Working as a student

Are you from the EU/EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You can work for an employer or as a self-employed person (in Dutch: ZZP'er). You don’t need a work permit and there are no restrictions on how many hours you work. Keep in mind that you have to be available for all educational activities.

To become self-employed, you need to register at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).

Important! 

If you work in the Netherlands:

• You need to take out Dutch public health insurance. See the info below on Working and Health Insurance.
• You have to pay income tax over your Dutch income. Scholarships may be included in your Dutch income. See the website of the Dutch Tax Office for more information.

Are you from outside the EU/EEA? Then you will need a residence permit to study in the Netherlands. This will be arranged as part of your application process. The info below is for students with a residence permit to study. Are you already living in the Netherlands and do you have a different kind of residence permit? Then you need to check whether that permit gives you the right to work.

Working for an employer

Your residence permit for study does not give you the right to work for an employer in the Netherlands. You need an additional work permit. Your employer needs to apply for this permit for you. The organization that arranges this is UWV.

Also, there are restrictions on how many hours you can work. There are 2 options (you cannot do both!):

• 1. You work no more than 16 hours per week.
• 2. You work full-time during the summer months of June, July and August.

Working for yourself (self-employed)

As an international student with a residence permit for study, you are free to do self-employed work in the Netherlands. You don’t need a work permit for this and there are no restrictions on the number of hours you work. Keep in mind that you have to be available for all educational activities.

To become self-employed, you need to register at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).

Important! 

If you work in the Netherlands:

• You need to take out Dutch public health insurance. See the info below on Working and Health Insurance.
• You have to pay income tax over your Dutch income. Scholarships may be included in your Dutch income. See the website of the Dutch Tax Office for more information.