What Is the UWV? Unemployment Benefit in the Netherlands Explained
If you lose your job in the Netherlands, the organisation you’ll deal with is the UWV – and the good news is that internationals who are legal residents can claim the same support as anyone else. Here’s what the UWV does and how Dutch unemployment benefit actually works.
What the UWV is
The UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, the Employee Insurance Agency) administers the Netherlands’ employee insurance schemes. The best known is the WW (WW-uitkering), the unemployment benefit, but the UWV also handles long-term disability (WIA/WAO), sickness benefit (ZW), and job-seeking support. You interact with it online through the Mijn UWV portal using your DigiD.
Who qualifies for unemployment benefit (WW)
To claim WW you generally need to:
- Have been an employee (the self-employed aren’t insured for unemployment – see our ZZP guide).
- Have become unemployed involuntarily – not resigned without cause or been dismissed for misconduct.
- Have lost at least 5 working hours a week.
- Be available for work.
- Meet the weeks requirement (wekeneis): worked at least 26 of the last 36 weeks before becoming unemployed.
Internationals are eligible as long as they’re legal residents, and in some cases work done in another EU country counts toward your history.
How much you get and for how long
WW is based on your previous salary, not a flat rate:
- For the first two months you receive 75% of your average monthly wage (the WW-maandloon).
- From the third month onward, it drops to 70%.
- There’s a cap: the benefit is calculated up to a maximum daily wage of €297.82 (2026), so very high earners are capped.
Duration depends on your work history. Meeting the basic weeks requirement gives you at least three months. A longer record — broadly four of the last five years worked (the jareneis) – can extend the benefit up to a maximum of 24 months.
How to apply
Apply online at uwv.nl with your DigiD. Timing matters: you can apply from one week before your last working day and should do so no later than one week after it — applying late can mean a lower benefit. If your application is complete, the UWV typically decides within four weeks, and payment follows the decision.
Your obligations while claiming
WW comes with duties. You must register as a jobseeker, actively look for work and apply for jobs, and report any income each month. Working while on benefit is usually financially worthwhile – if you earn less than your benefit level, the WW tops up your income. But if you earn 87.5% or more of your benefit level for two months running, the benefit stops. You also continue to build up holiday entitlement while claiming.
A note for non-EU residents
If your right to stay is tied to employment, unemployment can affect your residence permit. If you’re in that situation, contact the IND as well as the UWV to understand your position before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Can expats claim Dutch unemployment benefit? Yes, if you’re a legal resident and meet the work-history conditions. Your nationality doesn’t exclude you.
How much is the benefit? 75% of your average wage for the first two months, then 70%, up to a maximum daily wage of €297.82 in 2026.
How long does it last? From three months up to a maximum of two years, depending on how long you’ve worked.
Can self-employed people claim WW? No. ZZP’ers aren’t insured for unemployment and need their own cover.
When should I apply? From one week before your last working day to no later than one week after – apply promptly to avoid a reduced benefit.
Benefit rates, caps, and conditions are set annually and depend on your circumstances. The figures here reflect 2026; check uwv.nl for the latest. This is general information, not legal advice.
