Overtime and Break Laws in Netherlands (2026)
Arbeidstijdenwet (Working Hours Act) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
No statutory overtime premium. The law does not say how much extra pay overtime earns; it is left to the contract or collective agreement (cao).
Breaks and lunch
Over 5.5 hours a shift gets a 30-minute unpaid break, and over 10 hours gets 45 minutes. Both can be split into parts of at least 15 minutes.
Overtime in Netherlands
The law sets no overtime premium of its own here. What overtime pays is up to the employment contract or the collective agreement.
- Adults may work at most 12 hours per shift and 60 hours a week.
- Average limits: 55 hours a week over any 4 weeks, and 48 hours a week over any 16 weeks. Overtime counts toward these limits.
- Overtime hours must still average at least the statutory minimum hourly wage, and holiday pay accrues on them.
- Night shifts are capped at 10 hours. Under-18s have tighter limits (9 hours a shift, 45 a week).
- Many caos set overtime supplements or time off in lieu, and a generally binding cao can apply to a whole sector.
Averaging over a pay period: Yes, 55 hours average over 4 weeks and 48 hours average over 16 weeks.
Breaks and lunch in Netherlands
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5.5 hours or more.
- Meal break: 1 × 45 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 10 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
- The thresholds are 'more than' 5.5 and 10 hours of work per shift.
- A cao can set other break rules, but must give at least one 15-minute break after 5.5 hours.
- A workday may not start or end with a break. Breaks are unpaid unless agreed otherwise.
- Daily rest of 11 consecutive hours in every 24 hours, which can be cut to 8 hours once per 7 days if the work requires it.
- Weekly rest of 36 consecutive hours per 7 days, or 72 hours per 14 days split into blocks of at least 32 hours.
Pay by Netherlands rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Netherlands: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Netherlands?
No statutory overtime premium. The law does not say how much extra pay overtime earns; it is left to the contract or collective agreement (cao).
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Netherlands?
Yes, 55 hours average over 4 weeks and 48 hours average over 16 weeks.
What breaks are required in Netherlands?
Over 5.5 hours a shift gets a 30-minute unpaid break, and over 10 hours gets 45 minutes. Both can be split into parts of at least 15 minutes.