Notice period

In the Netherlands, your employer must comply with a notice period if you are dismissed, and you must comply with a notice period if you resign. The notice period is the period of time between the day on which your employer announces, or you announce, that your work will end and your last working day. You will continue to work up to the day you actually stop working.  

Notice period and dismissal 

If you are dismissed in the Netherlands, your employer must comply with a notice period. This is the period of time between the day your dismissal is announced and the day your work stops.   

Notice period and resigning 

If you decide to stop working, you hand in your resignation. You also have to comply with a notice period. This is the period of time between the day you announce you are leaving your job and your last working day. You will therefore continue to work up to the day you actually stop working.   

Probation period 

If you are still in your probation period, you do not have a notice period.  This means you can leave your job with immediate effect. Your employer does not have a notice period either. 

Length of notice period 

The notice period is usually one month but it can be longer, for example if you have been working at the company for a long time. If you want to know how long your notice period is, check your contract or read the rules in your CAO. A shorter notice period might have been agreed in your CAO. You can also ask Het Juridisch Loket or UWV for help. You can also contact them if your employer failed to comply with the notice period. 

Example of notice period

Make sure you hand in your resignation on time and before the end of the calendar month. For example, if you want to leave your job with effect from 1 April, your written notice that you are terminating your contract must be given before 1 March. During the month of March you will have to work as usual.