Job interviews in the Netherlands have a recognisable style: direct questions, short small talk, a strong interest in concrete examples, and very little patience for exaggerated self-promotion. Whether your interview is fully in Dutch, starts in Dutch and switches to English, or is in English with a Dutch-speaking panel, knowing the shape of the conversation and the phrases that go with it makes a visible difference.
This guide follows a typical sollicitatiegesprek (job interview) from the greeting to the follow-up, with the questions you are likely to hear and practical answers in Dutch.
The words around applying
Before the interview, a few terms come up constantly:
- sollicitatie (application), solliciteren (to apply)
- vacature (vacancy)
- motivatiebrief (cover letter), cv (CV, pronounced “see-vee”)
- sollicitatiegesprek (job interview), eerste gesprek, tweede gesprek (first, second interview)
- kennismakingsgesprek (an informal first meeting)
- assessment (an aptitude or personality test, borrowed from English)
- referenties (references)
- arbeidsvoorwaarden (terms of employment)
- proeftijd (probation period)
Dutch job adverts often list wat wij vragen (what we ask) and wat wij bieden (what we offer), which map neatly onto the two halves of the interview.
The opening: greeting and small talk
Dutch interviews start on time and the small talk is short. A firm handshake, eye contact and your full name are standard: Goedemorgen, ik ben Maria Santos. Expect a quick question about your journey: Kon je het makkelijk vinden? (Was it easy to find?) A short honest answer is fine: Ja, prima, ik kwam met de trein.
Je or u? Many Dutch workplaces use je (informal you) even in interviews, and the interviewer often sets the tone. If unsure, start with u and switch when they do, or ask: Mag ik je zeggen?
If you want to settle the language, ask early: Zullen we het gesprek in het Nederlands doen? Mijn Nederlands is nog niet perfect, maar ik doe mijn best. Shall we do the conversation in Dutch? My Dutch is not perfect yet, but I will do my best. That sentence alone tends to earn goodwill.
Introducing yourself
Almost every interview starts with Vertel eens iets over jezelf (Tell us something about yourself). Prepare a spoken introduction of about one minute and practise it until you can say it without notes:
- Ik ben … en ik kom uit … I am … and I come from …
- Ik woon sinds twee jaar in Nederland. I have lived in the Netherlands for two years.
- Ik heb vijf jaar ervaring als … I have five years of experience as …
- Op dit moment werk ik bij … als … At the moment I work at … as …
- Ik ben vooral goed in … I am particularly good at …
Keep it factual. A Dutch interviewer wants to know what you have done and what you can do, not a personal brand statement.
The questions you will almost certainly hear
| Question in Dutch | Meaning | What they want |
|---|---|---|
| Waarom wil je hier werken? | Why do you want to work here? | Real knowledge of the company |
| Waarom solliciteer je op deze functie? | Why are you applying for this role? | Fit between your experience and the job |
| Wat zijn je sterke punten? | What are your strengths? | Two strengths, each with an example |
| Wat zijn je zwakke punten? / Wat zijn je verbeterpunten? | What are your weaknesses? / areas to improve? | An honest weakness and what you do about it |
| Kun je een voorbeeld geven van …? | Can you give an example of …? | A specific situation, your action, the result |
| Hoe werk je samen in een team? | How do you work in a team? | Concrete behaviour, not adjectives |
| Waar zie je jezelf over vijf jaar? | Where do you see yourself in five years? | Realistic ambition |
| Heb je nog vragen? | Do you have any questions? | Genuine interest |
Strengths and weaknesses
Answer strengths with an example, not a list of adjectives: Ik ben goed in plannen. In mijn vorige baan heb ik een project van zes maanden op tijd afgerond. I am good at planning. In my previous job I finished a six-month project on time.
For weaknesses, Dutch interviewers appreciate honesty. A real weakness with a plan works better than a disguised strength: Ik vind het lastig om nee te zeggen, maar ik leer om eerst mijn planning te checken voordat ik iets toezeg. I find it hard to say no, but I am learning to check my schedule before I agree to something.
Example questions
Many interviews use competency-based questions that start with Kun je een voorbeeld geven van een situatie waarin … (Can you give an example of a situation in which …). Structure the answer as situation, task, action, result, and use simple past tense:
- De situatie was … The situation was …
- Ik moest … I had to …
- Ik heb toen … I then …
- Het resultaat was dat … The result was that …
Dutch directness in the interview room
The Dutch reputation for directness shows up in interviews. You may be asked plainly why you left your last job, why there is a gap in your CV, or whether your Dutch is good enough for the role. These are not traps; they are questions the interviewer wants answered.
Answer just as plainly: Ik ben weggegaan omdat ik meer verantwoordelijkheid wilde. I left because I wanted more responsibility. Avoid long justifications, and do not criticise a former employer at length.
The flip side is that you can ask direct questions too. Asking what the team is like, why the position is open or how performance is judged is normal and signals that you take the job seriously. The same directness shows up later in daily work, and agreeing and disagreeing in Dutch is covered in jawel, klopt and precies.
