Introduction: Finding a Job While Studying in the Netherlands
Studying in the Netherlands can provide international students with access to quality education, a multicultural environment, and opportunities to gain valuable work experience. However, tuition fees, accommodation, food, transportation, and other living expenses can make studying abroad expensive.
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For this reason, many international students look for part-time employment to help manage their finances while pursuing their degrees.
The good news is that several types of jobs may be available to students, depending on their qualifications, language abilities, location, and work authorisation. Opportunities can be found in restaurants, supermarkets, warehouses, hotels, universities, retail stores, and digital businesses.
Students with specialised skills may also find internships, research assistant positions, tutoring opportunities, and certain freelance projects.
However, finding employment is not always straightforward. Students from outside the European Union, including Nigeria, must understand the Dutch rules governing employment under a student residence permit. Employers may also need to obtain work authorisation before a studentstudent can begin a job.
In this guide, you will discover the top 10 jobs international students can consider in the Netherlands in 2026, how much they might earn, the rules they need to understand, and where to search for genuine opportunities.
1. Restaurant and Café Assistant
What Does a Restaurant Assistant Do?
Restaurant and café jobs are worth exploring because many businesses need staff to support daily operations. Depending on the employer, students may work as waiters, kitchen assistants, dishwashers, counter staff, or café assistants.
Typical responsibilities include serving customers, preparing simple food, cleaning tables, washing dishes, organising supplies, and helping other members of the team.
Some restaurants in major Dutch cities serve international customers and may accept English-speaking workers. However, knowledge of Dutch can improve your chances, particularly in positions that involve regular communication with local customers.
How Much Can Restaurant Assistants Earn?
Pay depends on your age, the employer, the applicable minimum wage, and any relevant collective labour agreement. Some positions may also offer additional payments for evening, weekend, or holiday shifts.
Before accepting an offer, confirm the hourly wage, expected working hours, shift arrangements, and whether the employer will arrange the required work permit.
Restaurant work may be suitable for students who enjoy teamwork and can manage their academic responsibilities alongside a part-time schedule.
2. Supermarket Assistant
What Are the Responsibilities of a Supermarket Worker?
Supermarkets employ people to stock shelves, organise products, check deliveries, maintain clean aisles, assist customers, and support checkout operations.
Some roles involve more customer interaction than others. Shelf-stocking and stockroom positions may be worth considering if you are still learning Dutch, although language requirements vary by employer.
Supermarkets may advertise evening and weekend shifts, which can be convenient for students whose classes take place during the day.
How Can International Students Apply?
Search supermarket career pages and vacancy platforms for part-time positions. Use keywords such as part-time supermarket assistant, store employee, shelf stocker, and student job.
Read each vacancy carefully to determine whether English is sufficient, whether previous experience is required, and whether the employer is able to hire a student who needs work authorisation.
3. Warehouse and Packing Assistant
Why Consider Warehouse Jobs?
Warehouse work can involve packing orders, sorting parcels, checking inventory, preparing shipments, labelling products, and organising stock.
Some logistics companies recruit workers for different shifts and may provide training for entry-level roles. However, the availability of these positions depends on the location, season, employer, and the applicant’s legal right to work.
Warehouse employment may involve standing for extended periods, lifting packages, meeting productivity targets, and working early or late shifts.
What Should Students Check Before Accepting a Warehouse Job?
Consider the distance between your accommodation and the workplace, transport availability, shift times, and the physical demands of the role.
Students should also confirm that the employer understands the work authorisation requirements applicable to their residence status.
A job that requires more hours than your permit allows may not be suitable, even if the salary appears attractive.
4. Hotel Housekeeping and Cleaning Jobs
What Does Hotel Housekeeping Involve?
Hotels, hostels, offices, and cleaning companies may recruit workers to clean rooms, replace bedding, maintain shared spaces, and prepare facilities for guests.
Some positions provide on-the-job training, making them worth investigating if you have limited formal work experience.
Hotel housekeeping may also offer early shifts or other schedules that can fit around classes, depending on the employer.
Do You Need to Speak Dutch?
Language requirements vary. Some cleaning positions require limited communication, while others involve speaking with customers, supervisors, or colleagues in Dutch.
Basic Dutch can help you communicate more confidently and expand the range of available positions.
Before applying, review the job description and ask about the schedule, pay, transport arrangements, and required documents.
5. Food Delivery Jobs
How Does Food Delivery Work?
Food delivery involves transporting meals or groceries from businesses to customers. Depending on the arrangement, workers may use bicycles or other permitted forms of transport.
Students sometimes consider delivery work because shifts may appear flexible. However, the actual arrangements depend on the platform, local demand, contract type, and applicable employment rules.
Can International Students Work as Delivery Riders?
Students should not assume that delivery work is automatically permitted under a student residence permit.
The legal requirements can differ depending on whether you are an employee or genuinely self-employed. Employee arrangements may require an employer to obtain a work permit, while self-employment has separate legal and administrative obligations.
Check the relevant rules before registering with a platform or accepting orders.
You should also account for bicycle maintenance, equipment, insurance, transport costs, and the time required to travel between deliveries.
