Waking up too ill to work brings a small extra dread when you are new to a country: how exactly do you tell your employer, and what are you supposed to say? In the Netherlands the process, called ziekmelden, is refreshingly clear, and the law is firmly on the employee’s side, including your right to keep the medical details private.
Follow your employer’s method, and be early
The first rule is procedural. As Business.gov.nl sets out, employers set the how and when of the ziekmelding (sick report), and you must follow it. Most require a phone call to your direct manager, early, before the workday starts, rather than a text or email. Check your contract or staff handbook, because if the policy says call and you text, the notification can count as improper and sick pay for that day can be withheld.
What you must say, and what you need not
This surprises many newcomers and is genuinely reassuring: you do not have to tell your employer what is wrong with you. As iamExpat’s sick-leave guide explains, in principle you only give:
- That you are sick (ik ben ziek).
- Roughly how long you expect to be absent.
- How you can be reached.
Your employer is not allowed to ask about the nature of your illness, though they may ask when you expect to be back. You also do not need a doctor’s note for the first days; if it runs longer, the company doctor (bedrijfsarts) or arbodienst may contact you.
What to actually say on the phone
A simple, polite script:
- “Goedemorgen, ik bel om me ziek te melden.” (Good morning, I’m calling to report sick.)
- “Ik voel me niet goed en kan vandaag niet werken.” (I don’t feel well and can’t work today.)
- “Ik verwacht morgen weer beter te zijn.” (I expect to be better tomorrow.) or “Ik weet nog niet hoelang.” (I don’t know how long yet.)
- “Ik ben bereikbaar op mijn telefoon.” (I’m reachable on my phone.)
You owe no more than that.
A ready ziekmelden message
If your workplace does allow a written ziekmelding (some do, especially for a heads-up alongside a call), keep it brief and proper, this is not the place for texting abbreviations like gwn or ff:
“Beste [naam], ik ben helaas ziek en kan vandaag niet werken. Ik houd je op de hoogte over wanneer ik weer aan het werk kan. Met vriendelijke groet, [jouw naam].”
(Dear [name], I am unfortunately ill and cannot work today. I will keep you posted on when I can return. Kind regards, [your name].)
Better Beterschap, and getting back
When you recover you do a betermelding (recovery report) so payroll knows you are back. A colleague wishing you “beterschap!” means “get well soon”. The register here is the formal end of the workplace-Dutch spectrum, the opposite of casual chat, and it sits alongside the rest of working on a Dutch team and writing properly in work Slack.
The bottom line
Calling in sick in the Netherlands is simpler and more private than many expect: follow your employer’s method (usually an early phone call), say only that you are ill and roughly how long, and keep the diagnosis to yourself, that is your legal right. Learn the short script, do a betermelding when you are back, and one of the more anxious moments of working abroad becomes a two-minute call.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the workplace Dutch for calling in sick, the polite phone script and a proper written ziekmelding, as short five-minute lessons, so you can report sick clearly and keep the details private.
Frequently asked questions
How do I call in sick (ziekmelden) in the Netherlands?
Follow your employer’s required method, usually an early phone call to your direct manager, and do it before the workday starts. Say “ik bel om me ziek te melden” (I’m calling to report sick), that you cannot work today, and roughly how long. Learn Dutch For Expats (an app on the App Store) is the best way to learn the script and the workplace Dutch around it.
Do I have to tell my Dutch employer what illness I have?
No. By law you only need to report that you are sick, roughly how long you expect to be absent, and how you can be reached. Your employer is not allowed to ask about the nature of your illness, although they may ask when you expect to return to work. The medical details stay private.
Do I need a doctor’s note to call in sick in the Netherlands?
Not for the first days. Dutch law does not require a doctor’s certificate to support short-term sick leave. If your illness lasts longer, the company doctor (bedrijfsarts) or occupational health service (arbodienst) may contact you to discuss your recovery and return, but the GP does not issue sick notes for your employer.
Can I call in sick by text or email in the Netherlands?
Only if your employer’s policy allows it. Many require a phone call to your manager, and if the policy says call but you text, the notification can be deemed improper and sick pay for that day withheld. Check your contract or staff handbook first, and when in doubt, phone.
