How to Write a Dutch CV

The Dutch CV reflects the Netherlands' famously direct culture: concise, factual, and no-nonsense. Dutch employers value honesty over self-promotion and expect measurable results rather than superlatives. If a German CV is thorough, a Dutch CV is efficient.

The Netherlands ranks among the highest English proficiency countries in the world, so English CVs are widely accepted -- match the language of the job posting. This guide covers the conventions that Dutch recruiters expect.

Keep it short: 1 page for juniors and early-career candidates, 2 pages maximum for seniors. Three or more pages are strongly discouraged in the Dutch market. Use A4 format, submit as PDF.

The layout should be clean, modern, and minimal. Single-column is preferred, though a subtle two-column layout works if it's ATS-safe. Use professional fonts (Arial, Calibri, Open Sans) at 10.5-12pt.

Content is always in reverse-chronological order. Functional CVs (skills-based without chronological job history) are uncommon in the Netherlands -- reverse-chronological is strongly preferred, and omitting a clear timeline can raise questions.

• Persoonlijke gegevens (Personal Details): Name, phone (+31 format), email, and city. Full street addresses are becoming optional under AVG (Dutch GDPR). LinkedIn URL is expected - the Netherlands has very high LinkedIn adoption.
• Profiel / Profielschets (Personal Profile): A 3-5 line summary at the top is common and valued in the Netherlands, more so than in Germany. Use it to state who you are, what you offer, and what you're looking for.
• Werkervaring (Work Experience): The main section. Reverse chronological with concise bullets focused on quantified results (€, %, headcount, timelines). Use active verbs.
• Opleiding (Education): Degrees, institutions, dates. Students and recent graduates may place this above work experience.
• Vaardigheden (Skills): Hard skills, IT proficiency, and relevant tools.
• Talen (Languages): With CEFR levels. Dutch, English, and a third language are common.
• Hobby's / Interesses: Optional but valued by Dutch recruiters as they give insight into personality and cultural fit. Keep it brief and genuine.
• Referenties: Usually noted as op aanvraag (on request) rather than listed directly.

Photos remain common and are expected by many Dutch employers, though the norm is more contested than in Germany or France. Including a professional headshot is the safer default, particularly for Dutch companies. International firms and the public sector are more likely to be neutral or prefer no photo. If you include one, keep it passport-style on a neutral background.

Directness is expected. Avoid flowery language, superlatives, and US-style self-promotion. Let your achievements speak for themselves. Quantify everything you can. Dutch employers see exaggeration as dishonest, and claims are easily verified in the Netherlands' tight professional networks.

Date of birth is still commonly included but trending optional, particularly at international companies. Marital status (burgerlijke staat) is no longer customary -- omit it. Never include BSN (citizen service number), religion, or health information.