The Netherlands is becoming one of the most attractive countries for foreign workers who want better pay, stable jobs, and a clear path to work legally in Europe.
The good news is that not every job in the Netherlands requires a university degree. Many employers need reliable workers with practical skills, vocational training, work experience, or willingness to learn on the job.
However, visa sponsorship is not automatic. For many foreign workers outside the EU, the employer must be able to support your work permit or residence permit. That is why you must apply through official employer portals, recognised recruiters, or companies that are already used to hiring international workers.
If you are serious about working in the Netherlands in 2026, these are 7 high-demand jobs you should start looking at now.
1. Warehouse Workers, Order Pickers, and Forklift Operators
Warehouse and logistics jobs are among the most available jobs in the Netherlands. The country has strong transport networks, busy ports, large e-commerce warehouses, and international logistics companies.
These jobs usually do not require a university degree. Employers mostly look for physical fitness, reliability, shift flexibility, basic English, and warehouse experience.
Common job roles include warehouse worker, order picker, parcel sorter, forklift operator, reach-truck driver, logistics assistant, packing worker, and warehouse team leader.
Salary range: €14.71 to €22 per hour, depending on experience, shift allowance, employer, and location. Team leaders and experienced forklift operators may earn more.
Best regions to consider: Venlo, Tilburg, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Zwolle, Heerlen, and Breda.
Affordable places to live nearby: Venlo, Heerlen, Tilburg, Deventer, Leeuwarden, Enschede, and smaller towns around Eindhoven.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Warehouse or factory experience
Forklift or reach-truck certificate, if available
Basic English communication
Willingness to work shifts
Police clearance, if requested
Work permit or sponsorship support from employer
Possible benefits:
Weekly or monthly salary
Shift allowance
Overtime pay
Training opportunities
Transport allowance
Possible accommodation support from some recruiters
Pathway to grow into team leader roles
Employers and application portals:
DHL Careers
https://careers.dhl.com
DHL eCommerce Netherlands
https://www.dhlecommerce.nl/en/work-at-dhl
CEVA Logistics Careers
https://www.cevalogistics.com/en/careers
Kuehne+Nagel Careers
https://jobs.kuehne-nagel.com
Picnic Jobs
https://jobs.picnic.app/en/jobs
Employer contact:
DHL Express Netherlands contact form: https://www.joindhlexpress.nl/contact
CEVA Logistics contact page: https://www.cevalogistics.com/en/contact-us
Kuehne+Nagel Netherlands recruitment contact: external.dion.karreman@bluepeaks.nl
Kuehne+Nagel phone: 06 81921758
If you already have warehouse, packing, forklift, or logistics experience, do not wait. These roles open and close quickly. Apply directly through the employer portal and submit a clean CV today.
2. Truck Drivers, Delivery Drivers, and Transport Workers
The Netherlands has a strong demand for transport workers because goods move daily through ports, warehouses, supermarkets, airports, and distribution centres.
You do not need a university degree for driving jobs, but you need the right driving licence, road safety knowledge, experience, and sometimes a Code 95 certificate for professional driving in Europe.
Common job roles include truck driver, delivery driver, courier, distribution driver, transport planner assistant, trailer driver, and logistics driver.
Salary range: €2,400 to €3,800 gross per month. Experienced truck drivers, night-shift drivers, and international route drivers may earn more.
Best regions to consider: Rotterdam, Venlo, Tilburg, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Breda, and Schiphol area.
Affordable places to live nearby: Venlo, Heerlen, Tilburg, Bergen op Zoom, Deventer, and smaller towns around Rotterdam or Brabant.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Driving licence
Code 95, where required
Clean driving record
Work experience as a driver
Basic English or Dutch
Medical fitness
Police clearance
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Stable monthly income
Shift allowance
Travel allowance
Overtime pay
Training support
Long-term contract possibility
Career growth into transport coordination
Employers and application portals:
DHL Careers
https://careers.dhl.com
DHL eCommerce Netherlands
https://www.dhlecommerce.nl/en/work-at-dhl
Kuehne+Nagel Careers
https://jobs.kuehne-nagel.com
Logistic Force
https://www.logisticforce.nl/en/
Picnic Delivery Jobs
https://jobs.picnic.app/en/jobs
Employer contact:
DHL contact form: https://www.joindhlexpress.nl/contact
Logistic Force contact: https://www.logisticforce.nl/en/contact/
Kuehne+Nagel Netherlands recruitment: external.dion.karreman@bluepeaks.nl
Kuehne+Nagel phone: 06 81921758
If you are an experienced driver, start preparing your licence documents now. Driving roles can be competitive, and employers prefer applicants who already have complete documents.
