HR consultancy in the Netherlands
Dutch employment contracts, works council facilitation, sick leave management under the Wet Poortwachter, and onboarding for international employees arriving in the Netherlands.
Netherlands
Our home market since 1987. IND Recognised Sponsor submitting Highly Skilled Migrant visas inside the IND's two-week service standard (statutory maximum 90 days), with in-house 30% ruling for inbound hires. Trusted by Europol, OPCW, and the ESA ecosystem.
39+
Years in NL
5
Service pillars offered
35+
Nationalities on staff
The Netherlands offers access to a highly educated, multilingual workforce, leading research institutions, and direct access to the EU single market. However, Dutch employment law is among the most protective in Europe, and compliance demands are substantial. From collective labour agreements and mandatory pension fund enrollment to works council obligations and the strict sick leave reintegration requirements under the Wet Poortwachter, international employers entering the Netherlands face a regulatory environment that requires deep local knowledge. Octagon Professionals has operated in the Netherlands since 1987, helping international companies navigate Dutch employment regulations and build compliant workforces across the country.
Available in this market
Services in the Netherlands
Employer of Record in the Netherlands
Hire employees in the Netherlands without entity setup. Dutch payroll processing compliant with the Belastingdienst, including 30% ruling applications and pension administration.
Recruitment in the Netherlands
Find talent across the Dutch market for aerospace (ESA/ESTEC and major OEMs), AI, health tech, international organisations (Europol, OPCW), and telecommunications companies based in the Netherlands.
Compliance
Regulatory framework
01
30% ruling
We handle the full 30% ruling application with the Belastingdienst, from eligibility assessment to monthly payroll implementation.
02
Wet DBA / VBAR
We assess contractor arrangements against Wet VBAR, convert those that carry reclassification risk, and manage compliant payrolled employment. Critical for Dutch SMEs and international companies with contractor workforces.
03
Scale-up market entry
Entity-free hiring for tech companies and scale-ups entering the Netherlands. First employee on compliant payroll typically in five business days, with 30% ruling and HSM visa sponsorship included.
04
CAO compliance
We identify applicable collective labour agreements for each engagement and ensure employment contracts, salary scales, and overtime provisions meet required minimums.
05
Pension administration
We manage the full pension administration cycle, including mandatory sector pension fund enrollment, monthly contribution calculations, and reporting.
Vacancies
Open roles in Netherlands
No active roles in this area right now, but we place specialists across Europe every month. Send us your CV and we will match you when one opens.
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Related insights for Netherlands
20 Jan 20256 min read
Is your company applying the right CAO?
Many international employers operating in the Netherlands are unknowingly non-compliant with collective labour agreements. This checklist helps you identify which CAO applies and what obligations it creates.
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.
12 Feb 20257 min read
The cost of applying the wrong CAO
Applying an incorrect collective labour agreement, or failing to apply one at all, creates liability for back-pay, pension shortfalls, and employee claims. Here is how the costs add up.
Start hiring in the Netherlands
Our home market since 1987. Get compliant employment in the Dutch market with local expertise in 30% ruling, IND sponsorship, and CAO obligations.