Document background
The Employee Letter of Employment is a mandatory document in the Netherlands that must be provided to employees within one week of starting employment, as per Dutch law and EU requirements. It serves as the primary document defining the employment relationship and must include specific information required by the Dutch Civil Code and recent EU directives on transparent working conditions. This document is used when hiring new employees or formalizing existing employment relationships, and it forms the foundation of the legal relationship between employer and employee. The letter must be provided in writing (either physical or digital) and should be drafted in a language that both parties understand. It typically requires signing by both parties and must be retained throughout the employment relationship.
