Dutch minimum wage 2026: which hourly rate applies to my age?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
From 1 July 2026 the ordinary minimum hourly wage for employees aged 21 and over is €14.99 gross. Younger workers and some BBL apprentices have different rates. Check age, pay period, hours and collective agreement together: your net bank payment is not your gross minimum wage.
Hourly minimum from 1 July 2026
European Netherlands; for pay periods from 1 July to 31 December 2026. A collective agreement or contract may require more. The new youth and BBL rules start on 1 January 2027.
| Age | Ordinary minimum | BBL minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and older | €14.99 | €14.99 |
| 20 | €11.99 | €9.22 |
| 19 | €8.99 | €7.87 |
| 18 | €7.50 | €6.82 |
| 17 | €5.92 | €5.92 |
| 16 | €5.17 | €5.17 |
| 15 | €4.50 | €4.50 |
On this page
1. Identify the applicable rules
This guide concerns the European Netherlands. Temporary, on-call and agency workers and employees beyond state pension age are also covered. There is no statutory youth minimum below 15; check agreed pay and permitted work. A collective agreement or contract may require more. Self-employed business owners do not automatically qualify; paid contractors who are not entrepreneurs may qualify. Wajong wage dispensation requires UWV permission and specific conditions.
2. Match age and pay period
Ordinary gross hourly rates from 1 July 2026: age 21+ €14.99; 20 €11.99; 19 €8.99; 18 €7.50; 17 €5.92; 16 €5.17; 15 €4.50. January–June 2026 uses the earlier official annual table: the 21+ rate was €14.71. Do not use July rates for older pay periods. A higher youth rate starts on the birthday. Split a pay period containing a birthday or rate change.
3. Check BBL and the 2027 change
Employees in BBL work-based vocational training have different minimum rates from 1 July 2026 at age 18 (€6.82), 19 (€7.87) and 20 (€9.22). Other ages follow the ordinary table; collective terms may require more. Abolition of this separate BBL scale and increased youth percentages are enacted for 1 January 2027. Do not apply that change to 2026 wages; recheck the euro rates applicable then.
4. Do not assume one monthly minimum
Since 2024 there is no single statutory monthly, weekly or daily minimum. Start with the applicable hourly rate and qualifying hours in the pay period. Paid leave and sickness hours carrying a right to pay matter as well as worked hours; sick pay has additional rules. For fixed monthly pay, ask how average working hours were calculated. A rough conversion using a 40-hour week does not establish your own monthly entitlement.
5. Compare the correct pay components
Compare gross with gross. Basic pay and certain supplements or regular rewards may count; additional hours must also be paid correctly. Holiday allowance, expense reimbursement and year-end payments cannot fill a minimum-wage shortfall. Separate all-in pay into components. Keep the contract, collective agreement, schedules, time records, payslips and bank payments. A lower net payment caused by deductions does not by itself prove underpayment.
6. Request an explanation and correction
For each pay period record age, BBL status, qualifying hours, applied rate and possible difference. Ask the employer in writing for an explanation and correction; the draft is preparation, not an automatic submission. Persistent payment below the minimum can be reported using the Netherlands Labour Authority's official form. A wage claim can go to the subdistrict court; seek help through our request route if needed. Unpaid wages and holiday allowance can generally be claimed for five years from their respective due dates. Do not wait: obtain advice about limitation and any interruption.
Draft: checking my minimum wage
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Must I receive €14.99 net?
No. From 1 July 2026 this is the ordinary gross hourly minimum for age 21+ in the European Netherlands. Tax and permitted deductions affect net pay. Collective terms may require more. Check youth rates, BBL and the pay period separately.
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- Age and birthday within the pay period
- Pay period and matching official annual table
- BBL contract and applicable collective agreement
- Worked hours, paid leave and relevant sickness hours
- Gross components separate from holiday allowance and expenses
- Period-by-period calculation, employer reply and due date
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Rijksoverheid · Minimumuurloon 2026 ↗Rijksoverheid · BBL-bedragen 2026 ↗Government.nl · Entitlement and exceptions ↗Rijksoverheid · Wat telt mee? ↗Rijksoverheid · Onderbetaling ↗Staatsblad 2026, 279 · Wijziging vanaf 2027 ↗Ondernemersplein · Minimumloon en minimumjeugdloon ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.