Your new Dutch contract has a proeftijd clause, and it sounds ominous: a trial period when your boss can let you go on the spot. That part is true. But the proeftijd is also tightly regulated, with strict limits that protect you as much as the employer. Here is what a Dutch trial period really means.
What the proeftijd does
During the proeftijd, the normal job-protection rules are switched off. As the government explains the rules around a proeftijd, either party can end the contract immediately, with no notice period, no reason required, and no preventive check by the UWV or court.
That cuts both ways: your employer can let you go on the spot, but you can also walk out the same day, useful if the job turns out wrong.
The strict time limits
This is where the protection lives, the proeftijd can’t be open-ended. As the government sets out how long a proeftijd may last:
| Contract | Max proeftijd |
|---|---|
| 6 months or shorter | none allowed |
| Temporary, under 2 years | 1 month |
| Permanent, or 2 years+ | 2 months |
A proeftijd set longer than the legal maximum is invalid, which means there’s effectively no trial period at all, and you’re immediately under full protection.
It must be in writing, and equal
Two more conditions, per FNV on the proeftijd: the proeftijd is only valid if it’s agreed in writing (in the contract or cao), and it must be the same length for both sides. No written clause means no valid proeftijd.
You’re still protected from discrimination
One thing the proeftijd does not allow: discriminatory dismissal. Your employer cannot let you go because you’re pregnant, ill, or because of your origin, that’s illegal even during the trial period.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de proeftijd | trial / probation period |
| bepaalde / onbepaalde tijd | fixed-term / permanent |
| de opzegtermijn | notice period |
| per direct | with immediate effect |
| de cao | collective labour agreement |
| het ontslag | dismissal |
Where it connects
The proeftijd is the opening chapter of your Dutch employment, part of the arbeidsovereenkomst (contract) you sign, and the mirror image of sending your own ontslag (resignation) letter. It sits in the same workplace-rights world as your works council, the OR, and the flat, direct Dutch workplace culture.
The bottom line
A Dutch proeftijd lets either side end the contract immediately, no notice, no reason, but it’s strictly limited: none for contracts of 6 months or less, 1 month for short temp contracts, 2 months for permanent or 2-year-plus ones, and it must be in writing and equal for both. You’re still safe from discriminatory dismissal throughout. Learn proeftijd, opzegtermijn and bepaalde tijd, check the clause before you sign, and the trial period stops being a thing to fear.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the employment Dutch a contract uses, proeftijd, opzegtermijn, bepaalde tijd, ontslag by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can know exactly what your contract says instead of signing on trust.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a Dutch proeftijd (trial period) be?
It depends on the contract. For a temporary contract shorter than 2 years, the proeftijd is max 1 month. For a permanent contract, or a temporary one of 2 years or longer, it’s max 2 months. And for a contract of 6 months or shorter, no proeftijd is allowed at all. A proeftijd longer than the legal maximum is invalid, meaning there’s effectively no trial period.
Can my employer fire me during the proeftijd?
Yes, and quickly: during the proeftijd either party can end the contract immediately, with no notice period and without needing a reason or approval from the UWV or court. The same applies to you, you can also leave on the spot. However, your employer may not dismiss you on discriminatory grounds such as pregnancy, illness or ethnic origin; that’s still illegal even in the trial period.
Does a proeftijd have to be in writing?
Yes. A proeftijd is only valid if it’s agreed in writing (in the contract or applicable cao) and is the same length for both employer and employee. If it isn’t written down, or is set longer than the legal maximum, it doesn’t legally apply. So always check your contract for the exact proeftijd clause before you sign, and before you assume your job is or isn’t on probation.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for work contracts and rights?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the employment Dutch a contract uses, proeftijd, opzegtermijn, bepaalde tijd, ontslag, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you know exactly what your contract says instead of signing on trust.