3. Hotel Workers, Chefs, Kitchen Assistants, and Hospitality Staff
Hospitality is another strong sector in the Netherlands. Hotels, restaurants, resorts, and catering companies need workers who can serve guests, prepare food, clean rooms, work in kitchens, and support hotel operations.
Many hospitality jobs do not require a university degree. Experience, customer service skills, neat appearance, and willingness to work shifts are often more important.
Common job roles include chef, cook, kitchen assistant, dishwasher, hotel receptionist, housekeeping staff, waiter, bartender, breakfast cook, front-office assistant, and maintenance assistant.
Salary range: €2,300 to €3,600 gross per month. Chefs, assistant managers, and experienced hospitality supervisors may earn higher salaries.
Best regions to consider: The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam outskirts, Eindhoven, Breda, Maastricht, and coastal tourism areas.
Affordable places to live nearby: Tilburg, Breda outskirts, The Hague outskirts, Rotterdam suburbs, Leeuwarden, Enschede, and smaller towns outside Amsterdam.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Hospitality or kitchen experience
Food safety certificate, if available
Basic English
Dutch language is an advantage
Good customer service attitude
Shift flexibility
Reference letters
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Staff meals in some hotels
Tips in some roles
Overtime or weekend allowance
Career growth
Training opportunities
Accommodation support in limited cases
International hotel experience
Employers and application portals:
Van der Valk Jobs
https://www.valkjobs.nl
Van der Valk Vacancies
https://www.valk.com/en/vacancies
Fletcher Hotels Careers
https://www.werkenbijfletcher.nl
Accor Careers
https://careers.accor.com
Marriott Careers
https://careers.marriott.com
Employer contact:
Valk Jobs email: info@valkjobs.nl
Valk Jobs phone: 085 – 001 4414
Fletcher vacancies email: vacature@fletcher.nl
Fletcher personnel email: personeel@fletcher.nl
Fletcher phone: +31 (0)347 750 430
Marriott application support phone: 301-581-1400
Marriott application support email: hqaffirmativeaction@marriott.com
Hospitality vacancies fill fast during peak seasons. If you have hotel, kitchen, cleaning, or customer service experience, start applying before the rush period.
4. Production Workers and Machine Operators
The Netherlands has many manufacturing, packaging, food production, and industrial companies that need practical workers. These jobs are good for people who have factory experience but no university degree.
Common job roles include production worker, machine operator, packing operator, food production worker, line operator, quality control assistant, assembly worker, and industrial cleaner.
Salary range: €2,350 to €3,200 gross per month. Machine operators and experienced production workers may earn more with shift allowances.
Best regions to consider: Eindhoven, Venlo, Tilburg, Helmond, Zwolle, Almere, Rotterdam, and North Brabant.
Affordable places to live nearby: Venlo, Helmond, Tilburg, Heerlen, Zwolle, Deventer, and Enschede.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Factory or production experience
Basic English
Ability to work shifts
Ability to stand for long hours
Machine operation experience, if required
Food safety knowledge, if applying for food production
Police clearance, where requested
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Shift allowance
Overtime pay
Training
Internal promotion
Long-term contract possibility
Transport support in some companies
Stable work schedule
Employers and application portals:
Picnic Jobs
https://jobs.picnic.app/en/jobs
DHL Careers
https://careers.dhl.com
CEVA Logistics Careers
https://www.cevalogistics.com/en/careers
Randstad Netherlands
https://www.randstad.nl
Tempo-Team Netherlands
https://www.tempo-team.nl
Employer contact:
CEVA Logistics contact page: https://www.cevalogistics.com/en/contact-us
Randstad Netherlands contact: https://www.randstad.nl/contact
Tempo-Team contact: https://www.tempo-team.nl/contact
If you have factory, packaging, or machine operation experience, apply early. Employers often need workers quickly, and complete documents can put you ahead.
