Employer of Record
First NL employee on compliant payroll typically in five business days. No entity required.
Solutions
Your first Dutch hire on compliant payroll typically in five business days. No entity required.
Fast-growing tech companies do not have six months to set up a Dutch entity before hiring their first engineer. They need employees on payroll next week, with the 30% ruling optimised from day one and the flexibility to scale up or adjust as the business evolves.
Our Employer of Record service typically puts your first Netherlands employee on compliant payroll in five business days. No entity required. We handle the 30% ruling application, the Dutch employment contract, pension fund enrolment, and HSM visa processing through our IND Recognised Sponsor status. When you are ready to scale, we support the transition to your own Dutch BV on your timeline, not ours.
For scale-ups with distributed teams across Europe, we extend the same service to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and Cyprus. One contract. One partner. Six markets, scaled through 39+ years of international team experience.
Our Services
How we support technology and scale-ups
HSM visa and 30% ruling
IND Recognised Sponsor handling Highly Skilled Migrant visas and 30% ruling applications from day one.
Recruitment
International engineering and commercial hires with networks built over 39 years.
HR consultancy
Dutch employment contracts, policies, and compliance guidance as you scale your Dutch team.
What you get
Key capabilities
01
No entity required
You focus on product and growth. We become the legal employer while your engineer works exclusively for you. No BV setup, no notary, no corporate tax registration.
02
30% ruling from day one
We structure the employment contract to maximise 30% ruling eligibility, apply to the Belastingdienst on behalf of both employer and employee, and manage the full step-down schedule over the five-year window.
03
HSM visa sponsorship
Our IND Recognised Sponsor status lets you hire non-EU engineering talent through the Highly Skilled Migrant route. The IND service standard for recognised-sponsor applications is a decision within two weeks (statutory maximum 90 days).
04
Scale and exit on your timeline
When you reach the headcount or funding milestone to establish your own Dutch entity, we support the transition. Your employees move from Octagon employment to your BV with continuity of service, benefits, and 30% ruling where applicable.
How we work
We don't hide things in the contract. Clear terms, agreed up front, no surprises at renewal.
Six countries, one provider. Our own entities in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Cyprus mean your team runs under one relationship rather than a network of locally-sourced vendors you'd need to coordinate yourself.
We don't cut corners on CAO adherence, pension contributions, or holiday allowance. These are statutory and not negotiable.
A personal approach to every enquiry. You're heard, understood, and business continues as usual — whether you're onboarding a first hire or escalating a compliance question at month eighteen.
Curious about scope or compliance for your setup? Get in touch. The EOR cost calculator and contractor-risk checker are also there if you want to work through the numbers yourself first.
Insights
Related insights
10 Feb 20257 min read
The hidden costs of not using an EOR
Beyond the obvious fees, operating without an EOR in the Netherlands exposes you to compliance penalties, pension fund errors, and retroactive employee claims. Here is what most companies miss.
25 Jan 20255 min read
From contract to first day: the EOR onboarding timeline
A step-by-step look at what happens between signing an EOR agreement and your employee starting work in the Netherlands. Typically 2-4 weeks for EU nationals, 6-8 weeks with visa requirements.
5 Mar 20259 min read
30% ruling in 2025: current schedule and eligibility
The 30% ruling runs at a flat 30% through 31 December 2026, then reduces to a flat 27% from 1 January 2027. Understand the current schedule, who qualifies, salary thresholds, and how to maximise the benefit across the five-year window.
Scale into the Netherlands in five days
Tell us about your first NL hire. We will outline the compliant employment path, timeline, and what you need to provide to get started.