Settlement Agreement Lawyer Netherlands | Law & More

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A settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) ends an employment contract in the Netherlands by mutual consent, instead of a dismissal procedure through the UWV or the subdistrict court. Law & More reviews and negotiates settlement agreements for employees and employers, throughout the Netherlands and in Dutch and English, and aims to respond within one working day. The first step is a free introductory meeting; send us the proposal before you sign.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

checking a settlement proposal before you sign it;
negotiating a higher payment, a later end date or a longer period of garden leave;
the transition payment and whether the amount offered matches the legal minimum;
protecting your right to unemployment benefit (WW);
non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality clauses;
agreements on a reference and on how the departure is communicated;
the end date if your residence permit depends on your job; see lost your job as a highly skilled migrant;
drafting settlement agreements for employers.

What is a settlement agreement?

It is a written agreement in which employer and employee end the employment relationship by mutual consent and record the terms: the end date, the financial compensation and other conditions. It replaces a dismissal procedure through the UWV or the subdistrict court.

An employer is not obliged to offer one, and you are not obliged to accept it. If you do not sign, your employment continues, and the employer must follow a formal dismissal procedure if it still wants to end the relationship. Because a settlement agreement affects your income, your notice period and your right to unemployment benefit, it should be checked by an employment lawyer before you sign.

What should you check before signing?

Check the transition payment, the end date in relation to the notice period, any restrictive clauses, garden leave, the reference and your right of reconsideration. Each of these can be negotiated.

Transition payment (transitievergoeding): the statutory payment, capped at 102,000 euros gross in 2026 (or one annual salary if higher), and whether the amount offered matches or improves on it; see our article on the transition payment.
Notice period: whether the agreed end date respects the statutory notice period, since an incorrect notice period can affect your unemployment benefit.
Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses: whether existing clauses remain in force, are limited, or are cancelled.
Garden leave (vrijstelling van werk): whether you are released from your duties until the end date, and how this is arranged.
Confidentiality and reference: what may be communicated to future employers.

A settlement agreement is a proposal, not a final decision. Employees can and often do negotiate better terms before signing.

Can you change your mind after signing?

Yes. As an employee you can withdraw your consent in writing within 14 days after signing, without giving reasons (Article 7:670b of the Dutch Civil Code). If the agreement does not mention this right, the period is three weeks.

The right applies once: if you sign a new, comparable agreement within six months, there is no new reconsideration period. There is no fixed period to decide before signing, so take the time to have the proposal checked first.

Does a settlement agreement affect your unemployment benefit?

A correctly drafted settlement agreement does not in itself disqualify you from unemployment benefit (WW) through the UWV. The UWV can refuse benefit in whole or in part if, for example, the agreement records an urgent cause for dismissal, the termination was initiated by the employee, or the statutory notice period was not respected.

That is one of the main reasons to have the wording checked before signing. The agreement should state that the initiative lay with the employer and that there is no urgent cause, and the end date should respect the notice period. Information on unemployment benefit is published on uwv.nl.

How does working with Law & More work?

Introductory meeting: you send the proposal and we discuss your situation, free of charge.
Advice and cost estimate: we review the agreement, explain the risks and tell you in advance what a review or negotiation is likely to cost.
Negotiation: we negotiate improvements with the employer, such as a higher payment, a later end date or removal of a non-compete clause.
Completion: we check the final text before you sign, so that your entitlements and your unemployment benefit are protected.

What does a settlement agreement lawyer cost?

The introductory meeting is free of charge. After that we work on an hourly basis, and we agree the rate and the expected effort with you in advance.

Lawyer: 250 to 350 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
Partner: 300 to 400 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
One-off advice meeting without further assistance: 300 euros including VAT.

Law & More does not work on legal aid (toevoeging). Legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis. In most cases the employer pays for or contributes towards the costs of independent legal advice on a settlement agreement, often a fixed contribution in the region of 1,000 to 2,500 euros, though this varies per case. Where possible, we arrange for these costs to be covered by your employer.

Who handles your case?

Your case is handled by Aylin Acar and Michelle Marjanovic. You can read more about their background on our team page.

Which related services may be relevant?

Your question may touch on other areas as well. These pages explain how we can help.

Frequently asked questions

Is my employer obliged to offer a settlement agreement?

No. An employer may also start a dismissal procedure via the UWV or the subdistrict court. A settlement agreement is a voluntary alternative that both parties need to agree to. Equally, you are not obliged to accept a proposal, and you can negotiate its terms before deciding.

Can I negotiate the terms of a settlement agreement?

Yes. A settlement agreement is a proposal, not a final decision. Employees can and often do negotiate better terms before signing, such as a higher payment, a later end date, a longer period of garden leave or the removal of a non-compete clause.

What happens if I don't sign?

Your employment continues. If your employer still wants to end the employment relationship, it will need to follow a formal dismissal procedure through the UWV or the subdistrict court, and it will need a reasonable ground under Article 7:669 of the Dutch Civil Code for that.

How long do I have to decide?

There is no fixed period to decide before signing. Once you have signed, you have a statutory right to withdraw within 14 days, in writing, without giving a reason; if the agreement does not mention that right, the period is three weeks. The right applies once within six months.

Will a settlement agreement affect my reference or my chances with a new employer?

A well-drafted settlement agreement usually states that the employer will provide a neutral or positive reference and that the termination was not due to poor performance or misconduct. Check this wording before signing, since it can matter for a new job or a mortgage application.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Use our contact form, call +31 40 369 06 80 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.