A fixed minimum hourly wage applies to all employees aged 21 and over. Employees aged 15 to 20 are entitled to statutory minimum youth hourly wages. These minimum youth wages are derived from the statutory minimum hourly wage. If your company is covered by a collective labour agreement (CLA), the hourly wages specified in that agreement take precedence.
Minimum Hourly Wages as of 1 January 2026
Minimum hourly wage by age (gross amounts as of 1 January 2026)
Minimum Hourly Wages as of 1 January 2026 (BBL)
A separate minimum hourly wage applies to employees working under the vocational work-based learning pathway (BBL).
Minimum hourly wage by age (gross amounts as of 1 January 2026)
Minimum Hourly Wages as of 1 July 2026
Minimum Hourly Wages as of 1 July 2026 (BBL)
Minimum hourly wage by age (gross amounts as of 1 July 2026)
Minimum Holiday Allowance
The statutory minimum hourly wage excludes holiday allowance. The minimum holiday allowance is 8% of the gross salary earned over a reference period. This period depends on the arrangements set out in a collective labour agreement (CLA) or agreed with the employer. In most cases, the holiday allowance period runs from June to May, with the holiday allowance paid in May.
Penalties for Paying Below the Statutory Minimum Wage
Paying an employee less than the statutory minimum wage constitutes underpayment. Employees can report this to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie). In cases of underpayment, the Labour Authority may impose an immediate fine on the employer, and the outstanding wages must be paid within four weeks. The Labour Authority may also identify underpayment during an inspection.
The fine for underpayment is imposed separately for each employee who is paid less than the statutory minimum wage. The amount depends on the duration and percentage of the underpayment and ranges from €500 to €10,000 per employee.
If an employee receives less than the statutory minimum wage, they will generally also have received insufficient holiday allowance. The Netherlands Labour Authority may impose additional fines for this. These fines range from €250 to €2,000 per employee, depending on the percentage of the underpayment.
Employees can claim unpaid wages from their employer for up to five years. This means that an employee can claim any outstanding wages within this period, even after their employment has ended. This right to claim unpaid wages also applies to other situations in which an employee has been paid less than they were entitled to.
