Employment Lawyer in Amsterdam

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As an employment lawyer in Amsterdam, Law & More advises international employees and employers on dismissal, settlement agreements and the consequences of a job loss for residence and pay. We work in English or Dutch, for employees who received a dismissal letter or a settlement proposal and for employers who want to end an employment contract carefully. The first step is a free introductory meeting at our Amsterdam visiting location or by video call.

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?

reviewing and negotiating a settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst);
a dismissal request at the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) or the subdistrict court (kantonrechter);
a summary dismissal (ontslag op staande voet) that you want to challenge;
calculating the transition payment and a possible fair compensation;
the effect of a dismissal on a highly skilled migrant residence permit;
for employers: preparing a file, a reorganisation or an exit negotiation.

How can an employer in Amsterdam end your employment contract?

A Dutch employer cannot simply give notice: it needs permission from the UWV, a decision of the subdistrict court, or your agreement. Each route has its own grounds and procedure.

Route	Typical grounds	Who decides
UWV	business economic reasons, or more than two years of incapacity for work	UWV, under Article 7:671a of the Dutch Civil Code
Subdistrict court	personal grounds, such as poor performance, culpable conduct or a disrupted working relationship	subdistrict court of the Amsterdam District Court, under Article 7:671b
Mutual consent	any reason, recorded in a settlement agreement	you and your employer, under Article 7:900 and Article 7:670b

The reasonable grounds for dismissal are listed in Article 7:669 of the Dutch Civil Code, which you can read on wetten.overheid.nl (in Dutch). The employer must also show that reassignment to another suitable position is not possible. After a UWV permit, the employer must still observe the statutory notice period.

A summary dismissal is only valid with an urgent reason, communicated immediately. If you want to challenge a dismissal, you must file a request with the subdistrict court within two months. Read more in our guides on the statutory notice period and being fired on the spot.

What should you check before signing a settlement agreement?

Check the end date, the payment, the final discharge and the wording on who took the initiative. You have 14 days after signing to withdraw your consent without giving reasons, under Article 7:670b of the Dutch Civil Code.

If the agreement does not mention this reconsideration period, the period is three weeks. For unemployment benefit (WW), the agreement should state that the employer took the initiative and that there is no urgent reason for dismissal. The end date should respect the notice period that applies to you; otherwise the UWV may postpone your benefit.

International employees should also check the repayment of relocation or training costs, bonuses and share plans, a non-compete clause, the timing of the last salary payment and the reference. Read our settlement agreement guide for employees and the comparison of a settlement agreement versus UWV dismissal.

How much transition payment are you entitled to?

The transition payment (transitievergoeding) is one third of a monthly salary per year of service, from the first day of employment. In 2026, it is capped at 102,000 euros gross, or one annual salary if that is higher.

The payment follows from Article 7:673 of the Dutch Civil Code and applies when the employer ends the contract or does not renew it. It is not owed if the contract ends because of your own seriously culpable conduct. If the employer has acted in a seriously culpable way, the court can award an additional fair compensation (billijke vergoeding). You must claim the transition payment within three months after the contract ends. In a settlement agreement, the amount is negotiable. See also the transition payment guide.

What does dismissal mean for your highly skilled migrant permit?

Your residence permit does not end on your last working day, but a search period starts on the day your contract ends. If no new recognised sponsor registers you with the IND before that period ends, the IND may revoke your permit.

According to the IND, the search period is up to three months. If you became unemployed on or after 22 May 2026 and have held the permit for two years or more, it is up to six months. The search period never runs beyond the expiry date of your permit. Your employer must report the end of employment to the IND, as a rule within four weeks.

The end date in your settlement agreement therefore also determines how much time you have to find a new employer. A notice period or a period of garden leave keeps the contract, and your permit purpose, running. See our highly skilled migrant lawyer page. If you use the 30% ruling, a job change has tax consequences too; see our 30% ruling page. We do not give tax advice.

How does working with Law & More work?

Introductory meeting: free of charge, in Amsterdam or by video call. We discuss your contract and any deadlines.
Advice and cost estimate: we assess your position, the likely route and the negotiating room, and explain the expected costs.
Approach and negotiation: we negotiate with your employer or the employee, or prepare the UWV file.
Procedure or completion: we finalise the settlement agreement or represent you before the UWV or the subdistrict court in Amsterdam.

What does an employment lawyer in Amsterdam cost?

We work on an hourly rate that we agree with you in advance. The rate for a lawyer is 250 to 350 euros excluding VAT, and for a partner 300 to 400 euros excluding VAT.

The introductory meeting is free of charge. A one-off advice meeting without further assistance costs 300 euros including VAT. External costs, such as the court fee (griffierecht), are charged separately. In a settlement agreement, employers often contribute to the employee's legal costs. Legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis.

Who handles your case?

Employment cases in Amsterdam are handled by our employment lawyers Aylin Acar and Michelle Marjanovic. You can find them on our team page. For a general overview of Dutch employment law, see our employment lawyer page.

Frequently asked questions

When should I contact an employment lawyer in Amsterdam?

Preferably before you sign anything or respond in writing to a dismissal proposal. Some deadlines are short: 14 days to withdraw from a settlement agreement, two months to challenge a dismissal and three months to claim the transition payment. If you hold a highly skilled migrant permit, early advice also gives you more time to plan the search period.

Can my employer dismiss me without my consent?

Only with a UWV permit, a decision of the subdistrict court or a valid summary dismissal. In all cases, the employer needs a reasonable ground under Article 7:669 of the Dutch Civil Code. During illness and in some other situations, a dismissal prohibition applies.

Do I keep unemployment benefit after a settlement agreement?

Usually, yes, if the agreement states that your employer took the initiative, that there is no urgent reason and that the notice period is respected. Whether you qualify for WW also depends on your work history and residence status. The UWV decides on your application after the contract ends.

How much is the transition payment in 2026?

One third of a monthly salary for every year of service, calculated pro rata from the first day. In 2026, the maximum is 102,000 euros gross, or one annual salary if that is higher. The monthly salary includes holiday pay and certain fixed allowances. A settlement agreement can provide for a higher amount.

How long can I stay in the Netherlands after losing my highly skilled migrant job?

You have a search period of up to three months from the day your contract ends. If you became unemployed on or after 22 May 2026 and have held the permit for at least two years, it is up to six months. The search period never extends beyond your permit's expiry date. Check the current rules on ind.nl.

Does Law & More also advise employers?

Yes. We advise employers in Amsterdam on dismissal files, settlement agreements, UWV applications and procedures at the subdistrict court. For employers with highly skilled migrants, we also check the reporting duties towards the IND. We do not act for both sides in the same matter.

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 20 369 71 21 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.