5. Industrial Technicians, Maintenance Assistants, and Technical Operators
Technical jobs are very important in the Netherlands. Many companies need practical workers who can repair machines, maintain equipment, support production lines, and work with technical systems.
These jobs may not require a university degree, but they often require vocational training, technical certificates, or strong hands-on experience.
Common job roles include maintenance technician, production technician, mechanical technician, electrical technician, technical operator, equipment technician, field service technician, and assembly technician.
Salary range: €2,800 to €4,500 gross per month. Experienced technicians in high-tech companies may earn more.
Best regions to consider: Eindhoven, Veldhoven, Delft, Rotterdam, Nijmegen, Tilburg, and Hengelo.
Affordable places to live nearby: Helmond, Tilburg, Venlo, Heerlen, Enschede, Almelo, and towns around Eindhoven.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Vocational or technical certificate
Hands-on technical experience
Electrical, mechanical, or maintenance skills
Basic English
Dutch language is an advantage
Safety certificates, if available
Work experience letters
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Good salary growth
Technical training
Relocation support in some companies
Career development
Long-term employment possibility
Shift allowance
Opportunity to work in advanced industries
Employers and application portals:
ASML Careers
ASML Netherlands Careers
https://www.asml.com/careers/working-at-asml/netherlands
Philips Careers Netherlands
https://www.careers.philips.com/nl/en
Siemens Careers Netherlands
https://jobs.siemens.com
Bosch Careers
https://www.bosch.com/careers/
Employer contact:
ASML recruitment contact form: https://www.asml.com/careers/working-at-asml/netherlands
ASML phone: +31 40 268 7070
Philips candidate support: support.careercenter@philips.com
Technical workers are in high demand. If you have repair, electrical, mechanical, or machine maintenance experience, this is one of the best no-university-degree routes to target.
6. Welders, CNC Operators, Metal Workers, and Skilled Trades Workers
Skilled trade jobs are highly valuable in the Netherlands. Employers need workers who can build, repair, weld, cut, assemble, and operate machines.
You do not always need a university degree, but you must have real practical skills. A trade certificate, portfolio, or proof of previous work can improve your chances.
Common job roles include welder, CNC operator, metal worker, fabricator, pipefitter, construction worker, industrial painter, carpenter, plumber, and assembly worker.
Salary range: €2,600 to €4,200 gross per month. Specialist welders, CNC operators, and experienced trades workers may earn more.
Best regions to consider: Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Venlo, Dordrecht, Groningen, Zeeland, Hengelo, and North Brabant.
Affordable places to live nearby: Heerlen, Venlo, Enschede, Leeuwarden, Middelburg, Bergen op Zoom, and Deventer.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Trade certificate, if available
Work experience letters
Portfolio or photos of previous work
Safety training, if available
Welding certificate, if required
Basic English
Ability to work in industrial environments
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Good overtime opportunities
Practical training
Shift allowance
Strong demand in industrial regions
Long-term job stability
Possibility to grow into supervisor roles
Employers and application portals:
Damen Shipyards Careers
https://www.damen.com/careers
Huisman Careers
https://www.huismanequipment.com/en/careers
VDL Careers
https://www.vdlgroep.com/en/careers
Van der Valk Horti Systems Jobs
https://www.valkhortisystems.com/en/about-us/job-opportunities/job-opportunities
Euro Planit Technical Jobs
https://www.europlanit.nl/en/vacancies
Employer contact:
Van der Valk Horti Systems recruitment email: recruitment@valksystemen.nl
Damen contact page: https://www.damen.com/contact
Huisman contact page: https://www.huismanequipment.com/en/contact
Euro Planit contact page: https://www.europlanit.nl/en/contact
If you are a welder, CNC operator, fabricator, or technical trade worker, prepare proof of your skills. Employers want to see what you can do, not just what you say.
