Yes, a working student is entitled to at least the statutory minimum wage, like any other employee. As of 1 July 2026 that's € 14.99 gross per hour from age 21; for ages 15 to 20 lower youth minimum wages apply by age [1]. The Dutch government sets the amounts per 1 January and per 1 July, so always check the current table before agreeing or assessing a salary.
What is the minimum hourly wage as of 1 July 2026?
These are the gross hourly amounts according to the Dutch government, valid as of 1 July 2026 [1]:
- Age 21 and over: € 14.99
- Age 20: € 11.99
- Age 19: € 8.99
- Age 18: € 7.50
- Age 17: € 5.92
- Age 16: € 5.17
- Age 15: € 4.50
As of 1 January 2026 the amount for age 21 and over was € 14.71 [1]. The minimum wage applies to all employees from age 15 [1].
Does the minimum wage also apply to few hours a week?
Yes. Since 2024 the minimum wage exists only as an hourly wage; there are no fixed minimum monthly, weekly or daily wages any more. The wage per week or month depends on the hours that count as working time, and according to the Dutch government that includes hours of leave taken and hours of sick leave with entitlement to continued pay [1]. An illustration: 16 hours a week at € 14.99 is € 239.84 gross per week; 24 hours is € 359.76. That excludes holiday allowance.
Is holiday pay on top?
Besides the minimum wage, an employer must pay holiday allowance; the business portal lists 8% holiday pay as a mandatory wage cost [2]. Check in your contract whether holiday pay is stated separately or built into the hourly wage, and ask if necessary.
What changes in 2027 for young people?
According to a Dutch government announcement of 17 April 2026, the youth minimum wage for ages 16 to 20 goes up on 1 January 2027. The percentages of the minimum wage then become 87.5% at 20 (now 80%), 75% at 19 (now 60%), 62.5% at 18 (now 50%), 50% at 17 (now 39.5%) and 40% at 16 (now 34.5%); at 15 it stays at 30% [3]. The euro amounts follow from the minimum wage at that time.
Is the minimum wage also a fair salary?
That's a different question. The minimum wage is a statutory floor. A working student with their own responsibilities should be paid in proportion to the work, not just at the minimum. We expand on this in our article on a fair hourly rate for working students.
And for interns?
An intern has no right to the minimum wage, because in an internship learning is central. If someone in fact does ordinary work, there's an employment contract and they're entitled to at least the minimum wage. The Dutch Labour Authority checks whether an intern does ordinary work and can fine internship abuse [4]. Read more in our article on the internship allowance.
How do you check you're paid correctly?
- Determine your age at the time of the work and look up the matching hourly amount in the current table of the Dutch government
- Divide your monthly pay by the number of hours it's paid for (including leave taken and paid sick hours)
- If you suspect underpayment, first discuss it with your employer. You can also report it to the Dutch Labour Authority [4]
Sources
- Rijksoverheid (2026): Bedragen minimumloon 2026, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Ondernemersplein (Rijksoverheid): Stappenplan personeel aannemen, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid (2026): Hoger minimumjeugdloon vanaf 2027, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Heb ik recht op het minimumloon als ik stage loop?, accessed 11 October 2026.
