New law makes temp agencies seek state approval to operate
A new law requires staffing firms to be admitted by a new government body, and employers who use unadmitted agencies face fines from 2028.
Temp agencies in the Netherlands will need approval from a new government body, the Nederlandse Autoriteit Uitleenmarkt (NAU), to lend out staff once the Wet toelating terbeschikkingstelling van arbeidskrachten (Wtta) takes effect on 1 January. The rule applies to foreign companies, secondment firms and payrollers as well as ordinary agencies.
Why it matters
- Companies that earn most of their turnover from lending out personnel need NAU approval; many others must apply for an exemption.
- A company that is not admitted may not lend out personnel, and employers may not do business with it.
- Fines apply from 2028, including for employers who hire in personnel from an unadmitted company.
To be admitted, a company needs a certificate of conduct (verklaring omtrent gedrag) and often has to pay a deposit of up to €100,000. It must also submit a report proving that it follows the rules, for example on paying the minimum wage and keeping proper records. Agencies with a quality mark (keurmerk) face a lighter admission regime.
What happens next
- This year: many existing agencies register for the transitional arrangement (overgangsregeling) if they want to keep operating while awaiting approval.
- 1 January: the law takes effect.
- May: agencies can apply for official admission.
- July: companies start being admitted.
- 2028: fines apply.
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) counted 683,100 employee jobs at temp and employment agencies in December 2025, against 819,120 at the 2018 peak. The December 2016 count was 722,500, and the low since then was 672,000 in 2024.
Jobs at temp and employment agencies have fallen since the 2018 peak
Jobs, thousands · 2016–2025
Jobs at temp and employment agencies have fallen since the 2018 peak (jobs, thousands). From 722.5 in 2016 to 683.1 in 2025; highest 819.12 in 2018, lowest 672 in 2024. Source: CBS.
View data
| Period | Jobs, thousands |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 722.5 |
| 2017 | 798.9 |
| 2018 | 819.12 |
| 2019 | 793 |
| 2020 | 685.7 |
| 2021 | 742.4 |
| 2022 | 740.3 |
| 2023 | 690.2 |
| 2024 | 672 |
| 2025 | 683.1 |
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Guide: Minimum wage in the Netherlands 2026
NAU (Nederlandse Autoriteit Uitleenmarkt)
The Dutch Labour Market Lending Authority is the Dutch government body that grants permission to temporary work agencies (uitzendbureaus) to lend out workers. Under the Wtta (Wet toelating terbeschikkingstelling van arbeidskrachten), an agency needs its approval before it may operate in this way. The authority assesses these applications, so it determines which agencies are allowed to supply staff in the Netherlands.