How to find a job or internship
In the Netherlands most students find their side-job through personal networks. A lot of vacancies are never even published in job portals. So, the first step in your search for a job should be to ask around and let everyone know what you are looking for.
First things first: don’t forget to take your study time into account. The workload differs per programme, so before you start looking find out if a side job is even possible for you.
Find a job or internship
To give you an idea of the possibilities, see below for some examples of jobs international students are employed in.
- Student assistants: ask your own professors or study association
- ESE-students: see the tutor academy (below).
- Ambassadors
- Recruitment for new Ambassadors takes place once a year and starts around May. Keep an eye on your faculty’s communication channels (SIN-online, Facebook) for the announcement.
- Erasmus Recruitment Platform
- Erasmus Language Sharing (ELS)
- Vacancies for language coaches or student assistants, are usually announced through the ELS Facebook page.
- Faculty specific job boards:
- AIESEC
- Student assistants: ask your own professors or study association
Best advice: visit them and ask!
- Working in retail, a restaurant, hotel or café is traditionally a popular side job for students in the Netherlands. And Dutch is not always a requirement!
- Not all vacancies are published, so just ask at your favorite place if they are hiring.
- Jobs as a telephone interviewer/market researcher in different languages. A platform offering these types of jobs is Global Data Collection Company B.V..
- For vacancies for full-time and part-time jobs in the start-up sector, consider joining the Facebook group “Rotterdam start up jobs".
- Working in retail, a restaurant, hotel or café is traditionally a popular side job for students in the Netherlands. And Dutch is not always a requirement!
- Studentenwerk.nl (Dutch website)
- Searching for ‘English’ in the ‘Trefwoord’ field might work.
- Studentjob.nl (Dutch website)
- Collegelife.nl.
- Studentenwerk.nl (Dutch website)
- Find more information on internships on the Career Services website.
- For Erasmus+ students seeking an internship position abroad, please consult the Erasmus Intern Traineeship Portal.
As an international student you are free to turn your skills into profit and start a business in the Netherlands while you study.
And there is good news for non-EU students; for starting and running your own business a work permit is not required, and there are no restrictions regarding the number of working hours, as long as you continue to meet the conditions of your residence permit. For example, your business activities should not negatively affect your study progress.
Get support in starting your business
The Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) supports first-time and more experienced entrepreneurs through various workshop and events.
The Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the HollandAlumni website also provide useful information for aspiring international entrepreneurs.
Registering your business
Everyone starting a business in the Netherlands must register at the Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: don't hesitate to visit your favorite Food Plaza company to inquire about a possible side-job.
Frequently Asked Questions
We cannot help you find a job, but we have compiled an overview of common student jobs and how to find them.