7. Elderly Care Assistants and Home Care Support Workers
The Netherlands has an ageing population, and this creates demand for workers in elderly care, disability support, and home care. This can be a meaningful route for people who enjoy helping others.
Some care assistant roles may not require a university degree, but they may require training, healthcare experience, Dutch language learning, and patience. If the role involves direct patient care, professional requirements can be stricter.
Common job roles include elderly care assistant, home care support worker, assistant nurse, disability support worker, care home assistant, and domestic care worker.
Salary range: €2,300 to €3,200 gross per month, depending on employer, experience, shifts, and care level.
Best regions to consider: Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Eindhoven, Groningen, Zwolle, and smaller towns with elderly-care facilities.
Affordable places to live nearby: Groningen, Leeuwarden, Zwolle, Enschede, Heerlen, Deventer, and towns outside Utrecht or Rotterdam.
Requirements:
Valid international passport
Updated CV
Caregiving experience
Healthcare assistant certificate, if available
Dutch language learning commitment
Basic English
Patience and empathy
Police clearance
Health screening
Reference letters
Employer sponsorship or work permit support
Possible benefits:
Meaningful work
Training support
Dutch language preparation in some programmes
Stable employment
Shift allowance
Career growth into nursing or care coordination
Employers and application portals:
OTTO Health Care
https://ottohealthcare.eu/en/assistant-nurse-elderly-care-2
Vitae Professionals Jobs
https://www.vitaeprofessionals.com/jobs
Amsterdam UMC Careers
https://www.amsterdamumc.org/en/working-at.htm
Erasmus MC Careers
https://www.erasmusmc.nl/en/careers
Employer contact:
OTTO Health Care contact page: https://ottohealthcare.eu/en/contact
Vitae Professionals contact page: https://www.vitaeprofessionals.com/contact
Amsterdam UMC contact page: https://www.amsterdamumc.org/en/contact.htm
Erasmus MC contact page: https://www.erasmusmc.nl/en/contact
CTA: Care jobs require trust and patience. If you already have caregiving experience, start learning basic Dutch now and apply only through verified healthcare employers or recognised recruiters.
Affordable Regions to Consider in the Netherlands
Living in Amsterdam can be expensive. If you are moving to the Netherlands for work, you should think carefully about where you will live.
More affordable cities and towns to consider include:
Heerlen
Venlo
Enschede
Leeuwarden
Deventer
Tilburg
Helmond
Zwolle
Middelburg
Bergen op Zoom
Groningen
Almelo
These places can be better for foreign workers because rent may be lower, daily life can be calmer, and some are close to logistics, manufacturing, technical, or care jobs.
If your employer is in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, or Eindhoven, check nearby towns first. Living outside the main city can save you money.
General Documents Needed to Apply
Before you apply, prepare your documents early. Many applicants miss good opportunities because their CV, passport, certificates, or references are not ready.
You may need:
International passport
Updated CV
Cover letter
Work experience letters
Training certificates
Trade certificates
Driving licence, if applying as a driver
Forklift certificate, if applying for warehouse jobs
Police clearance certificate
Medical certificate, if required
Reference letters
Proof of English or Dutch ability
Job offer letter
Employment contract
Visa or work permit documents
Important Visa Sponsorship Note
Many skilled jobs, the employer must be recognised by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service before they can sponsor a foreign worker.
For lower-paid practical jobs, sponsorship may be more difficult, but not impossible. Some employers may use other work permit routes if they can prove they need foreign workers.
That is why you should always ask:
Does this role support visa sponsorship for non-EU applicants?
Is the company an IND-recognised sponsor?
Will the employer assist with the work permit process?
Is accommodation provided or supported?
What is the gross salary before tax?
What documents are required before interview?
Final Word
The Netherlands is a great country for hardworking foreign workers, but the best opportunities go to people who apply early and prepare properly.
Do not wait until vacancies close. Do not send your CV to random WhatsApp agents. Do not pay anyone who promises guaranteed jobs.
Start with real employers. Apply through official portals. Prepare your documents. Ask the right questions.
Your next job abroad may start with one serious application.
Apply now through AbroadConnects: https://abroadconnects.com