{"id":9005,"date":"2026-03-11T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.ijc.es\/?p=9005"},"modified":"2026-09-15T08:47:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T08:47:43","slug":"baja-medica-holanda-guia-enfermedad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ijc.es\/en\/blog\/baja-medica-holanda-guia-enfermedad\/","title":{"rendered":"Sick Leave in the Netherlands: Complete Guide to the Ziektewet and Your Rights (Updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ijcart\">\n<style>.ijcart{font-family:Poppins,sans-serif;color:#4a5b6c;}.ijcart h2{color:#002f58;font-size:25px;font-weight:800;margin:34px 0 12px;line-height:1.3;}.ijcart h3{color:#002f58;font-size:19px;font-weight:700;margin:26px 0 10px;}.ijcart p{font-size:16px;line-height:1.85;margin:0 0 16px;}.ijcart li{font-size:16px;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:6px;}.ijcart ul{margin:0 0 18px 22px;}.ijcart .meta{color:#fd841d;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:.5px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:14px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"meta\">General \u00b7 Andreu Jimenez<\/div>\n<p>Getting ill is never pleasant, but being ill abroad under a different employment system can cause unnecessary stress. In Spain we're used to going to the health centre, seeing the GP and leaving with a 'sick note'.<\/p>\n<p>In the Netherlands it doesn't work like that. If you ask your Dutch doctor ( Huisarts ) for a note for your boss, they will (kindly) laugh and tell you they have no authority to issue one. So you don't make mistakes that put your salary or your job at risk, here is the definitive guide to being ill in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<h2>What to do if you wake up ill: the 'Ziekmelden' procedure<\/h2>\n<p>The first step is communication. In the Netherlands, sick leave starts with your word, but there is a strict protocol you must follow to the letter.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Inform your employer immediately<\/h3>\n<p>You must inform your manager or the HR department (or your temporary employment agency if you work through one) as soon as possible. Most companies require you to report sick before 9:00 AM on the first day of illness.<\/p>\n<p>What do you have to say? Only that you are ill and cannot come to work.<\/p>\n<p>What do you NOT have to say? Legally, you are not obliged to disclose your diagnosis . You don't have to say whether you have flu, a broken leg or stress. Your medical privacy is protected by law.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Be reachable<\/h3>\n<p>From the moment you report sick ( ziekmelden ), you must be available at home or wherever you are recovering. The company or the occupational health service may call you to check on your condition or arrange the next steps.<\/p>\n<h2>How much do you get paid on sick leave? The Ziektewet system<\/h2>\n<p>Now the million-dollar question: 'Will I still get paid?' The short answer is yes, with some caveats.<\/p>\n<h2>The 70% rule<\/h2>\n<p>By law, your employer must pay you at least 70% of your last salary during the first two years of illness. However, most collective labour agreements ( CAO ) improve on this, going up to 90% or even 100% during the first year .<\/p>\n<h2>'Wachtdagen' (waiting days)<\/h2>\n<p>Be careful here. Many contracts include wachtdagen: the first 1 or 2 days of sick leave are unpaid. So if you fall ill on a Monday and return on Wednesday, you may not be paid for those days. Check your contract for these 'waiting days'.<\/p>\n<h2>The Arbo-arts: the 'judge' of your occupational health<\/h2>\n<p>Since your GP cannot sign you off sick, who decides whether you are really fit to work? This is where the Arbo-arts (company doctor) comes in.<\/p>\n<p>Who are they? An independent doctor hired by the company (or the occupational health service) to assess your ability to work.<\/p>\n<p>Is it mandatory to attend? YES. If the Arbo-arts invites you to a check-up, you are legally obliged to attend. If you don't go without a serious justified reason, the company has the right to stop paying your salary immediately.<\/p>\n<p>What do they decide? They assess whether you can do light duties, work from home or really need complete rest. Their assessment is what counts for the payment of your benefit.<\/p>\n<h2>Can I be dismissed for being ill?<\/h2>\n<p>This is the biggest concern of Spanish workers in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<h2>Two years of protection<\/h2>\n<p>With a permanent contract ( vast contract ), dismissal due to illness is prohibited during the first two years of sick leave. The company must make an effort to help you return to work.