Do I need a Dutch entity to hire in the Netherlands?

No. With an Employer of Record you can hire in the Netherlands without incorporating a BV or registering a branch. A Dutch entity only becomes necessary once you want to own the employment relationship, hold local contracts, or operate a permanent establishment yourself.

How long does it take to onboard an employee through EOR?

A standard Dutch EOR onboarding for an EU or Dutch-resident candidate typically takes five to ten working days once the offer terms are agreed. Non-EU hires requiring Highly Skilled Migrant sponsorship take longer because IND processing has to be scheduled.

EOR

Employer of Record, the Netherlands

Test the Dutch market, hire a key engineer, or run a small team - without registering a BV. Our EOR partner absorbs the entity, the contract liability, and the HR overhead.

What you get

01Dutch employment contract issued by our certified EOR partner
02Onboarding within 48 hours of signed master agreement
03Monthly payroll, wage tax filings, holiday allowance, pension
0430% ruling application and Belastingdienst correspondence
05Statutory sick-leave coverage (2 years) backed by insurance

What stays with you

Day-to-day management, performance, and IP - you direct the work. Our partner carries the employment relationship and every regulatory obligation that comes with it.

Case snapshot

Enabling a Dutch firm to hire a foreign worker

Safak works for ICS Formations, a Dutch firm that wanted to hire a foreign worker without becoming the legal employer itself. The legal and contractual employer obligations were outsourced to ICS Payroll.

We drew up the Dutch employment contract, took over wage tax, social premiums, holiday allowance, pension and sick-leave obligations, and stayed the point of contact for the employee. ICS Formations directs the work; the employer risk sits with us.

ClientICS Formations
ContactSafak
ServiceEmployer of Record
OutsourcedLegal and contractual employer obligations

Speak to a specialist

No call centre. One fixed point of contact.

Director of ICS Staffing & Payroll, responsible for Employer of Record and Dutch payroll engagements, with over twenty years of commercial and payroll leadership.

Talk to an expert View profile

Joost Hubregtse - Director, ICS Staffing & Payroll — Joost HubregtseDirector, ICS Staffing & Payroll“Talk to me directly about your Dutch payroll or Employer of Record setup.”

Employer of Record - common questions

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a Dutch-registered company that legally employs staff on behalf of a foreign business. The EOR issues the Dutch employment contract, withholds payroll tax and social contributions, and carries employer obligations such as sick pay, while the client company directs the day-to-day work.

Start Expansion

Get a detailed quote for EOR or Payroll services within 4 business hours.

Our guarantees

What we commit to

Cancel freely in month one

No lock-in during the first month. If the fit is wrong, you walk away without penalty.

100% compliance guarantee

Contracts, payslips and filings meet Dutch law. If we get it wrong, we fix it and carry the cost.

Fixed price, no hidden fees

One agreed rate covers payroll, taxes, insurances and our service. No surprise line items.

Offer within 2 working days

Send us the headcount and salaries; you get a written quote within two working days.

Explore further

SolutionsFour routes into the Dutch market.View →ExpansionBuild a Dutch team without an entity.View →RelocationMove a team and their families.View →EOR sponsorshipIND recognised referent included.View →30% rulingEligibility, salary norms, application.View →InsightsGuides on Dutch employment.View →ComplianceStandards, audits and safeguards.View →Editorial standardsHow we source and fact check.View →