Your questions for them
Prepare two or three questions. Good ones in Dutch:
- Hoe ziet een gewone werkdag eruit? What does a normal working day look like?
- Met wie zou ik het meest samenwerken? Who would I work with most?
- Wat zijn de belangrijkste uitdagingen in deze functie? What are the main challenges in this role?
- Hoe ziet het inwerkprogramma eruit? What does onboarding look like?
- Wat is de volgende stap in de procedure? What is the next step in the process?
Salary and terms of employment
Salary usually comes up in the second interview. Dutch employers expect you to name a figure when asked, and many sectors follow a collective labour agreement, a cao, with fixed salary scales. Useful phrases:
- Wat is het salaris voor deze functie? What is the salary for this position?
- Mijn salarisindicatie is … bruto per maand. My salary expectation is … gross per month.
- Is dat inclusief vakantiegeld? Does that include holiday allowance?
- Valt de functie onder een cao? Does the job fall under a collective agreement?
Ask about the whole package. Dutch employment typically includes vakantiegeld (holiday allowance, by law at least 8 percent of gross salary), pension contributions, travel allowance (reiskostenvergoeding) and the number of vacation days. Read the details on your payslip later with the guide to decoding your Dutch loonstrook. The government’s working hours guidance and the minimum wage page give the legal baseline.
If you need a residence permit through your employer, for example as a highly skilled migrant, the employer must be a recognised sponsor and meet salary criteria set by the IND’s highly skilled migrant rules. It is reasonable to ask: Is het bedrijf een erkend referent bij de IND?
Online and video interviews
First-round interviews are often held by video. The same structure applies, with a few extra phrases for the technology:
- Kunnen jullie mij goed horen? Can you hear me well?
- Ik zie jullie scherm niet. I cannot see your screen.
- Sorry, de verbinding viel even weg. Kunt u de vraag herhalen? Sorry, the connection dropped. Could you repeat the question?
Kunt u dat herhalen? is useful in person too. Asking for a question to be repeated is far better than answering the wrong one.
Body language matters less than in some cultures, but a relaxed posture and steady eye contact read as confidence. Sit up, look at whoever asked the question, and do not worry about a short pause before answering.
Closing the interview and following up
End with thanks and a clear next step: Bedankt voor het gesprek. Wanneer hoor ik van jullie? Thanks for the conversation. When will I hear from you?
A short follow-up email the same day is appreciated but not expected. Keep it brief:
Beste [naam], bedankt voor het prettige gesprek van vandaag. Ik ben nog steeds erg enthousiast over de functie en kijk uit naar jullie reactie. Met vriendelijke groet, [naam].
When your Dutch is not yet interview level
Many expats interview in English and use Dutch for the opening, the introduction and the closing. That is a sensible approach: it shows effort without risking the substance of your answers. If the role requires Dutch, be honest about your level and your plan: Ik zit op niveau B1 en volg nu een cursus richting B2. I am at B1 level and am taking a course toward B2. Employers value a credible plan more than a claim of fluency. For practice in a country where everyone switches to English, see how to learn Dutch when everyone speaks English. Learn Dutch For Expats, in early access, focuses on spoken practice for situations like this; you can join the waitlist.
The bottom line
A Dutch interview rewards preparation, plain answers and concrete examples. Learn the core questions, prepare a one-minute introduction in Dutch, answer weaknesses honestly, ask your own direct questions, and discuss the full package when salary comes up. Even if the interview moves to English, opening and closing in Dutch leaves a good impression.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a job interview in Dutch?
Prepare a short spoken introduction about yourself, your experience and why you want the job, and practise it aloud until it flows. Learn the questions Dutch interviewers almost always ask, such as your strengths, weaknesses and motivation, and prepare two or three questions of your own. Practise the conversation itself, not just vocabulary lists.
Can I do a Dutch job interview in English?
Often, yes, especially at international companies, in tech and in the big cities, where English is the working language. If the job requires Dutch, expect at least part of the interview in Dutch. Asking at the start, ‘Zullen we het gesprek in het Engels of in het Nederlands doen?’, shows awareness and lets you choose.
What is a sollicitatiegesprek?
It is the Dutch word for a job interview. Sollicitatie means application, and gesprek means conversation. You will also hear kennismakingsgesprek for a first, informal meeting and tweede gesprek for a second-round interview, which is often where salary and terms come up.
Is it normal to discuss salary in a Dutch interview?
Yes, usually in the second interview or once there is mutual interest. Dutch employers expect you to state your expectations plainly, and many follow a collective labour agreement with fixed salary scales. Ask about the full package, including holiday allowance, pension and travel costs, not only the gross monthly salary.
What should I not do in a Dutch job interview?
Do not oversell. Dutch interviewers tend to distrust exaggerated self-promotion and respond better to concrete examples and honest answers, including about weaknesses. Do not dodge direct questions either; a straight answer, even an imperfect one, lands better than a polished non-answer. And do not arrive late.
