Netherlands
How Good Is the Netherlands for Remote Working in 2026?
How does the Netherlands score on remote and flexible work compared to other countries? In our remote working country index, we scored the Netherlands on adoption rates, infrastructure, legislation, work-life balance, and digital nomad appeal to see where it stands globally.
- Overall Score
- 77/100
- Top Pillar
- Digital Infrastructure (88/100)
- Avg. WFH Days
- 1.4 days/week
Remote Work at a Glance
Scores are editorial assessments (0–100) based on publicly available data. See methodology below.
Overview
The Netherlands is one of the most remote-work-friendly countries in the world by almost any measure. It ranked 2nd on NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index, scores consistently high on infrastructure and social safety, and has a long-established framework for requesting flexible work, even though working from home is not a legal right. Dutch workers average about 1.4 WFH days per week, according to Stanford data, not the highest, but the legal and cultural framework around flexible work is among the strongest anywhere. English proficiency is extremely high, and the country sits just one hour ahead of the UK, making it a natural fit for cross-border remote teams.
What Each Score Means
We scored the Netherlands across six pillars, each reflecting a different dimension of how friendly a country is for remote and flexible work. Here is what goes into each one.
WFH Adoption (76/100)
Stanford G-SWA data shows Dutch workers averaging about 1.4 WFH days per week. That is above the European average but below the English-speaking countries. The Netherlands has a long tradition of part-time work and flexible arrangements; it is sometimes called the world's first part-time economy. Remote work fits naturally into this culture, even if the raw WFH days figure does not top the charts.
Digital Infrastructure (88/100)
This is one of the Netherlands' strongest cards. NordLayer ranked it 8th globally for digital and physical infrastructure, with high scores for internet quality, e-government, and physical infrastructure (3rd globally). Average broadband speeds are among the fastest in Europe. The country is small and well-connected, so even rural areas tend to have decent internet. Amsterdam is also one of Europe's largest data centre hubs.
Legislation & Policy (70/100)
The Flexible Working Act (Wet flexibel werken) has been around since 2016. It lets employees request changes to their hours, schedules, and work locations. That said, the government says it plainly, working from home is not a legal right. There are conditions: you need 6 months on the job, your company must have at least 10 people, and your employer can say no if the work does not suit them or the schedule falls apart. There was an attempt to make the rules tougher with the Work Where You Want Act, but the Senate voted it down in September 2023. There is no right-to-disconnect law, but the works council system and strong labour protections give Dutch employees more room to negotiate on these things than in most countries.
Work-Life Balance (82/100)
The Dutch are famously protective of their free time. Average working hours are among the lowest in Europe, part-time work is normalised, and the culture around presenteeism (working while sick) is much weaker than in the UK or the US. The Netherlands typically ranks in the top 10 globally for happiness, safety, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Remote.com's 2025 index placed it in the top tier for work-life balance. The main drag on the score is the high cost of living, particularly housing in Amsterdam and the Randstad region.
Remote Job Market (78/100)
Amsterdam is a major European tech hub, and cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, and Eindhoven (home to ASML and a growing startup scene) all have significant employers that are remote-friendly. Many international companies use the Netherlands as their European base, so many roles are conducted in English. The market is smaller than the UK's, but the concentration of international, English-speaking remote roles is high relative to the population.
Nomad & Expat Appeal (72/100)
There is no digital nomad visa, but the Netherlands has well-worn routes for skilled workers. The system is not new, and it works. The 30% ruling is the big draw: if you qualify, 30% of your salary is tax-free for up to 5 years, making a real difference to your take-home pay. English proficiency is among the highest in the world for a non-native country; you can live and work in English without much friction. The time zone is one hour ahead of the UK. The downsides are the cost of living (especially housing) and the competitive rental market in major cities.
What This Means for You
For UK remote workers thinking about Europe, the Netherlands is one of the most practical options. The time zone difference is just 1 hour, almost everyone speaks English, and the legal framework for flexible work is stronger than in most countries. The infrastructure is excellent, the culture genuinely supports work-life balance, and the job market offers many international, English-speaking roles. The main barriers are the cost of housing and the fact that, post-Brexit, UK citizens need a work permit. But if you can sort the visa, the Netherlands offers one of the most complete packages for remote work in Europe.
How We Scored This
We are not making these numbers up, but we are not pretending this is a peer-reviewed paper either. Each pillar score is our editorial assessment based on the most credible data available plus our own first-hand experience. Where a source gives a direct ranking or score, we calibrated against it. Where no single metric exists (like "nomad appeal"), we made a judgement call based on multiple factors. We have tried to be transparent about what fed into each score. If you think we have got something wrong, we would genuinely like to hear about it.
Our Data Sources
- Working from Home in 2025: Five Key Facts (G-SWA Wave 4)— Stanford / WFH Research
- This is where the 1.4 days/week figure comes from. Covers 40 countries, 16,000+ respondents, surveyed Nov 2024 to Feb 2025.
- Global Remote Work Index (GRWI) 2023— NordLayer
- The Netherlands came 2nd out of 108 countries. Scored especially well on social safety (2nd) and digital and physical infrastructure (8th).
- Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025— Remote.com
- Puts the Netherlands near the top for work-life balance across happiness, safety, working hours, and leave.
- Flexible Working Act (Wet flexibel werken, 2016)— Dutch Government / KVK
- The official page covering remote work rights in the Netherlands. The government is upfront: you can request it, but working from home is not a legal right. The Work Where You Want Act tried to change that, but the Senate blocked it in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Have more questions? Get in touch with Frederic, Founder of RemoteCorgi.
- Do Dutch workers have a legal right to work from home?
- Not exactly. The Flexible Working Act lets employees request it, and your employer needs a reason to say no, but the Dutch government is clear that working from home is not a legal right. You must have been employed for at least six months, the company must have at least 10 employees, and your request must be made at least two months in advance. The Work Where You Want Act tried to change that, but the Senate rejected it in September 2023. Hybrid working is widespread, and the government promotes it, but on paper, the protections are weaker than those offered by the UK or Ireland.
- Can UK citizens work remotely in the Netherlands?
- Since Brexit, UK citizens need a work permit to work in the Netherlands. Most people go through the Highly Skilled Migrant visa, which means you need an employer to sponsor you. There is a freelancer route if you are self-employed, but it is harder to get approved. The process is well-established but not as frictionless as it was when the UK was in the EU.
- What is the 30% ruling?
- In short, it is a deal for people who move to the Netherlands for work: 30% of your salary is tax-free for up to 5 years. The idea is to offset the extra relocation costs. You need to have been hired from outside the country and bring specialist skills. The terms have been trimmed over the years; it used to be more generous, but it is still one of the best expat tax deals you will find in Europe.
- How does the Netherlands compare to the UK for remote work?
- The Netherlands scores higher on infrastructure and work-life balance. The UK scores higher on raw WFH adoption and the depth of the English-speaking remote job market. Both are strong choices. The Netherlands edges ahead on infrastructure and quality of life; the UK wins on sheer volume of remote roles and English as the native language.
Disclaimer: We have taken great care to ensure the accuracy of the data presented in this country profile. However, legislation, government policy, economic conditions, and remote work trends can change over time. The scores shown are editorial assessments based on publicly available data and should not be treated as definitive rankings. RemoteCorgi does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions and makes no guarantees regarding the real-time accuracy of the information provided. Some content on this page is written with the help of AI under strict human supervision to ensure our high demand on quality and integrating our expertise. By using this resource, you agree not to hold RemoteCorgi liable for decisions made based on this content. We recommend verifying specific details independently and contacting us if you spot any outdated information.
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