6. Private Tutor
Which Subjects Can Students Teach?
Students with strong academic skills may find opportunities to tutor school pupils or other learners.
Potential subjects include mathematics, physics, chemistry, English, computer science, and other subjects in which the tutor has sufficient knowledge.
Tutoring can involve explaining difficult topics, helping learners prepare for examinations, reviewing assignments, and developing study plans.
Applicants with strong communication skills may be able to provide lessons in person or online, depending on the arrangement.
How Can You Find Tutoring Opportunities?
Look for tutoring organisations, university noticeboards, local community groups, and legitimate education platforms.
Prepare a short description of your qualifications, subjects, teaching experience, and availability.
Students who tutor independently should also investigate the rules governing self-employment, taxation, and any work restrictions that apply to their immigration status.
7. University Assistant and Research Support Jobs
What Opportunities Are Available on Campus?
Universities may advertise positions connected with administration, research, laboratories, libraries, student support, and academic projects.
These opportunities can be especially valuable because they may provide experience related to your course of study.
For example, a computer science student might look for technical support work, while a postgraduate student could explore research assistance where suitable positions are available.
Not every university has vacancies for every student, and some positions require particular qualifications or language abilities.
How Can You Find University Jobs?
Check your university’s career portal, faculty websites, student services, and departmental noticeboards.
Ask the international student office or career centre whether there are campus employment opportunities and what restrictions apply to your residence permit.
A university job may also help you build professional relationships and obtain references for future employment.
8. Retail Shop Assistant
What Does Retail Work Involve?
Retail assistants work in clothing stores, electronics shops, shopping centres, and other businesses.
Responsibilities can include arranging merchandise, checking inventory, processing transactions, assisting customers, and maintaining displays.
Some retailers advertise part-time positions that include evening and weekend shifts. Previous customer service experience can be helpful, but entry requirements vary.
How Can You Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired?
Prepare a clear CV that highlights your communication skills, reliability, relevant experience, and availability.
If you speak English and another language, include those skills accurately. Multilingual abilities may be useful in businesses serving international customers.
Learning basic Dutch phrases can also help you communicate with customers and colleagues.
Always confirm whether the employer can legally employ you under your immigration status before accepting a position.
9. Freelance Content Writing and SEO
Can Students Earn Money Through Online Writing?
International students with writing and digital marketing skills may explore content writing, blog editing, SEO research, website content development, and WordPress support.
Businesses may need assistance with blog articles, keyword research, product descriptions, content updates, proofreading, and website optimisation.
These projects can help students develop a portfolio and gain experience that may be useful after graduation.
However, working online does not automatically exempt a student from Dutch immigration, tax, or business regulations.
What Should Students Know About Freelancing?
Students should distinguish between genuine self-employment and work performed as an employee.
The rules for self-employment can differ from those governing ordinary employment under a student residence permit. Tax obligations, business registration requirements, contractual arrangements, and immigration conditions may also apply.
Before accepting freelance projects, verify the rules with the relevant Dutch authorities or a qualified adviser.
Students should also avoid relying on uncertain freelance income to cover essential expenses such as tuition and rent.
10. IT and Digital Support Jobs
Which Digital Jobs Can Students Consider?
Students with relevant technical skills may search for junior IT support, website maintenance, software development, data-related support, and digital marketing positions.
Some employers may value practical experience, a portfolio, or demonstrated technical ability alongside formal qualifications.
Students studying computer science, information technology, business technology, or related subjects may find that relevant part-time experience strengthens their CV.
How Can You Apply for Digital Roles?
Use professional job platforms, university career services, employer websites, and technology recruitment pages.
Prepare a CV that identifies your technical skills, completed projects, relevant courses, and any practical experience.
For website or software positions, consider providing a portfolio that demonstrates your actual work.
Before accepting an offer, confirm the expected hours, employment arrangement, salary, and work authorisation requirements.
How Many Hours Can International Students Work in the Netherlands?
Working Rules for Non-EU Students
International students from countries outside the European Economic Area, including Nigeria, generally need to follow specific employment conditions when studying in the Netherlands under a student residence permit.
Under the standard rules for student employment, an employer generally must obtain a tewerkstellingsvergunning, commonly known as a TWV, before employing a non-EU student.
The usual options are:
- Work for up to 16 hours per week during the academic year.
- Alternatively, work full-time during June, July, and August.
These are alternatives rather than permission to combine full-time summer work with the regular 16-hour weekly limit throughout the year. Your exact situation and current official requirements should be verified before you start working.
Do Students From the EU Have the Same Restrictions?
EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals generally have broader access to the Dutch labour market than students who require immigration-based work authorisation.
However, registration, taxation, insurance, and other obligations may still apply.
Do not assume that the rules for EU students also apply to Nigerian students or other international students from outside the EU.
How Much Can International Students Earn in the Netherlands?
Understanding Student Wages
Student wages vary by age, job type, employer, experience, and applicable employment agreements.
The Netherlands has statutory minimum wage rules, including age-related rates for younger workers. Some employers may pay more for particular skills, inconvenient shifts, or specialist responsibilities.
