — Amsterdam

TomTom has transitioned from consumer navigation devices to B2B location data and maps. The Amsterdam HQ is international in composition and English-first.

Elastic — Amsterdam (EMEA HQ)

Elastic (the company behind Elasticsearch) runs its European HQ from Amsterdam. As a US-origin company, English is the de facto language and international hiring is standard.

Finance and Fintech

ING Group — Amsterdam

ING is one of the largest European banks and has a significant international workforce at its Amsterdam headquarters. The bank’s “ING International” structure recruits from across Europe and beyond, particularly for tech, data, and compliance roles.

ABN AMRO — Amsterdam

ABN AMRO is more domestic-focused than ING but has significant international hiring for tech and digital transformation roles. Their banking products are important for expats setting up in the Netherlands.

NN Group (Nationale-Nederlanden) — The Hague

NN Group is a major insurance and asset management firm with significant international hiring, particularly for actuarial, risk, data science, and technology roles.

Consumer and FMCG

Unilever — Rotterdam

Unilever’s Foods & Refreshment division is headquartered in Rotterdam. The company runs structured global graduate and professional hiring programmes with clear paths for international candidates.

Philips — Amsterdam

Philips has pivoted to healthcare technology and continues to hire internationally for R&D, software, and commercial roles.

Heineken — Amsterdam

Heineken runs international graduate and management programmes from Amsterdam, with rotation across global markets. Corporate roles are English-language; local market roles require Dutch or the local language.

Energy

Shell — The Hague

Shell’s global headquarters is in The Hague. It is one of the largest private employers of internationals in the Netherlands, with a long-standing tradition of global mobility and international recruitment.

TotalEnergies — Netherlands Operations

TotalEnergies has significant Netherlands operations (North Sea, LNG, renewables) with international hiring particularly in engineering and operations.

Logistics and Supply Chain

DHL — Amsterdam (EMEA HQ)

DHL’s EMEA headquarters is in Amsterdam. Tech and data roles are increasingly centralised here, with English as the working language for corporate teams.

Maersk — Rotterdam

Maersk’s key container shipping hub operations run through Rotterdam, and the company hires internationally for logistics, data, and commercial roles.

Life Sciences and Pharma

The Netherlands has a growing life sciences cluster, particularly in the Leiden Bio Science Park, the Amsterdam Medical Centre area, and around Eindhoven.

Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) — Leiden and Tilburg

J&J’s pharmaceutical operations in the Netherlands include R&D facilities at Leiden and manufacturing at Tilburg. International hiring is standard, with English as the working language at research and management level.

AkzoNobel — Amsterdam

AkzoNobel (paints and coatings — Dulux, Sikkens) runs its global headquarters from Amsterdam and hires internationally for R&D, supply chain, commercial, and digital roles.

DSM-Firmenich — Heerlen / Delft

The merger of DSM and Firmenich created one of the world’s largest nutrition, health, and fragrance companies, with major operations in the Netherlands. R&D and scientific roles are internationally staffed.

International Organisations and NGOs

The Hague is home to more international organisations per square kilometre than almost any other city — the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, Europol, OPCW, and dozens more. These organisations hire internationally for legal, political, communications, research, and administrative roles. Language requirements vary but English is the working language for most.

OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)

UN-affiliated body based in The Hague. Technical and administrative roles.

Europol

EU law enforcement agency, The Hague. Analytical, IT, and operational roles open to EU nationals.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Judicial and administrative roles; specific legal qualification requirements apply.

For many international organisation roles, check the UN Careers portal, Europol careers, and the specific agency career pages. These roles often have different visa and residency requirements than private sector employment.

Startups and Scale-ups

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s leading startup ecosystems, consistently ranking in the top five European cities for startup investment. Cities like Utrecht, Eindhoven, and Groningen also have active startup scenes.

Startups are often even more international in composition than large multinationals — English-first culture, diverse founding teams, and active recruitment from across Europe and beyond. The downside: fewer have IND recognised sponsor status, which limits non-EU hiring for specific visa categories.

Key startup ecosystems to watch:

• Amsterdam: Fintech (Mollie, Bunq, Adyen), health tech, SaaS, marketplace businesses
• Eindhoven: Deep tech, hardware, semiconductor ecosystem around ASML
• Delft: Deep tech, robotics, climate tech (proximity to TU Delft)
• Utrecht: Healthcare IT, sustainability, business software

Finding startup roles: LinkedIn, Angel.co/Wellfound, Techleap.nl, and the startup career boards run by accelerators like RISE (The Hague), Startupbootcamp, and YES!Delft.

