How to Write a Dutch CV and Cover Letter That Gets You Hired in 2026

Your CV is the first impression you make on a Dutch employer, and getting the format right matters. Dutch recruiters and hiring managers have specific expectations — different from what is standard in the UK, the US, or many other countries — and a CV that looks impressive at home may come across as unusual or unprofessional in the Netherlands if it does not follow local conventions.

This guide covers everything you need to write a CV and cover letter that works for the Dutch job market in 2026, whether you are applying in English or in Dutch.

The Dutch CV: Core Principles

Before getting into specific sections, understand these fundamental principles that underpin a strong Dutch CV:

• Brevity — Dutch CVs are typically one to two pages. A three-page CV is unusual and may signal poor self-editing to a Dutch recruiter.
• Clarity — use a clean, simple layout with clear sections. Avoid heavy design or visual clutter.
• Honesty — Dutch employers value authenticity. Overstating achievements or using vague filler language ("results-oriented team player") is noticed and frowned upon.
• Specificity — concrete achievements with numbers are far more persuasive than generic descriptions.

Essential CV Sections

1. Personal Details

At the top of your CV, include:

• Full name
• City and country of residence (you do not need your full address)
• Phone number (include country code if applying internationally)
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn profile URL — this is important; Dutch recruiters always check
• Nationality (optional but useful context for work permit purposes)

Note: Unlike some countries, Dutch employers do not expect a date of birth, marital status, or a photo on the CV. These are not required and are discouraged in modern Dutch applications.

2. Personal Profile (Profielschets)

A short personal profile — two to four lines maximum — at the top of your CV acts as a professional summary. It should clearly state:

• Who you are professionally (your title or field)
• Your most relevant experience or expertise
• What you are looking for

Example: "Software engineer with seven years of experience in backend systems and cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP). Specialised in building scalable APIs for fintech and e-commerce environments. Looking for a senior engineering role in an international team in the Netherlands."

Keep it concise. This is not a cover letter paragraph — it is a professional positioning statement.

3. Work Experience

List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role include:

• Job title
• Company name and city
• Employment dates (month and year, not just year)
• Three to five bullet points describing your key responsibilities and achievements

The bullet points are the most important part. Follow this formula:

• Action verb + task + result or scale — "Led migration of monolithic architecture to microservices, reducing deployment time by 60% and improving system reliability."

Use numbers wherever possible: team sizes, revenue figures, percentage improvements, number of users, project budgets. Numbers give your experience credibility and context.

4. Education

List your degrees in reverse chronological order. Include:

• Degree title and field (in English if applying for English-language roles)
• Institution name and city
• Graduation year (and start year if relevant)

For Dutch roles, briefly note if your degree is from outside the Netherlands, as equivalence is sometimes a topic in interviews. You do not need to list every module or thesis unless it is directly relevant.

5. Skills

Include a clear skills section covering:

• Technical skills — software, programming languages, tools, certifications
• Language skills — with proficiency level for each (native, professional working proficiency, or CEFR levels A1–C2)
• Other relevant skills — project management methodologies, industry certifications, driving licence if relevant

Avoid soft skills like "strong communicator" or "team player" in this section — these belong in your profile or are demonstrated by your experience, not listed as bullet points.

6. Certifications and Courses

If you have professional certifications (AWS Certified Solutions Architect, PMP, CFA, etc.) or completed relevant courses, list them here with the issuing organisation and year.

Writing Your Cover Letter (Sollicitatiebrief)

The Dutch cover letter is expected for most professional roles. It should be sent as a single page (not longer) and follow this structure:

Opening Paragraph

Clearly state which role you are applying for and where you found it. One sentence is sufficient. Skip generic openers like "I am writing to express my interest in..." — get straight to the point.

Second Paragraph: Why This Company?

This is the most important paragraph. Explain specifically why you are interested in this company, not just the role. Reference something specific about the company's work, values, product, or mission. Dutch employers respond well to candidates who have done their research and can articulate a genuine reason for choosing them.

Third Paragraph: Why You?

Briefly — two to three sentences — explain why your specific experience and skills make you a strong fit for this role. Do not repeat your CV; add context and connect your past to their specific needs.

Closing

Express availability for an interview and thank the reader. Keep it short and professional. Sign off with "Met vriendelijke groet" (Dutch) or "Kind regards" (English) depending on the language of your letter.

Language: English or Dutch?

Use the same language as the job advertisement. If the vacancy is in English, write your CV and cover letter in English. If it is in Dutch, write in Dutch (or have a native speaker review it).

For English-language companies, an English application is expected and welcomed. For Dutch SMEs or roles where Dutch is explicitly required, making the effort to apply in Dutch signals seriousness. A poorly written Dutch application is worse than a fluent English one — if your Dutch is limited, apply in English and note your level.

Common Mistakes in Dutch CV Applications

• Too long — anything over two pages for non-senior roles will lose the reader
• Photo included — photos are not expected and can inadvertently lead to bias
• Generic cover letter — not mentioning the company by name or explaining why you chose them specifically
• No LinkedIn URL — Dutch recruiters will search for you anyway; make it easy
• Functional CV format — the Dutch market strongly prefers chronological CVs
• Missing dates — gaps in employment are noticed. If you have a gap, address it briefly in your cover letter

Adapting Your International CV

If you are converting a CV from another country's format (UK, US, Indian, Australian), the key changes are:

• Remove your date of birth, marital status, national ID number, and photo
• Trim it to two pages maximum — remove older or less relevant roles if necessary
• Add a personal profile at the top if you did not have one
• Convert salary figures and company contexts to make sense to a Dutch reader — not all Dutch recruiters know the scale or reputation of every international company

A great Dutch CV is not about being clever or flashy. It is about being clear, specific, and honest about what you have done and can do.

Job Search Support From WelkomNL

Once your CV is ready, the next step is finding the right roles. The WelkomNL app offers curated job listings across the Netherlands tailored for international professionals. Browse vacancies, get guidance on the Dutch job market, and access our multilingual AI assistant for career advice. Download WelkomNL on iOS or Android to find your next Dutch job.