Work and pay
Opzegtermijn
Notice period
What does Opzegtermijn mean?
An opzegtermijn is the notice period you or the other side must respect when ending a contract. For employment, an employee gives 1 month by default, and the employer 1 to 4 months depending on how long you have worked there. For renting, a tenant's notice equals the rent payment period, so usually 1 month, and at most 3 months. Notice normally runs to the end of a calendar month.
Key facts
| Employee resigning | 1 month by default |
| Employer dismissing | 1 to 4 months, by length of service |
| Tenant ending a lease | Equal to the payment period, 1 to 3 months |
| Legal basis | BW articles 7:672 (work) and 7:271 (rent) |
What to do
- Check your contract or CAO. It can set a different notice period within legal limits.
- Give notice in writing (email is usually fine) and ask for confirmation of receipt.
- Count the period to the end of a month, unless your contract says otherwise.
- For a job, remember unused holiday and built-up vakantiegeld are paid out at the end.
- For a rental, agree a date for the final inspection and deposit refund.
Worth knowing
An employer who wants you to leave quickly often offers a settlement agreement instead of respecting the notice period. The notice period still matters there: it affects when WW can start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard notice period in the Netherlands?
For employees, 1 month unless the contract says otherwise. For employers, 1 month for under 5 years' service, 2 months for 5 to 10 years, 3 months for 10 to 15 years and 4 months for 15 years or more.
How much notice does a tenant give?
The same as the rent payment period, so usually 1 month when you pay monthly, with a maximum of 3 months. The landlord's notice is longer and only allowed on legal grounds.
Can I give notice by email?
Usually yes, if the contract does not require a letter. Keep a copy and ask the other side to confirm receipt, because you have to be able to prove the date.
Read next
Official sources
More Dutch terms: work and pay
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and contracts.