Known for tulips, Vincent van Gogh, and historic cities, the Netherlands can be an attractive destination for nursing professionals. The Dutch population is aging, and the healthcare sector continues to face staffing shortages. However, internationally educated nurses need to complete the applicable professional-recognition process before they can work independently as nurses in the country.
There are many reasons a nurse might want to work in the Netherlands. Pay varies by employer, role, qualification level, experience, hours, and the applicable collective labor agreement (CAO), so check the latest vacancy and CAO terms before comparing offers. The Netherlands can also be a convenient place to live. While it has the same sense of history as other European countries, its public transportation system can make travel easier.
Another reason to practice in the Netherlands is that it lies at the heart of Europe. If you ever get the itch to explore, Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland are accessible by international rail, while Italy can be reached with onward connections. Even if you don’t leave the country, you’ll never run out of things to do in the Netherlands. From museums and cultural attractions to parks and historic cities, there’s always something to keep you occupied.
If all this appeals to you and you’re wondering how to get started, keep reading. This article aims to walk you through the process of becoming a nurse in the Netherlands.
How to Become a Nurse in the Netherlands
Step 1. Get a Nursing Degree
To become a registered nurse in the Netherlands, the first step is to obtain a nursing diploma that meets Dutch requirements. A bachelor’s degree is not the only qualifying route. For Dutch-trained applicants, BIG registration as a nurse is available after completing professional nursing education at the MBO-4 level or the HBO bachelor’s level. If your diploma was earned abroad, it must be officially recognized before you can register. The correct procedure depends on where you obtained your qualification and the type of diploma you hold.
Some nursing qualifications obtained in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can qualify for automatic recognition with direct BIG registration if the qualification appears on the approved list and the applicant provides proof of Dutch language proficiency at the required level. Other applicants may need to follow the recognition-of-professional-qualifications procedure or the certificate-of-competence procedure. Use the BIG-register Advice Wizard to identify the route that applies to your situation.
Of course, one of the most straightforward options is to study nursing in the Netherlands. Dutch nursing schools offer multiple routes, including MBO-4 programs and HBO bachelor’s programs. Institutions with four-year full-time HBO nursing bachelor’s programs include Christelijke Hogeschool Ede, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and Hanze University of Applied Sciences.
Step 2. Learn Dutch (and English or German)
To work as a nurse in the Netherlands, you need to speak Dutch and provide accepted proof of your language proficiency when required. The applicable level depends on the professional level assigned in the BIG-register procedure. Current BIG-register guidance lists B1 Dutch for secondary vocational (MBO) professions, including nurses, and B2 Dutch for higher vocational (HBO) professions. When a Dutch language-test certificate is required, it must meet the BIG-register requirements for writing, listening, reading, and speaking.
Applicants following the certificate-of-competence procedure must also provide proof of English reading skills. Current BIG-register guidance does not list German as an alternative. For nurses, the BIG-register English reading-skills table lists A2 under the secondary vocational (MBO) level. If BIG applies a different professional level to your procedure, follow that route’s language table; higher vocational (HBO) professions are listed at B1 English reading. Use the BIG-register guidance for your specific procedure to confirm the evidence you need to provide.
Step 3. Get on the BIG Register
The BIG (Beroepen in de Individuele Gezondheidszorg) register is a legal, online, and public register for individual healthcare professions in the Netherlands. Nurses who want to use the protected professional title and independently perform the reserved actions associated with the profession must be registered. Internationally educated nurses must have their foreign diplomas officially recognized before they can register. Visit the BIG-register website for the applicable procedure.
Apply through the official procedure identified by the BIG-register Advice Wizard. A third-party recruiter can offer optional support, but using one is not a requirement. The supporting documents and steps depend on your route. Under the certificate-of-competence procedure, nurses take a professional content test known as the BI test. The assessment commission may also require an additional course or work placement.
Do not assume that the process will be immediate. For the certificate-of-competence procedure, the BIG-register states that the process takes an average of six months to one and a half years from the moment the application is submitted. The preparation period varies by applicant and is separate from that timeframe.
Step 4. Find a Job and Secure a Work Permit (for non-EU Applicants)
The Netherlands has a range of healthcare employers, and requirements and benefits vary by employer and the applicable collective labor agreement. You can search nursing vacancies on the V&VN vacancy board and on employers’ own career websites.
If you studied at a Dutch university of applied sciences or another Dutch educational institution, you can also search for jobs through your institution’s career office or by networking with professors.
If you are a national of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, you generally do not need a residence permit or a work permit to work in the Netherlands. If you hold another nationality, use this work permit overview as a starting point and confirm your route against the official IND guidance. For a stay of up to 90 days, an employer usually needs to apply for a TWV work permit. For a stay of more than 90 days, a residence permit is required. For ordinary paid employment, the applicable route may be a GVVA, which combines a residence permit and a work permit, although some paid-employment situations use a different IND route.
For a GVVA application, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) advises applicants to have their employers apply in the Netherlands, although employees may also apply themselves in the situations described by the IND. You may not start working until you have received the residence permit and the accompanying document that sets out the conditions under which you may work.
Living and working abroad can broaden your perspective and even transform your life. The Netherlands can be a rewarding place to work if your career is in healthcare. Plan early because diploma recognition, language evidence, BIG registration, and immigration steps can take time, but the experience can be rewarding.
We hope that this article on the steps to become a nurse in the Netherlands was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe and Study in the Netherlands sections!
