Minimum Wage Netherlands 2026: Hourly Rates by Age After the July Increase

Last updated: October 2, 2026

THE HAGUE – October 1, 2026 | The Dutch Daily

Minimum wage Netherlands 2026: since 1 July 2026 the statutory minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over is €14.99 gross per hour, up from €14.71 on 1 January 2026. Younger workers have a lower youth minimum wage, from €4.50 an hour at 15 to €11.99 at 20. This guide shows all rates, explains how the hourly minimum works and what you can do if your employer pays less.

1. Minimum wage per hour by age (2026)

These are the official gross hourly amounts published by the Dutch government.

For workers aged 21 and over there is one fixed minimum hourly rate. For workers aged 15 to 20, the youth minimum wage (minimumjeugdloon) is a percentage of the adult rate, which is why the amounts are lower.

2. How the hourly minimum wage works

The Dutch minimum wage is set per hour. That makes it easy to check: multiply the hours you work by the hourly rate for your age, and your gross pay may not be lower than that amount. It does not matter whether you work 24, 36 or 40 hours a week; every hour is paid at least the minimum.

Important points:

• Gross, not net. The minimum wage is a gross amount. Income tax and national insurance contributions are deducted from it, and the tax credits you receive reduce the tax you pay.
• Age counts on the day. When you have a birthday, you are entitled to the rate for your new age.
• Holiday allowance is extra. On top of the minimum wage you are entitled to at least 8% holiday allowance (vakantiegeld). It may not be included in the hourly minimum.
• Cao wages can be higher. Many collective labour agreements (caos) set wage scales above the statutory minimum. If your sector has a cao, the cao wage applies if it is higher.

3. Examples: what the minimum wage means per week

A few simple gross calculations with the adult rate from 1 July 2026 (€14.99 an hour). These are gross amounts before tax, without holiday allowance.

To estimate a monthly amount, multiply the weekly amount by 52 and divide by 12. For 40 hours a week that is about €2,598 gross a month. Your payslip may differ slightly because employers calculate pay per period and because of rounding. Want to know your take-home pay? Use our net salary calculator.

4. Who is entitled to the minimum wage?

The statutory minimum hourly wage applies to all employees aged 15 and over who work in the Netherlands, whatever their nationality. That includes:

• full-time and part-time employees;
• employees on a temporary contract or an on-call contract;
• agency workers (uitzendkrachten);
• international workers posted to the Netherlands, who must at least be paid the Dutch minimum wage for their work here.

The minimum wage is a protection for employees. Self-employed people (zzp’ers) set their own rates and are not covered by the employee minimum wage. Be aware that a “freelance” construction can be a disguised employment relationship; read our article on false self-employment.

5. When does the minimum wage change?

The government adjusts the minimum wage twice a year, on 1 January and on 1 July, in line with the development of average wages under the cao agreements. That is why the 2026 amounts rose from €14.71 to €14.99 in July.

The amounts for 1 January 2027 are published by the government later in the year. Several benefits are linked to the minimum wage, including the state pension (AOW) and social assistance, so these change at the same moments. Our overview of Netherlands changes 2027 lists what is already known for next year.

6. Paid less than the minimum wage? What you can do

An employer who pays less than the minimum wage breaks the law. If you think you are underpaid:

1. Check your payslip. Divide your gross wage (without holiday allowance) by the hours you worked. Is the result below the rate for your age?
2. Raise it with your employer in writing and ask for the missing amount.
3. Report it to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie), which enforces the minimum wage. You can report anonymously.
4. Get advice. A trade union (vakbond) or the Legal Services Counter (Juridisch Loket) can help you claim the money.

Keep a record of the hours you work, your contract and your payslips. That makes it much easier to prove what you are owed.

7. Extra income support on a low wage

If you earn the minimum wage or a little more, check whether you are entitled to government allowances. They are not part of your wage, but they can make a real difference:

• Zorgtoeslag: an allowance towards your health insurance premium. See our zorgtoeslag guide.
• Huurtoeslag: rent allowance for eligible tenants.
• Kindgebonden budget and kinderopvangtoeslag for parents. See our childcare allowance guide.

You apply for these allowances through Mijn toeslagen with your DigiD. Our DigiD and toeslagen guide explains how.

8. How the youth minimum wage is calculated

The youth minimum wage is a fixed percentage of the adult minimum wage. Applying these percentages to the adult rate of €14.99 gives exactly the official amounts from 1 July 2026:

Many caos in sectors such as retail and hospitality have their own youth wage scales, which can be higher than the statutory youth minimum. Students with a side job should check the cao of their employer.

9. Checklist: reading your payslip

Your employer must give you a payslip (loonstrook). Check these items:

• Hours worked in the pay period and your hourly wage: is the hourly wage at least the rate for your age?
• Gross wage (brutoloon) and the deductions for payroll tax (loonheffing).
• Holiday allowance: built up each period, or paid out monthly or once a year.
• Supplements for overtime, evenings, nights or weekends: these depend on your cao or contract.
• Net wage (nettoloon): what is paid into your bank account.

Keep your payslips. You need them for your tax return, for allowances and if you ever have to prove what you earned.

10. Key takeaways

• Since 1 July 2026 the minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over is €14.99 gross per hour.
• Workers aged 15 to 20 receive a youth minimum wage, from €4.50 to €11.99 an hour.
• The minimum applies per hour, so part-time and full-time workers are protected equally.
• Holiday allowance of at least 8% comes on top of the minimum wage.
• The amounts change on 1 January and 1 July; the 2027 figures follow later this year.
• Underpaid? Raise it with your employer and report it to the Netherlands Labour Authority.

11. FAQ

What is the minimum wage in the Netherlands in 2026?

€14.99 gross per hour for workers aged 21 and over from 1 July 2026, and €14.71 from 1 January to 30 June 2026.

Is the minimum wage the same for part-time workers?

Yes. The minimum is set per hour, so every hour must be paid at least the minimum rate.

Is holiday allowance included in the minimum wage?

No. You receive at least 8% holiday allowance on top.

What will the minimum wage be in 2027?

The government publishes the amounts for 1 January 2027 later in the year. We will update this page when they are official.

🇳🇱 Dutch Corner

Sources

• Rijksoverheid: bedragen minimumloon 2026 (gross hourly amounts per age, 1 January and 1 July 2026; applies to all employees aged 15 and over).
• Rijksoverheid: vakantiegeld (at least 8% of gross annual wage).

More in our guide: Taxes, Salary & Money in the Netherlands

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