Employment & Labor Lawyers in Amsterdam

An employment lawyer in Amsterdam advises in a city full of tech companies, international headquarters, creative agencies and financial firms. Many employees work in English, and expat contracts often include equity, bonuses and relocation terms. Disputes about dismissal and pay go to the subdistrict court, the kantonrechter, at the Rechtbank Amsterdam.

Dutch dismissal law is strict. An employer cannot simply give notice. A dismissal on economic grounds needs permission from the UWV, and a dismissal for personal reasons needs a court decision. In practice most exits are agreed through a settlement agreement, the vaststellingsovereenkomst. Employees then have a fourteen day period in which they can cancel it, and a lawyer can help negotiate severance above the statutory transition payment. If an employee wants to challenge a dismissal in court, the deadline is usually two months. An employment lawyer in Amsterdam also handles sick leave disputes, non compete clauses and works council issues.

Fees are usually hourly or fixed, and Dutch lawyers may not work on a pure no cure no pay basis. In a settlement the employer often contributes to the employee's legal costs, so ask about this early. Legal expenses insurance and subsidised legal aid can also help. All lawyers belong to the Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten, and the public register shows who is admitted. A practical checklist: collect your contract, payslips, any settlement proposal and emails about the dispute. Employment lawyers in Amsterdam almost all work in English. Compare the firms below and contact them directly.