🇳🇱How to Write a CV for the Netherlands

Quick facts: CVs in the Netherlands

These are common practices; they vary by employer and industry. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

What to include

What to leave off

• Exaggeration and buzzwords — Dutch professional culture favours modesty and plain speaking.
• Long CVs — Two pages is usually the maximum.
• Unnecessary personal details — Marital status or religion are not expected.
• Ignoring Dutch when the role needs it — If the ad is in Dutch, the language is usually genuinely required.

ATS and CVs in the Netherlands

Large and international employers in the Netherlands, particularly in tech, logistics and finance, often receive applications through career portals with applicant tracking systems. Even when a person reads your file, a well-structured CV gets understood faster.

• Use a single-column template with standard section headings.
• Include keywords from the ad for skills you actually have.
• Write short, direct bullet points rather than long paragraphs.
• Keep dates in one consistent format (month/year).
• Send a PDF unless the site asks for Word.
• Compare your file with the ad using the job matcher.

Dutch recruiters appreciate a concise CV that gets straight to the point, so cut anything that does not support your application.

Some employers ask for your LinkedIn URL instead of a letter, so make sure the titles and dates there match your CV.

Check my CV for ATS →

CV example

Examples by job

Applying for jobs in the Netherlands

Common places to job hunt in the Netherlands include LinkedIn (very important there), Indeed, Nationale Vacaturebank and the public werk.nl portal, as well as company career pages. Recruitment and temp agencies (uitzendbureaus) are also widely used, especially for temporary contracts.

• LinkedIn profile: many recruiters search for candidates there directly, so keep it consistent with your CV.
• Notice periods: usually set in the contract, so state when you could start.
• Work permits: if you are from outside the EU, an employer usually needs to sponsor you through an official scheme (such as the highly skilled migrant route for recognized sponsors). Rules change, so check the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
• Interviews: expect to speak openly about your strengths and weaknesses.

Start in the CV builder with a clean template, and see our Germany guide if you are also applying in neighbouring countries.

Part-time contracts are common, and hiring processes often include several interviews and sometimes a practical assignment or technical test.

CV language

The Netherlands is one of the European countries where English is most widely used at work, and many international companies (in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven, for example) advertise in English and accept English CVs. However, many roles, such as the public sector, healthcare, education and local customer service, usually expect Dutch.

To be clear: our builder outputs English or French only; it cannot write Dutch. The simple rule: if the job ad is in English, apply in English.

If you are learning Dutch, list your current level; it signals that you plan to settle in.

CV or resume?

In the Netherlands the document is called a CV, and it is close to a resume in length: one to two pages without much personal detail. The main difference from a US resume is that Dutch CVs sometimes add a short interests section. See our CV examples.

Above all, keep the tone realistic: Dutch recruiters trust specific, measurable achievements more than general adjectives.

Cover letters in the Netherlands

A motivation letter (motivatiebrief) is common in the Netherlands, and many ads ask for one. Keep it short, under a page, and direct: why this role, and what makes you a good fit. The Dutch tone is clear and practical, so skip the flattery. You can start with a draft from the cover letter generator.

It is fine to open straight with why you fit, without a long introduction.

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