Who Will be My Employer in the Netherlands?

A Dutch temporary employment agency will be legally your employer in the Netherlands. Through this agency, you will be provided with work at a company to physically perform your job. Temporary employment agencies are widespread in the Netherlands. 15% of the working population works through a temporary employment contract.

So it’s common for companies to hire agencies to take care of their staffing. It might feel that you are not getting paid the full amount of your salary when you see all the deductions, but there are significant advantages for you to be employed through a temporary employment agency in the Netherlands. Additionally, Robin does not charge you anything for the entire recruitment process and the initial help we can provide even after you start working, which can be considered another cool advantage.

Get to know everything about employment agencies in the Netherlands

What are the advantages of working through an employment agency in the Netherlands?

EXPERIENCE: Generally speaking, experience is the first advantage you get from working through a temporary employment agency. These firms have already helped hundreds, even thousands of migrant workers beforehand, so they have solid processes that are all organised and designed around your convenience, offering fair working conditions and accommodation that make the relocation more doable.

Just think about it:

• Finding accommodation can be a hassle, especially for a reasonable price. When you work with an agency, you already have a roof over your head when you arrive.
• Transportation from and to work is also organised, usually for free. In general, agencies provide bicycles for distances shorter than 10 km. If the commute is further, they manage cars or minivans.
• Getting your BSN number is also easier through the agency. Everyone who’s working in the Netherlands has one, and the agency will book an appointment for you, which will make the entire process easier and faster.
• Health insurance. Everybody that is living in the Netherlands needs one. As agencies make agreements with the insurance providers, it is hard to beat their prices.

DIVERSITY: Working through a temporary employment agency means that you will be working with people all across the EU who are basically in the same boat as you. This is a great opportunity to make friends with different cultural backgrounds and who speak different languages. When you don’t work with an employment agency, building such an international community is much harder.

FLEXIBILITY: One huge advantage of temporary employment agencies is that they will find work for you when the company you currently work for gets into the low season. When you are in contract directly with the company, they would probably just get you a timely notice and looking for a new job will be your task alone. The employment agency, on the other hand, will propose a new job, usually within days, as they are already in contact with other end employers as well.  If you are not fond of searching for a new job, this is a great advantage.

HONE YOUR SKILLS: Working with an international recruitment agency and a staffing firm allows you to try yourself in various roles, companies, and sectors. If you are not really sure what you’d like to do for a living in the future, you try different opportunities in services, logistics, production, manufacturing, and more. You won’t only learn different skills, but will be introduced to different people, professions, and company cultures, enabling you to see what fits you best. 

Compared to a fixed position, finding this out might take you years of exploring. Working through a temporary employment agency might help you discover this in a couple of months.

In some, more exceptional cases, Robin may also provide jobs straight at the company. Keep in mind that this will happen if you are already settled in the Netherlands and have transportation and accommodation arranged already.

Explore Your Options With Robin

Choosing to work through a Dutch temporary employment agency isn’t just about finding a job, but about making your transition to a new country quick and convenient. By handling the paperwork, housing, and transport, these agencies allow you to focus on what matters the most: starting your new professional chapter.

Agencies act as a safety net of flexibility and allows you to explore various professional roles. This kind of flexibility is non-existent with direct contracts, so it isn’t just a convenient move, but a smart one as well.

At Robin, our goal is to connect you with the most reliable partners in the industry, ensuring that your experience in the Netherlands is stable, fair, and rewarding from day one.

If you have preferences in working with a particular type of agency or company in the Netherlands, let the Robin job expert know. We can find a perfect pick together for you on what employment agency suits your needs.