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Timesheet in the Netherlands

Harvest provides an efficient solution for managing timesheets in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with the Working Hours Act through reliable time tracking features.

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How many hours did you work this week?

Enter your clock-in and clock-out times for each day. The calculator handles breaks, overtime, and weekly totals automatically.

Day Clock In Clock Out Break Hours
Total hours this week 0h
Regular hours (≤40) 0h
Overtime hours 0h
Average hours/day 0h
Total break time 0h

Track time automatically with Harvest

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

Understanding the Dutch Working Hours Act

The Dutch Working Hours Act, known as the "Arbeidstijdenwet," is the cornerstone of labor regulations regarding working hours and rest periods in the Netherlands. This legislation mandates that employers meticulously record the working hours and rest periods of their employees to ensure compliance. These records must be objective, reliable, and readily accessible, allowing verification by the Labour Inspectorate. Failure to comply can result in penalties ranging from €100 to €45,000 per employee.

Under this act, employers are required to retain timesheet records for at least 52 weeks, while general payroll documentation must be kept for seven years. The primary goal of these regulations is to safeguard employee well-being, promoting a healthy work-life balance by preventing excessive work hours and ensuring adequate rest periods.

Core Regulations on Working Hours and Breaks

In the Netherlands, the Working Hours Act enforces strict limitations on daily and weekly work hours to protect employees. The maximum daily working hours are capped at 12 hours, while the weekly limit is set at 60 hours, though this is meant to be an exception rather than a norm. Over a four-week period, average working hours cannot exceed 55 hours per week, and over a sixteen-week period, the average must not surpass 48 hours.

Breaks are also a fundamental part of the legislation. For shifts exceeding 5.5 hours, employees must have at least a 30-minute break, which can be divided into two 15-minute intervals. Shifts longer than 10 hours require a 45-minute break, which can also be segmented into multiple 15-minute breaks. These breaks are typically unpaid unless otherwise specified in employment contracts or Collective Labor Agreements (CAOs).

Special Considerations and Exceptions

The Dutch Working Hours Act includes specific provisions for various work scenarios, such as night work and on-call duties. Night shifts, defined as work between midnight and 6 AM, have a maximum duration of 10 hours and require specific rest periods, such as 14 hours if the shift ends after 2 AM. Additionally, employees are limited to 40 hours of night work over 16 weeks and cannot exceed 117 night shifts annually.

Exemptions exist for high-level employees, such as managers who earn at least three times the statutory minimum wage, and for vulnerable groups like minors and pregnant workers. These groups often have adjusted working hour regulations or additional rest breaks. Furthermore, Collective Labor Agreements (CAOs) can modify general legal provisions, allowing industry-specific rules while adhering to statutory minimum rights.

Timesheet Compliance for Diverse Workforces

Compliance with the Dutch Working Hours Act applies to all employees, including temporary, seconded, and foreign workers. Temporary employees must receive equal pay and benefits as permanent staff in similar roles, often guided by CAOs like the ABU Collective Labour Agreement. Employers must implement reliable timesheet systems to ensure accurate tracking of hours worked and compliance with local regulations.

Foreign employers with workers in the Dutch market are also obligated to adhere to these regulations. Best practices for maintaining compliance include establishing a digital timesheet system, documenting work schedules, and keeping employees informed of any changes well in advance. Harvest provides robust time tracking features that support compliance with these requirements.

Timesheet in the Netherlands with Harvest

See how Harvest simplifies timesheet management in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with the Working Hours Act.

Harvest timesheet tracking interface in the Netherlands

Timesheet in the Netherlands FAQs

  • Under the Dutch Working Hours Act, employers must keep detailed records of employees' working hours and rest periods. These records need to be objective, reliable, and available for inspection by the Labour Inspectorate. Employers are required to store these records for at least 52 weeks.

  • In the Netherlands, employees can work up to 60 hours in a single week under exceptional circumstances. However, over a four-week period, the average working hours must not exceed 55 hours per week, and over a sixteen-week period, the average must be 48 hours or less.

  • For shifts longer than 5.5 hours, employees are entitled to at least a 30-minute break, which can be split into two 15-minute intervals. For shifts exceeding 10 hours, employees must have at least a 45-minute break, which can be divided into 15-minute segments. These breaks are generally unpaid unless specified otherwise.

  • Temporary workers in the Netherlands are subject to the same timesheet regulations as permanent employees. They must receive equal pay and benefits, often ensured by Collective Labor Agreements (CAOs). Employers must keep accurate records of their working hours to ensure compliance.

  • Harvest supports the mandatory recording of working hours with its robust time tracking features. It allows employers to maintain objective and reliable records, aiding in compliance with the Dutch Working Hours Act.

  • Penalties for failing to comply with the Dutch Working Hours Act can range from €100 to €45,000 per employee. These penalties are typically imposed after a warning from the Labour Inspectorate for non-compliance with recording and reporting requirements.

  • Breaks during work hours in the Netherlands are generally unpaid unless specified in an employment contract or a Collective Labor Agreement (CAO). Employers and employees can negotiate paid breaks within these agreements.

  • Yes, foreign workers must adhere to the same timesheet obligations as domestic employees in the Netherlands. Employers must ensure that time tracking complies with the Working Hours Act, regardless of the employee's nationality.

  • Night work in the Netherlands is defined as work performed between midnight and 6 AM. Employees can work a maximum of 10 hours per night, with specific rest requirements, such as a 14-hour rest period if the shift ends after 2 AM. Night shifts are limited to 40 hours over 16 weeks or 117 shifts per year.