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THE HAGUE – October 12, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Job centre Netherlands: looking for work, worried about losing your job, or want to retrain? Soon you won’t have to go from one office to another. On 12 October 2026 the Dutch cabinet announced that every labour market region will get a Werkcentrum, where UWV, municipalities, employers, unions and schools work together under one roof. You can walk in without an appointment, and the help is free. Here is what a Werkcentrum is, who can use it and how to find yours.
Job centre Netherlands: quick answer
- What: a Werkcentrum is one central point for questions about work, training and careers.
- For whom: everyone working or looking for work, with or without a benefit, and employers.
- Cost: free and without obligation, according to werkcentrum.nl.
- Where: one in each of the 35 labour market regions, often in a shopping centre or library, with no appointment needed.
- Status: 28 already operational by UWV’s 2025 report; a bill to anchor them in law has gone to parliament.
Contents
- 1. What the cabinet announced
- 2. Job centre Netherlands: what is a Werkcentrum?
- 3. Who can use the job centre?
- 4. Job centre Netherlands: what help you can get
- 5. Who works in a Werkcentrum?
- 6. How far along is it?
- 7. Job centre Netherlands: how to find your Werkcentrum
- 8. FAQ
- 🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
- Sources
1. What the cabinet announced
According to the government, anyone looking for work, at risk of losing their job, wanting to retrain or needing staff will no longer have to visit several different offices. Every labour market region gets a Werkcentrum, where UWV, municipalities, employers and education institutions join forces, so people find work faster and companies find staff faster.
The cabinet says a large group of people is unnecessarily on the sidelines while thousands of vacancies are open in shortage sectors such as healthcare, education and the energy transition.
Minister Aartsen: “We really need everyone on the labour market. We cannot afford to leave people on the sidelines. Everyone who can work must be able to take part.” He says the job centres are also an important step to help more newcomers into work.
In your neighbourhood, no appointment. The cabinet wants support to be easy to access. New job centres will often open in the neighbourhood, for example in a shopping centre or a library, and you can go there without an appointment. Each regional Werkcentrum has several locations, so the service is always nearby.
A bill. The job centres will get structural funding, laid down in law. The bill that arranges this has been sent to the House of Representatives.
2. Job centre Netherlands: what is a Werkcentrum?
According to the national website werkcentrum.nl, the Werkcentrum is a central point for questions about work and development. It is a new initiative of the government, employers’ organisations, unions and training organisations. Through one central point, it gives people and companies access to the knowledge and services of its partners, and puts you in touch with the right person at the right organisation. If you already know where you need to be, you can also contact one of the organisations directly.
The programme behind it describes a “no wrong door” principle: whichever door you come in through, a Werkcentrum employee acts as your guide.
You can get help online or at walk-in points.
3. Who can use the job centre?
According to UWV’s 2025 annual report, everyone who works or is looking for work, with or without a benefit, can go to a Werkcentrum for help finding a job, career advice, support with training and work-based learning, and help with debts. Employers can go there with labour market questions, such as finding suitable staff and training.
4. Job centre Netherlands: what help you can get
For job seekers, werkcentrum.nl says the help is free and without obligation, at your own pace and with your own goals. “Your talent comes first; not your work experience, background or education.” It covers three themes:
- Career advice: help finding a job, orienting yourself on work, and tips to get started with applying. Common questions include how to find work without a diploma and how to get back into work.
- Training (scholing): an overview of courses, training and education, whether you want another role at your current employer, to develop in your current job, or to switch to another profession or sector.
- Applying (solliciteren): help presenting yourself, writing an application letter and improving your CV, possibly through an application training in which they look at your CV and skills, and what employers look for in an interview.
People who already have a job (werkenden) can also go there, for example to retrain, move to another sector or keep up with their profession.
5. Who works in a Werkcentrum?
According to werkcentrum.nl and the government, the partners are:
- municipalities;
- UWV;
- employers’ organisations;
- trade unions;
- SBB (the cooperation organisation for vocational education and the labour market);
- education and training institutions.
SBB says it works in all regional job centres in the 35 labour market regions, helping vocational education (mbo) match employers’ needs, for example through work-based learning at recognised training companies. According to SBB, 257,000 companies in the Netherlands are recognised as training companies, together offering 60,000 apprenticeship places.
6. How far along is it?
- According to UWV’s 2025 annual report, 28 Werkcentra were operational, some physical and digital, some only digital. Regions without one were planned to get a digital and/or physical Werkcentrum during 2026.
- UWV and municipalities are expected to get the legal task of having a Werkcentrum in all labour market regions in 2027.
- A national publicity campaign was due to start on 23 March 2026, with at least digital services available in every region.
- The programme Samen voor de klant notes that not every region has an active Werkcentrum yet, but every region has a place where you can go with questions.
7. Job centre Netherlands: how to find your Werkcentrum
Go to werkcentrum.nl and use “Vind jouw Werkcentrum” (find your job centre). The site shows per region whether the Werkcentrum is active or still being developed.
Our tip (not from the sources): the site is in Dutch. If your Dutch is still basic, the words in the Dutch Corner below will help, and our basic Dutch phrases guide is a good start. Lost your job? Read our guide to being fired in the Netherlands and WW.
8. FAQ
What is a Werkcentrum job centre in the Netherlands?
One central point, per labour market region, where UWV, municipalities, employers, unions, SBB and schools help people with questions about work, training and careers.
Do I need a benefit to use a Werkcentrum?
No. According to UWV, everyone who works or is looking for work can go there, with or without a benefit.
Does it cost anything?
No. werkcentrum.nl says the help for job seekers is free and without obligation.
Do I need an appointment?
The cabinet says you can visit the new job centres without an appointment.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Het Werkcentrum | Job centre |
| De werkzoekende | Job seeker |
| De werkende | Working person |
| De werkgever | Employer |
| Het loopbaanadvies | Career advice |
| De scholing | Training |
| Solliciteren | To apply for a job |
| De sollicitatiebrief | Application letter |
| Zonder afspraak | Without an appointment |
| De arbeidsmarktregio | Labour market region |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid, 12 October 2026: Kabinet zet werk centraal: in elke regio een Werkcentrum (announcement, minister’s quote, no appointment, bill)
- Werkcentrum.nl: Over het Werkcentrum (what it is, partners)
- Werkcentrum.nl: Werkzoekende (free help, career advice, training, applying)
- UWV Annual Report 2025: Arbeidsbemiddeling en re-integratieondersteuning (who can use it, 28 operational, 2027 legal task, campaign)
- Samen voor de klant: Het Werkcentrum (35 regions, no wrong door, SBB figures, regional status)
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