🧠 Calquify Intelligence
Official hourly wage baseline
The 2026 adult Dutch minimum wage is €14,71/hour. Because the system is hourly, monthly income depends directly on contracted weekly hours rather than one fixed national monthly amount.
Source: Rijksoverheid 2026
Workweek sensitivity
A 36-hour minimum-wage worker earns about €2.295 gross per month, while a 40-hour worker earns about €2.550. The same hourly law creates a monthly difference of roughly €255 before tax.
Source: Auto - official hourly wage calculation
Average salary gap
At 36 hours per week, the adult minimum wage annualizes to about €27.537, roughly 37% below the €44.000 national average salary benchmark.
Source: Auto - Calquify salary comparison
Holiday allowance uplift
The statutory 8% holiday allowance adds a meaningful annual compensation layer. For a 36-hour adult minimum-wage worker, 8% holiday allowance equals about €2.203 per year.
Source: Auto - WML holiday allowance calculation
Minimum Wage by Age - Netherlands 2026
Rijksoverheid
Adult Minimum Wage Monthly Equivalent by Workweek
Calquify calculation from official hourly rate
📋 Reference Data
Official Minimum Wage by Age - Netherlands 2026
Rijksoverheid, gross hourly rates from 1 January 2026
| Age | Gross Minimum Wage per Hour | Rate vs Adult Wage | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and older | €14,71 | 100% | Adult statutory minimum wage |
| 20 years | €11,77 | 80% | Minimum youth wage |
| 19 years | €8,83 | 60% | Minimum youth wage |
| 18 years | €7,36 | 50% | Minimum youth wage |
| 17 years | €5,81 | 39,5% | Minimum youth wage |
| 16 years | €5,07 | 34,5% | Minimum youth wage |
| 15 years | €4,41 | 30% | Minimum youth wage |
ⓘ The Netherlands has one official minimum hourly wage. Monthly earnings depend on contracted hours.
Adult Minimum Wage Monthly and Annual Equivalents - Netherlands 2026
Calculated from €14,71 gross/hour
| Working Hours per Week | Gross Weekly | Gross Monthly | Gross Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 hours | €470,72 | €2.039 | €24.471 |
| 36 hours | €529,56 | €2.295 | €27.537 |
| 38 hours | €558,98 | €2.422 | €29.067 |
| 40 hours | €588,40 | €2.550 | €30.597 |
ⓘ Monthly equivalents use hourly wage × weekly hours × 52 ÷ 12. Actual payroll may differ by contract, sector, and pay cycle.
BBL Minimum Wage by Age - Netherlands 2026
Rijksoverheid, beroepsbegeleidende leerweg rates from 1 January 2026
| Age | BBL Gross Minimum Wage per Hour | Difference vs Standard Youth Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and older | €14,71 | Same as adult wage |
| 20 years | €9,05 | Lower BBL youth rate |
| 19 years | €7,72 | Lower BBL youth rate |
| 18 years | €6,69 | Lower BBL youth rate |
| 17 years | €5,81 | Same as standard youth rate |
| 16 years | €5,07 | Same as standard youth rate |
| 15 years | €4,41 | Same as standard youth rate |
ⓘ BBL rates apply to qualifying work-based vocational training contracts.
Minimum Wage vs Average Salary - Netherlands 2026
Calquify salary data comparison
| Metric | Monthly Gross | Annual Gross | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, 36h | €2.295 | €27.537 | Statutory floor for full-time adult worker |
| Minimum wage, 40h | €2.550 | €30.597 | Higher monthly income due to longer workweek |
| Median salary | €3.208 | €38.500 | Typical full-time midpoint benchmark |
| Average salary | €3.667 | €44.000 | National full-time equivalent average |
ⓘ Minimum wage is far below the national average salary, but the gap changes depending on workweek length.
🔗 Explore Related Intelligence
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Salary Data
Average Salary Netherlands 2026
Compare the €14,71/hour wage floor against Dutch average and median salary levels
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Tax Data
Income Tax Rates Netherlands 2026
See how minimum-wage income is treated under 2026 Box 1 tax rules
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Housing Data
Cost of Living Amsterdam 2026
Check whether minimum wage covers realistic Amsterdam living costs
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Salary Data
Median Salary Netherlands 2026
Compare the wage floor with the midpoint of Dutch earnings
🔬 Methodology & Sources
How Dutch Minimum Wage is Defined
The Netherlands uses a statutory gross minimum hourly wage. From 1 January 2026, employees aged 21 and older are entitled to at least €14,71 per hour before tax. Workers aged 15 to 20 are covered by minimum youth wage rates.
Formula
Gross_Pay = Hourly_Minimum_Wage × Paid_Hours
CitationRijksoverheid, Bedragen minimumloon 2026; Government.nl, Minimum wage amounts.
Monthly Equivalent Calculation
Because the Dutch minimum wage is officially defined per hour, monthly pay depends on the number of contracted hours. Calquify calculates monthly equivalents by multiplying the official hourly rate by weekly hours, then annualizing over 52 weeks and dividing by 12 months.
Formula
Monthly_Equivalent = Hourly_Rate × Weekly_Hours × 52 ÷ 12
CitationCalculated from official Rijksoverheid hourly minimum wage tables.
Holiday Allowance Mechanics
Dutch workers are generally entitled to a minimum holiday allowance of 8% of gross wages. This is separate from the hourly minimum wage and is typically accrued during the year and paid annually.
Formula
Holiday_Allowance = Gross_Annual_Wage × 0,08
CitationWet minimumloon en minimumvakantiebijslag, Dutch statutory holiday allowance framework.
Youth and BBL Wage Structure
Workers under 21 receive minimum youth wage rates. BBL workers in work-based vocational training may have separate reduced youth rates for ages 18 to 20, while ages 15 to 17 match the standard youth wage rates.
Formula
Youth_Wage_Ratio = Youth_Hourly_Rate ÷ Adult_Hourly_Rate
CitationRijksoverheid, Bedragen minimumloon bbl-opleiding 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
From 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum wage in the Netherlands is €14,71 gross per hour for workers aged 21 and older. Younger workers aged 15 to 20 receive minimum youth wage rates.
The Dutch statutory minimum wage is hourly. Monthly earnings depend on the number of contracted hours per week. At €14,71 per hour, a 36-hour week equals approximately €2.295 gross per month, while a 40-hour week equals approximately €2.550 gross per month.
No. The official minimum wage amounts are gross wage rates. Holiday allowance is normally calculated separately at 8% of gross wages and is commonly paid in May.
The official minimum youth wage for a 20-year-old is €11,77 gross per hour from 1 January 2026. For BBL workers aged 20, the hourly BBL minimum is €9,05.
The Dutch government updates minimum wage amounts twice per year, on 1 January and 1 July. This page reflects the rates from 1 January 2026.
Sources & References
Data sourced from official institutional publications. Results are for informational purposes only. Last reviewed Jan 2026.
Data Disclaimer
Figures are official gross statutory minimum wage rates from the Dutch government. Net pay depends on tax credits, payroll deductions, pension contributions, hours worked, and individual employment conditions. Not financial advice.
Figures are official gross statutory minimum wage rates from the Dutch government. Net pay depends on tax credits, payroll deductions, pension contributions, hours worked, and individual employment conditions. Not financial advice.