Elderly and Disability Care Jobs in the Netherlands
Client-centred healthcare roles for EU nurses, healthcare assistants, and carers
Why Work in Dutch Care Sectors?
The Netherlands offers structured, person-centred care environments where dignity, autonomy, and quality of life are central to daily practice. We recruit EU citizens only into nursing, elderly care (ouderenzorg), and disability care (gehandicaptenzorg) positions across the Dutch health and social care sector.
JOB OPPORTUNITES BY SECTOR
Care Sectors Covered
Elderly Care (Ouderenzorg) - People aged over 65
Elderly care supports older adults who can no longer live independently or require additional care due to physical or cognitive conditions. Roles exist across multiple settings.
Nursing Homes (Verpleeghuis)
Long-term care for older patients who require residential support.
Common department types include:
- Psychogeriatric (PG) care – supporting patients with dementia and related conditions
- Somatic care – supporting patients with chronic illness and physical care needs
Rehabilitation (Revalidatie)
Supporting older adults recovering after illness, surgery, or injury with the goal of restoring independence—often within multidisciplinary teams.
Home Care (Thuiszorg)
Supporting elderly clients who live at home but require help with personal care, household tasks, or medical support.
Disability Care (Gehandicaptenzorg) – People of All Ages
Disability care supports children, adults, and older adults who are unable to live fully independently due to cognitive, physical, sensory, or multiple disabilities.
Disability care can involve:
- Residential facilities with 24-hour support for complex needs
- Community services supporting independent living or family-based care
- Structured daily programmes, coaching, therapy support, and personal care
- Supporting communication needs, including non-verbal communication where relevant
- Individualised care plans tailored to each client’s needs, abilities, and quality-of-life goals
Roles may vary significantly depending on the client group and setting, from active daily-living support through to intensive assistance for complex physical and sensory disabilities.
OUR SERVICES
Roles We Recruit For
Nurse (Verpleegkundige –
Levels 4, 5, 6)
- Coordinates care delivery
- develops and updates care plans
- delivers more complex medical care
- collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams.
Nurses typically assume greater clinical responsibility and leadership within care settings.
Healthcare Assistant (Verzorgende IG / VIG – Level 3)
- Provides client-centred care aligned to care plans
- supports personal care, administers medication
- monitors wellbeing
- reports changes in physical or psychosocial status
Helper / Helper Plus (Helpende / Helpende Plus – Level 2)
- Supports daily personal care such as bathing, dressing, toileting, meals, observations, and reporting.
- “Helper Plus” certification can include additional delegated tasks such as basic wound care and administering non-risk medication
Personal Caretaker (Persoonlijk Begeleider – Level 4 or 5)
- Provides more complex care and increased responsibility.
- Supports care coordination, contributes to care planning, and helps strengthen the client’s support network, depending on the setting
Caretaker / Support Worker (Begeleider – Level 3 or 4)
- Common in disability care settings.
- Supports daily living, personal hygiene, nutrition, structure, engagement, and communication needs, aligned to an individual care plan
Working Hours, Pay, and Benefits
Typical Hours
- Minimum contracts commonly start at 32 hours per week
- Full-time is often 36 hours per week
- Many employers use an annualised hours system, meaning weekly hours can vary while monthly salary remains stable
Allowances and Benefits
Depending on role and employer, packages may include:
- Irregular shift allowances for evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Paid annual leave and holiday allowance
- Pension contributions (often after an initial qualifying period)
- End-of-year bonus (13th month)
- Travel reimbursement for work-related travel
Language, Registration, and Eligibility
EU-Only Eligibility (No Visa Sponsorship)
These roles are strictly open to EU citizens. We cannot progress applications from non-EU candidates where visa sponsorship is required.
Dutch Language Expectations
Safe practice requires functional Dutch. Many pathways include language training and structured support with clear progression expectations during the first months of employment.
Recognition of Qualifications
Foreign qualifications are assessed against the Dutch education system. A comparability statement (Vergelijkingsverklaring) may be required
BIG Registration (For Nurses)
Nurses require BIG registration to practise independently and perform protected nursing tasks within the Dutch healthcare system
Relocation and Onboarding Support
Many programmes provide structured onboarding and practical support, which may include:
- Support with official registrations (BSN/RNI where applicable)
- Guidance through language exams and professional registration steps
- Local coaching and workplace support during settling-in
- Assistance with accommodation options and early-arrival logistics
JOB SEARCH
Latest Medical Jobs
Candidate FAQs – Nursing & Elderly and Disability Care Jobs in the Netherlands
Who can apply for elderly and disability care and nursing jobs in the Netherlands?
These roles are open to EU citizens only. Applicants must already have the legal right to live and work within the European Union. Visa sponsorship is not available for these positions
Do I need to speak Dutch before applying?
Basic Dutch language skills are required to work safely and effectively in elderly and disability care. Language training and structured support are typically provided as part of the onboarding process, with progression expectations during the first months of employment.
What types of care sectors are covered by these roles?
Opportunities are available across:
Elderly care (ouderenzorg) – supporting older adults who require residential, rehabilitative, or home-based care
Disability care (gehandicaptenzorg) – supporting people of all ages with physical, cognitive, sensory, or multiple disabilities
Both sectors focus on long-term, person-centred support aimed at improving quality of life and independence.
What roles are available?
Common roles include Helper/Helper Plus, Healthcare Assistant (VIG), Nurse (Levels 4–6), Caretaker (Begeleider), and Personal Caretaker (Persoonlijk Begeleider).
What salary and benefits can I expect?
Salaries are aligned with Dutch healthcare collective agreements and include paid holiday entitlement, holiday allowance, pension contributions, end-of-year bonus, travel reimbursement, and additional allowances for evening, night, weekend, and public holiday shifts.
What are typical working hours?
Most contracts start at a minimum of 32 hours per week, with full-time roles typically based on 36 hours per week. An annualised hours system is used, meaning hours may vary week to week while salary remains stable.
Are foreign qualifications accepted?
Qualifications are assessed against Dutch standards. A comparability statement may be required, and nurses must obtain BIG registration.
Is relocation support available?
Yes. Structured relocation support is commonly provided and may include assistance with accommodation, registration processes, language training, and local onboarding to help candidates settle into work and life in the Netherlands.
How do I apply?
Browse live roles and apply online, or submit your CV for review and matching.
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