Minimum wage increases from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the Dutch minimum wage will increase. The gross minimum hourly wage for employees aged 21 and over will rise from €14.71 to €14.99 per hour. This is an increase of 1.90% compared to the rate that applied from 1 January 2026.

The increase is part of the government’s twice-yearly adjustment of the minimum wage. Rates are updated every year on 1 January and 1 July. For employers, this is a good time to check payroll processes and ensure the new rates are applied correctly.

New minimum hourly wage rates from 1 July 2026

The following gross minimum hourly wages will apply from 1 July 2026:

Employees aged 21 and over are entitled to one fixed minimum hourly wage. For employees aged 15 to 20, the youth minimum wage rates apply.

What does this mean for employers?

An increase in the minimum wage can affect your organisation in several ways. Besides higher wage costs, it may impact payroll administration, allowances, holiday pay accruals and contractual agreements.

Since 2024, the Netherlands has used a statutory minimum hourly wage rather than fixed minimum daily, weekly or monthly rates. As a result, an employee’s earnings depend on the number of hours worked, their contracted hours and their age.

Employers should therefore review not only hourly wage rates, but also salary calculations, schedules and any additional allowances. This is particularly important for organisations working with flexible contracts, variable hours or on-call workers, where the increase can have a noticeable effect on overall labour costs.

Youth minimum wage and BBL rates also increase

The increase also applies to youth minimum wage rates. For students following a vocational training programme (BBL), different rates apply in certain age categories.

From 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly wage for BBL students will be:

• €9.22 for 20-year-olds
• €7.87 for 19-year-olds
• €6.82 for 18-year-olds

Get your payroll administration ready

To avoid payroll errors and ensure compliance, employers should review their wage settings, contracts and payroll systems before 1 July 2026.

At Tentoo, we help employers and clients manage the administration of flexible work with confidence. That way, you can stay compliant and focus on what matters most: running your business.