<\/p>\n<h2>Temporary employment agencies (Phase A or Phase 1-2)<\/h2>\n<p>If you work through an employment agency and your contract contains the so-called agency clause ( uitzendbeding ), the situation changes. In many cases, when you fall ill, your employment contract with the agency ends automatically and you receive sickness benefit directly from the UWV (the government agency). You are not left unprotected, but you no longer have a connection with the company where you worked.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions about illness in the Netherlands (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<h2>Can my GP (Huisarts) give me a sick note?<\/h2>\n<p>No. Doctors in the Netherlands have a code of conduct that prohibits them from issuing medical certificates for work. Their job is to treat you, not to manage your employment relationship. That is what the Arbo-arts is for.<\/p>\n<h2>Can I travel to Spain while on sick leave?<\/h2>\n<p>Don't do it without permission. If you are on sick leave and want to travel to your home country to recover with your family, you must ask the Arbo-arts or the UWV for explicit authorisation. If you leave on your own and miss a check-up you are invited to, you will lose your benefit and could be dismissed.<\/p>\n<h2>What happens if I fall ill during my holidays?<\/h2>\n<p>If you are on holiday and fall ill, call your company immediately. If you follow the reporting protocol, those days will no longer count as holiday and will become sick days instead. That way you can get your holiday days back to enjoy when you are healthy.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>The Dutch system is based on responsibility and on the role of the company doctor. If you are honest, follow the reporting protocols and attend your appointments with the Arbo-arts, you have nothing to fear. Your health and your salary are protected. This applies whether you want to work in the Netherlands or to any other aspect of life there.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for an agency that is transparent, speaks plainly and supports you at every step of your adventure in the Netherlands? At International Job Challenge we make sure all our workers know their rights from minute one.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at our Job Offers in the Netherlands and apply today.<\/p>\n<h2>Latest news<\/h2>\n<h2>Discover what's new<\/h2>\n<p>Transitievergoeding in the Netherlands: the definitive guide to your severance pay on dismissal and end of contract<\/p>\n<h2>General<\/h2>\n<h2>21 Jul 2026<\/h2>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<h2>Andreu Jimenez<\/h2>\n<h2>Phase B contract in the Netherlands: your shield of stability<\/h2>\n<h2>General<\/h2>\n<h2>17 Jul 2026<\/h2>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<h2>Andreu Jimenez<\/h2>\n<p>Child benefit in the Netherlands: complete guide to claiming Kinderbijslag (even with your children in Spain)<\/p>\n<h2>General<\/h2>\n<h2>10 Jul 2026<\/h2>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<h2>Andreu Jimenez<\/h2>\n<p>Zero-hours contract in the Netherlands: the no-nonsense guide to your rights and how to avoid the agency trap<\/p>\n<h2>General<\/h2>\n<h2>02 Jul 2026<\/h2>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<h2>Andreu Jimenez<\/h2>\n<h2>Getting your qualification recognised in the Netherlands: the real guide to validating vocational training, degrees and regulated professions<\/h2>\n<h2>25 Jun 2026<\/h2>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<h2>Andreu Jimenez<\/h2>\n<h2>Industrial laundry operator \u2013 Netherlands<\/h2>\n<p>Do you like working with your hands and being part of a team? As a laundry production worker, you help turn used linen into clean, carefully packed textiles. Read more<\/p>\n<h2>Production operator (plastics sector) \u2013 Netherlands<\/h2>\n<p>Would you like to work in production and do you have an eye for detail? Then this job is for you, even without experience. Read more<\/p>\n<h2>Logistics operator in the fashion sector \u2013 Netherlands<\/h2>\n<p>Do you like keeping a warehouse organised and enjoy a varied role? We're looking for a logistics employee who works accurately. Read more<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting ill is never pleasant, but doing so in a foreign country with a different working system can cause unnecessary stress. In Spain we are\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-ijc"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Baja m\u00e9dica en Holanda: Ziektewet y tus derechos<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Qu\u00e9 pasa si te pones enfermo trabajando en Holanda: c\u00f3mo avisar, cu\u00e1nto cobras con la Ziektewet y tus derechos con la ETT.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ijc.es\/en\/baja-medica-holanda-guia-enfermedad\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta 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