How to Find English-Language Jobs in the Netherlands

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the dominant professional networking platform in the Netherlands — more actively used here than in most European countries. Dutch professionals update their profiles religiously and expect the same from international candidates.

Key tactics for LinkedIn NL:

• Set your location to the Netherlands (even before you arrive) to appear in local searches
• Add “open to opportunities” and specify your preferred locations — include multiple Dutch cities
• Write your LinkedIn profile in English but mention Dutch proficiency (even basic) prominently
• Follow the companies in this guide, engage with their posts, and connect with recruiters at those companies
• Read the full LinkedIn Netherlands tips guide for more tactics specific to the Dutch market

IamExpat Jobs

IamExpat Jobs filters specifically for roles open to international candidates and English speakers. The platform also lists jobs that are visa-sponsorship eligible, which removes the filtering you would otherwise have to do on generic job boards.

Undutchables

Undutchables is a recruitment agency that specialises in placing international candidates with Dutch employers. They vet roles before listing them, so most listings genuinely do not require Dutch. They have strong relationships with the major multinationals listed in this guide.

Together Abroad

Together Abroad focuses on international talent and immigration. The job board is strong for technical roles, and the site also covers visa and relocation topics relevant to your wider move.

Direct Company Career Pages

For the large multinationals — ASML, Booking.com, Shell, Unilever — the career pages are the most complete source of current openings. Set up job alerts on each company’s site for your target roles and check them weekly.

Interview Tips for International Candidates

Dutch interview culture has distinct characteristics that catch many international candidates off guard. Understanding these before you walk in will meaningfully improve your performance.

Read the dedicated job interview tips guide for the Netherlands for a full walkthrough. Key points:

Directness is expected. Dutch interviewers will ask direct, sometimes blunt questions about gaps in your CV, your reasons for leaving previous roles, and areas where you lack experience. They expect equally direct answers. Diplomatic non-answers signal lack of confidence rather than appropriate caution.

Equality, not hierarchy. Do not be deferential to the interviewer. Dutch work culture values egalitarianism — you are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you, and they respect candidates who ask substantive questions about the role, the team, and the company.

Salary discussion is earlier. The Dutch generally discuss salary expectations earlier in the process than British or American candidates expect. Be ready with a number based on Dutch market salary research for your role and experience level. Check the salary checker tool to benchmark before you apply.

Multiple rounds are normal. Senior professional roles typically involve 3-4 rounds including a case study or technical assessment. This is not a sign of indecision — it reflects how Dutch companies reach consensus-based hiring decisions.

Dutch work culture context. Understanding Dutch workplace norms — including the flat hierarchy, direct feedback culture, and work-life balance expectations — gives you something informed to say when they ask “what do you know about working in the Netherlands?”

The 30% Ruling: What Every International Applicant Needs to Know

If you are being recruited from abroad, the 30% ruling can significantly increase your net income. Here is the relevant summary for job seekers:

• Available to employees recruited or transferred from outside the Netherlands
• Provides a 30% tax-free allowance on your gross salary for the first 5 years (adjusted phased structure from 2024)
• Your employer applies on your behalf — you cannot apply independently
• Requirements: living more than 150km from the Dutch border in 16 of the 24 months before your start date, specific expertise scarce in the Dutch market, and minimum salary thresholds

The catch: Not every employer applies for it proactively. Some smaller companies are unaware or find the administrative process burdensome. Ask explicitly during the offer negotiation phase whether the company will apply for the 30% ruling on your behalf. For high-salary roles, this can be worth tens of thousands of euros over the ruling period. Use the 30% ruling calculator to estimate your benefit.

Understanding Your Dutch Employment Contract

Once you receive an offer, the Dutch employment contract will be in Dutch (or bilingual — you can request an English version). Key elements to review:

• Contract type: Indefinite (vast contract) vs fixed-term (tijdelijk). Fixed-term is common for first hires of international candidates
• Probation period (proeftijd): Maximum 1 month for contracts under 2 years; 2 months for indefinite contracts
• Notice period: Typically 1 month during first year, increasing with seniority
• Collective labour agreement (CAO): Many sectors have sector-wide agreements that set minimum terms
• Holiday allowance (vakantiegeld): 8% of annual salary paid in May — not optional, it is legally required
• Non-compete and IP clauses: Standard in tech and finance; review carefully

Understanding your Dutch pay slip (loonstrook) is equally important — the Dutch payroll system is not intuitive for newcomers, and knowing what each line means helps you verify you are being paid correctly and understand your tax position.

