Dutch employment contract
Prepared in line with Dutch employment requirements and agreed with you in advance.
Employer of Record
Employer of Record (EOR) in the Netherlands
You want to hire someone in the Netherlands, but you don't have a local entity. Smelt becomes the legal employer of the person you selected. You direct the work; we take care of the Dutch employment contract, payroll and compliance.
What is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
An Employer of Record is a company that legally employs people on behalf of another company. The EOR takes on the employment contract, payroll, taxes and employer obligations. Your company directs the day-to-day work.
For international life sciences companies, an EOR can provide a way to hire in the Netherlands without setting up a local entity first. Your team can establish a presence and consider a local entity later.
Sound familiar?
Your company is growing in Europe. You have found the right person in the Netherlands: a medical science liaison, a market access lead or a country manager. But you have no Dutch entity, and setting one up takes time, money and local expertise. For one or a few people, that may not be the right first step.
With Smelt as your Employer of Record, we employ your new team member in the Netherlands. You build your presence first and can decide on an entity later.
What Smelt takes care of
Payroll
Monthly salary, payslips, payroll taxes and social security contributions.
Pension and benefits
Pension arrangements, holiday allowance and insurance according to applicable Dutch requirements.
Sick leave and absence
Smelt coordinates continued pay, absence management and reintegration responsibilities as the employer.
One invoice
One clear monthly invoice in euros, with full cost transparency.
Local point of contact
One dedicated contact for you, and support in the Netherlands for your employee.
Equipment
A company car, mobile phone, workspace and meeting facilities can be arranged if needed. These costs are passed through at cost.
Full HR support in the Netherlands
Support from onboarding to performance management and offboarding.
Reporting to your European team
Weekly or monthly reporting, according to your preference.
Why Smelt?
Life sciences specialists
We know the roles, the regulations and the Dutch healthcare landscape in pharma, medical devices and biotech.
Local expertise
Dutch employment law, payroll and compliance are handled by a Dutch team.
A clear route to hiring
We coordinate the local employment arrangements without requiring you to set up an entity first.
Room to grow
Need more people, training or a team in the Netherlands later? Our recruitment, interim and Smelt Academy teams support you.
Ready for the Dutch market
Through Smelt Academy, your team can learn local rules, such as the Dutch Code for Pharmaceutical Advertising (Code Geneesmiddelenreclame).
Benelux coverage
With our office in Belgium, we also support teams in Belgium and Luxembourg.
How it works
Step 1
Intake
We discuss the candidate, the role, the start date and the terms you have in mind.
Step 2
Proposal
You receive a clear proposal with salary, employer costs and our fee.
Step 3
Contract & onboarding
We prepare the Dutch employment contract and handle registration and payroll set-up.
Step 4
Start & support
Your team member starts working for you. We remain the employer and point of contact for everything related to employment.
Frequently asked questions
Who manages the employee day to day?
You do. You decide on the work, the goals and the team. Smelt is the legal employer in the Netherlands.
What does it cost?
You pay the gross salary, the Dutch employer costs and a fixed monthly fee. You receive a full cost overview before anything is signed.
Can the employee move to our own entity later?
Yes. Once you set up a Dutch entity, the employee may be able to transfer to your company. We agree on the conditions in advance.
Do we need to have found the candidate ourselves?
No. If you already have someone in mind, we can employ them. If not, we can recruit the right person for you through our life sciences network.
Who is the legal employer?
Smelt Interim & Detachering, a Dutch company. We take care of the employment contract, salary, payroll taxes, pension and other employer obligations.
What happens if the employee falls ill?
Smelt coordinates the applicable absence and reintegration process as the employer. We explain the arrangements and any related costs in the proposal.
Does this create tax obligations for our company in the Netherlands?
That depends on your company's activities in the Netherlands. We recommend checking this with your tax adviser. We are happy to think along.
We do have a Dutch entity, but no headcount. Can you help?
Yes. Payrolling can help when you have found the candidate but do not have headcount.
Explore payrollingReady to hire in the Netherlands?
Tell us about the role and the person you want to hire. We'll show you how to get started, without a Dutch entity.
Discuss your hire