Rather than relying on an advertised average, check the applicable minimum wage and the terms of the specific job offer.
Example of Part-Time Income
Suppose a student receives an illustrative gross hourly wage of €14 and works 16 hours each week.
The approximate monthly gross income would be:
€14 × 16 hours × 4.33 weeks = €970.24.
This is an illustration, not a guaranteed wage or a statement of the current statutory minimum. Actual take-home income may be lower after applicable deductions.
Students should also consider rent, food, health insurance, transport, study materials, and tuition fees when preparing a budget.
Best Websites to Find Student Jobs in the Netherlands
Indeed Netherlands
Indeed can be used to search for part-time employment, warehouse work, hospitality vacancies, and other positions.
Try searches such as “part-time jobs for students”, “English-speaking jobs”, and “weekend work”.
LinkedIn Jobs
LinkedIn is useful for finding internships, digital roles, administrative positions, and professional opportunities.
Keep your profile updated and follow employers in the city where you intend to study.
University Career Services
University career centres can provide information about campus vacancies, internships, employer events, and professional development opportunities.
They may also help students prepare CVs and practise interviews.
Official Study Information
Study in NL provides information for international students considering education in the Netherlands. Universities also publish information about employment, immigration conditions, and student support.
Always verify work permit requirements through official Dutch government sources rather than relying only on recruitment advertisements.
How to Apply for a Student Job in the Netherlands
Prepare a Professional CV
Create a clear, concise CV that highlights your education, relevant skills, work experience, language abilities, and availability.
If you have limited work experience, include relevant projects, volunteering, coursework, or practical skills without exaggerating your background.
Search for Suitable Vacancies
Look for positions that match your schedule, language abilities, location, and experience.
Read the requirements carefully and avoid applying for roles that conflict with your immigration conditions or academic commitments.
Prepare a Short Cover Letter
Explain why you are interested in the position, what you can contribute, and when you are available to work.
Mention relevant skills and experience rather than making unsupported claims.
Confirm Work Authorisation
Before accepting an offer, discuss the necessary work permit with the employer.
For regular employment under the standard non-EU student arrangement, the employer generally needs to obtain a TWV. Do not begin work until the applicable requirements have been met.
Prepare for Interviews
Practise answering questions about your availability, experience, communication skills, and reasons for applying.
Be honest about your language proficiency and working-hour restrictions.
Can Part-Time Work Cover All Your Study Expenses?
Why Students Need a Financial Plan
Part-time employment can help with daily expenses, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed way to finance an entire degree.
Tuition fees, rent, food, transportation, insurance, and study materials can be substantial. Finding a job may also take time, and employers are not required to offer every applicant a position.
Students should prepare a realistic budget before travelling and investigate scholarships, university funding, savings, and other legitimate sources of financial support.
Why a Scholarship Can Make a Difference
A scholarship may cover some or all tuition fees and, in some cases, provide a contribution towards living expenses.
Check the exact coverage, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines for each award. A scholarship described as fully funded should still be reviewed carefully to understand its conditions and exclusions.
Common Mistakes International Students Should Avoid
Working Without the Required Permission
Do not assume that a student residence permit automatically authorises every type of employment. Check the relevant work permit and residence conditions before starting.
Ignoring Academic Responsibilities
Working too many hours can interfere with attendance, assignments, examinations, and academic progress.
Choose a schedule that allows you to prioritise your studies.
Paying Recruitment Scams
Be cautious of people promising guaranteed employment or visas in exchange for large payments. Verify employers and vacancies independently.
Underestimating Living Costs
Do not make travel plans based on the assumption that you will find a job immediately after arrival.
Prepare sufficient funds for essential expenses and unexpected costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest job for an international student to get in the Netherlands?
Restaurant assistance, cleaning, retail, warehouse work, and other entry-level positions may be worth exploring. Availability depends on the city, employer, language requirements, experience, and legal work authorisation.
Can Nigerian students work in the Netherlands while studying?
Yes, eligible Nigerian students can generally work subject to the conditions of their residence permit. For regular employment, the employer generally needs a TWV, and the standard working-hour options are limited during the academic year or full-time in the summer months.
Can international students work full-time in the Netherlands?
Under the standard student employment rules for non-EU students, full-time work is generally permitted during June, July, and August as an alternative to working up to 16 hours per week during the academic year. Other immigration and employment requirements still apply.
Can I work in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch?
Some employers accept English-speaking workers, particularly in international workplaces and certain hospitality, logistics, technology, and university positions. However, many customer-facing jobs require Dutch. Learning the language can improve employment prospects.
Can I work online while studying in the Netherlands?
Online work may be possible, but its legality depends on the nature of the work, the employment arrangement, and the rules applicable to your residence status. Remote work for a foreign company is not automatically exempt from Dutch requirements.
Can I get a job before arriving in the Netherlands?
You can search for vacancies and apply from abroad. However, employers may have preferences about location, availability, and work authorisation. A job offer alone does not grant permission to enter or work in the Netherlands.
Do I need work experience to get a student job?
Not always. Some entry-level roles provide training, while technical, administrative, and professional positions may require relevant experience or qualifications.