Networking in the Netherlands: What Actually Works

The Dutch professional culture values relationships built over time but is not as relationship-dependent as some other cultures for initial hiring decisions. However, a warm introduction — someone at the company who can speak to your abilities — meaningfully improves your chances at most firms.

Effective networking tactics for international professionals:

• LinkedIn connections: Connect with Dutch professionals in your target companies after engaging genuinely with their content. A personalised connection request commenting on something they have written is far more effective than a generic request.
• Industry meetups: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Utrecht all have active professional meetup scenes — check Meetup.com for tech, finance, and marketing events. These are typically English-friendly.
• IamExpat events: IamExpat runs regular networking events specifically for internationals, often with Dutch employers present.
• Alumni networks: Dutch universities (TU Eindhoven, TU Delft, Wageningen, UvA, VU, Utrecht) have strong alumni networks accessible to international graduates of partner institutions. US, UK, and Australian university alumni networks also have active Dutch chapters.

The most common feedback I hear from expat clients who successfully landed roles at the companies in this guide: “I met someone at a meetup” or “I had a LinkedIn conversation with someone in the team for six months before the job was posted.” The formal application process is still what gets you the job — but knowing someone inside shortens the queue significantly.

Practical Steps Before Your First Day

Finances first. Set up a Dutch bank account before your first salary arrives. Most Dutch employers pay salary to Dutch NL IBANs. If you need a bridge account while waiting for your BSN and bank account, set up Wise before your first salary arrives → — it works internationally and can receive salary payments while your Dutch banking is in progress.

BSN number. Your employer cannot process your salary correctly without your BSN (Dutch citizen service number). Register at your municipality as soon as you arrive. See the BSN registration guide.

Health insurance. You must arrange Dutch health insurance within 4 months of starting work in the Netherlands. See the Dutch health insurance guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all large Dutch companies sponsor work visas?

No. Companies must be IND-recognised sponsors to hire highly skilled migrants under the kennismigrant visa route. Almost all the major multinationals in this guide are recognised sponsors. However, startups, smaller Dutch companies, and some mid-size businesses are not, which limits their ability to hire non-EU candidates. Always confirm visa sponsorship capability early in the process — ideally before investing significant time in their application process.

What is a typical salary for international professionals in the Netherlands?

Salaries vary significantly by sector and experience level. Technology roles at companies like ASML or Booking.com for mid-level professionals typically pay EUR 55,000-90,000 gross per year. Finance professionals at ING or ABN AMRO: EUR 55,000-80,000 for analyst-to-manager level. Shell and Unilever FMCG roles: EUR 50,000-85,000. Use the salary checker tool and Glassdoor Netherlands for up-to-date benchmarks by specific role and company.

Can I work in the Netherlands on a tourist visa while job hunting?

EU/EEA citizens can work freely in the Netherlands without any visa. Non-EU nationals on a standard Schengen tourist visa (90 days in 180) are generally not permitted to work. The Netherlands offers an Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) visa for recent graduates of top global universities, allowing job searching for up to one year. See the highly skilled migrant visa guide for all routes.

How long does the average Dutch job search take for expats?

Based on my experience with expat clients, 3-6 months is realistic for professional roles at multinationals, assuming you are actively applying and networking. This can compress to 4-8 weeks if you are in high demand (data engineering, specific technical skills, senior finance). It can extend to 6-12 months if you are targeting Dutch-language roles you do not yet speak well enough for, or niche sectors. Start your search before you arrive where possible.

Do Dutch companies care about international degrees?

Generally yes, with caveats. Dutch multinationals routinely hire people with degrees from universities across Europe, the US, and beyond. However, certain regulated professions (medicine, law, architecture, teaching) require Dutch credential recognition, which is a separate process. For engineering, finance, tech, and commercial roles, the international degree is assessed on merit rather than origin.

What benefits do Dutch employers typically offer beyond salary?

Standard Dutch employment benefits include: 8% holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) paid in May, 20-25 days annual leave (statutory minimum 20), pension contribution (varies by sector CAO), NS Business Card for commuting (very common), home office allowance (EUR 2.15/day tax-free from home), and health insurance contribution (employer pays approximately 6.57% of salary as employer healthcare contribution, separate from your own premium). See the Dutch work culture guide for a fuller picture of what to expect.

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