Join InterNations

The world's largest expat community

Find Out How to Get a Job and Work in Rotterdam

  • Connect with fellow expats in Rotterdam

  • Join exciting events and groups for expats

  • Get information in our expat guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Rotterdam

  • Pascal Tremblay

    With InterNations as my network, I have been able to make many friends learn the ins and outs about living in The Hague.

An amazing community is waiting for you!

Meet international people at local events

Socialize, enjoy hobbies, and make friends

Get info, and feel at home abroad!

Employment in Rotterdam

Local Economy

Rotterdam’s port is not only the largest port in Europe. Until 2004, it was also the busiest port in the world (a record now held by Shanghai), and in 2007 it was named the seventh largest container port in the world. The main products that pass through the port are petrochemicals, and it is also commonly used as a transshipment point, where cargo is deposited before completing its onward journey.

The port is the main place of work in Rotterdam for locals, foreigners and expatriates alike. There are also a number of major multinationals that have their headquarters in Rotterdam, including Unilever, Eneco, Robeco, and Pfizer. Many expatriates working in Rotterdam do so in senior management, research, or technical positions for these organizations.

Additionally, Rotterdam’s service sector has come to play more of a role the city’s economy in recent years. Rotterdam now has a number of famous, upmarket shopping districts, most notably the Beurstraverse and the Kruiskade.

Work Permits for Rotterdam

If you are an EU citizen, then you will not need a permit to work in Rotterdam. However, if you wish to stay for more than three months then you must notify your local municipality and register for a residence permit.

However, as the citizen of a non EU nation, you will need to apply for a work permit. In recent years the Dutch government has put more restrictions on employers finding workers from outside the EU, so obtaining a work permit can be quite difficult.

Once you have accepted an offer of work in Rotterdam, your employer will then apply for your permit on your behalf. In order to do so, they will need to prove that your particular skills cannot be found within the EU, which means that highly skilled and specialized workers will have more of a chance.

Another way of gaining a work permit is to have a partner or spouse working in Rotterdam that can sponsor you, however, they will have to demonstrate that they can provide for you financially until you find employment.

Income Taxation in Rotterdam

The Netherlands is known for its complicated income taxation system, whereby all of your personal conditions, such as residency, marital status, and your type of employment, will be taken into account. It has a progressive system, where your payable amount depends on your earnings, and the top rate of tax is set at 52%. People earning less than 2,100 euros do not pay income tax.

As an expatriate working in Rotterdam it would be a good idea to enlist a professional to help you with your taxes, as the system can be quite confusing to a foreigner.

Why you'll love InterNations in Rotterdam

14,029
Members in Rotterdam
7
monthly events
14
interest-based groups
21
event hosts

and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!

Jul 12, 2025, 2:00 PM
9 attendees
The FENIX Museum of Migration is a museum dedicated to human migration, located within the former Fenix warehouse in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was opened on 16 May 2025.
Jul 26, 2025, 3:30 PM
7 attendees
Are you passionate about Rotterdam? Do you love adventures? Then I invite you to discover the city on this bus tour that takes you through the main attractions. And just like in a James Bond movie exp
Jul 31, 2025, 8:45 PM
1 attendee
Live Brazilian music @ (...) Protected content (...) Alaor Soares, Paulinho Paes, Carlos Breton, Wilson Teixeira and Marcelo Godoy will be bringing up to our ears the greatest out of Brazilian rhyth
Aug 28, 2025, 8:45 PM
1 attendee
Live Brazilian music @ (...) Protected content (...) Alaor Soares, Paulinho Paes, Carlos Breton, Wilson Teixeira and Marcelo Godoy will be bringing up to our ears the greatest out of Brazilian rhyth

See all upcoming events for expats in Rotterdam

Our Global Partners