DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Majority of EU immigrants in the Netherlands find work
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Majority of EU immigrants in the Netherlands find work

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Youth unemployment very low in the Netherlands compared to EUYouth unemployment very low in the Netherlands compared to EU
New income requirements for highly skilled migrants in NLNew income requirements for highly skilled migrants in NL
Job growth in North Holland, numbers down in rest of countryJob growth in North Holland, numbers down in rest of country
The Netherlands ranks lower in 2016 Global Wealth ReportThe Netherlands ranks lower in 2016 Global Wealth Report
How electronic music began in 1950s NetherlandsHow electronic music began in 1950s Netherlands
Parents in the Netherlands use childcare more than rest of EUParents in the Netherlands use childcare more than rest of EU
Netherlands to build world’s largest and cheapest wind farmNetherlands to build world’s largest and cheapest wind farm
Many Polish employees still exploited in the NetherlandsMany Polish employees still exploited in the Netherlands
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dec 16, 2015
Thomas Lundberg
Born as a Swede in the Netherlands, this life-long expat has spent his time in Belgium, the United States and Amsterdam. He began his professional career as a regional news reporter in southern Michigan, where he developed an interest in writing about social issues and music. After moving back to Europe he mainly worked as an editor, copywriter and translator. Read more

Sixty percent of all people from EU countries that settled in the Netherlands during the past seven years were employed by 2013.

For people immigrating to the Netherlands from Central and Eastern Europe, that figure is 75 percent, according to data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

At the end of 2014, only 3 percent of all Dutch unemployment benefits went to non-Dutch EU citizens in the Netherlands.

Almost 50 percent more EU immigrants

By the end of 2014, the Netherlands had 1,5 times as many immigrants from EU countries as in 2007.

During that seven-year-period, most people came from Poland, Germany, Belgium and the UK. These demographics have remained constant since 2010, according to the CBS.

630.000+ EU immigrants in the Netherlands

In 2007, a total of 435.000 immigrants from the 27 EU countries resided in the Netherlands.

By 2014, that number had increased by 47 percent to almost 639.000. Since 2012, the annual increase is about 5,5 percent.

Out of the immigrants that were not employed, 23 percent were enrolled as students, about 19 percent had an employed partner and slightly more than 13 percent received unemployment benefits.

The remainder consists of people with a partner who received unemployment benefits.

Top 4 nationalities that emigrated to the Netherlands since 2010 (CBS)
The top 4 nationalities of EU immigrants to the Netherlands (Source: CBS)

3 percent of all unemployment benefits

Between 2012 and 2014, the number of EU immigrants who received unemployment benefits from the Dutch government increased by 26 percent from 42.000 to almost 53.000.

EU immigrants received slightly more than 3 percent of the total amount of unemployment benefits being paid out in the Netherlands.

Three-quarters of the new arrivals are registered with a municipality. Seasonal migrant workers, for example, are not required by law to register.

By Thomas Lundberg