What notice period applies to dismissal?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
The period depends on who gives notice, your contract, the duration of employment and any agreements in the collective labour agreement or employment contract.
General information about Dutch law · Reviewed on · How we work
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Employer's notice period
For a permanent contract, the statutory notice period for the employer is normally one month for fewer than five years of service, two months for five to ten years, three months for ten to fifteen years and four months from fifteen years onward.
Employee's notice period
For an employee with a permanent contract, the statutory period is normally one calendar month. Written contractual or collective labour agreement arrangements may deviate from this within statutory limits.
End date and procedure time
Notice is often given effective at the end of the month. Following a UWV procedure, procedure time may be deducted under certain conditions, with at least one month generally remaining.
Resigning from a zero-hours contract: not automatically one month
For an employee on a zero-hours contract, the notice period generally equals the call-up period: four calendar days. A collective agreement can shorten call-up notice to at least one day; that shorter period can also be your resignation notice. Special collective rules may apply to certain seasonal work. Do not automatically extend this exception to every min-max or other flexible contract. First check whether the contract is fixed-term or permanent. Ordinary early termination of a fixed-term zero-hours contract requires a written agreement allowing it; short notice alone does not create that right. Keep the clause, applicable collective agreement and sending/receipt evidence. Check the actual end date before sending a resignation letter. Resigning can affect wages and benefits.
Cancelling a shift is different from ending employment
Call-up rules also govern offering or cancelling work. If the employer cancels or changes a call within the applicable call-up period, pay for the original hours may remain due. Keep the original roster and change. That pay issue is separate from your resignation; obtain a separate assessment if unsure.
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- Permanent or temporary contract
- Start date and intended end date
- Notice clause in the employment contract
- Applicable collective labour agreement
- Who gives notice and through which dismissal route
- Type of on-call contract, duration, written early-termination clause, collective call-up period and intended last day
Frequently asked questions
Is one month always exactly thirty days?
No. It usually concerns a calendar month and notice effective at the end of the month. Check your contract and collective labour agreement.
Can my employer agree on a shorter period?
Deviations are subject to rules. Have a deviating contractual clause checked before assuming it is valid.