May you end your working-student contract early? It depends on the type of contract. A fixed-term contract ends on the agreed end date and can only be terminated early if both parties have agreed that in writing (Article 7:667 of the Dutch Civil Code) [1][2]. As an employee you can end a permanent contract with a notice period of one month [2]. During probation, employer and employee can end the contract immediately [3]. Also check your own contract and the collective agreement.
Can you end a fixed-term contract early?
A fixed-term employment contract ends by operation of law when the term expires. Early termination is only possible if that right has been agreed in writing for both parties [1]. The Dutch government writes that you may agree with your employer that you can end your contract earlier, and that otherwise the contract ends on the end date [2]. If nothing about early termination is in your contract or collective agreement, you can't simply stop unilaterally. You can, however, agree with your employer to end the contract, for example with a termination agreement. Read such an agreement carefully: the Dutch government warns that you may then not receive unemployment benefit and that you must pay attention to the notice period [4].
What is the notice period if you resign yourself?
For a permanent contract the notice period for the employee is one month, absent another agreement. That's a calendar month: if you want to leave on 1 April, you must give notice by 1 March at the latest. You can agree a longer notice period, but not longer than six months [2]. Under Article 7:672 of the Civil Code the period for the employee is one month and notice is given to the end of the month, unless agreed otherwise in writing [5]. If you have an early termination clause in a fixed-term contract, first check what has been agreed about it or what the collective agreement says.
And during probation?
During probation both you and your employer can end the contract immediately, without a notice period and without a reason being required. The probation period must be recorded in writing and is never longer than two months. Whoever gives notice must state the reason in writing on request of the other. If you resign yourself during probation, you have no right to unemployment benefit; you may be able to claim welfare from your municipality [3].
Can a contract also end in other ways?
Yes. The Dutch government lists, among others, ending by operation of law on the end date, termination by mutual consent, notice and a condition subsequent. With a condition subsequent the contract ends if an agreed event occurs; as an example the government mentions that you haven't obtained a diploma by a certain date [4]. So check whether such a condition is in your contract.
What are the consequences if you stop yourself?
- Unemployment benefit. If you resign yourself, you have no right to unemployment benefit during probation [3]; with termination by mutual consent, the benefit can also be refused [4].
- Transition payment. If you resign or refuse an extension, you only have a right to a transition payment in case of seriously culpable conduct by the employer [6].
- Holiday hours. If you have holiday hours left that you can no longer take when moving on, they're paid out to you [7].
What if the employer wants to end the contract?
For a fixed-term contract the same applies to the employer as to you: only early termination if that was agreed, otherwise the contract ends on the end date. For a permanent contract an employer must ask UWV for permission before giving notice for business-economic reasons or in case of long-term incapacity for work [4]; other procedures apply for other reasons. We write about extension and the chain rule in another article.
Practical steps
- Read your contract and the collective agreement: does it contain an early termination clause, a probation period or a condition subsequent?
- Give notice in writing and keep proof of sending
- Ask for an overview of your accrued holiday hours and a final settlement
- Don't sign a termination agreement you don't understand; ask for advice first, for example from the Dutch Legal Aid Desk (Juridisch Loket)
Sources
- wetten.overheid.nl: Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7, artikel 667, geldend per 1 juli 2026, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Ik wil ontslag nemen. Wat is mijn opzegtermijn?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Welke regels gelden er bij een proeftijd?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Wanneer eindigt mijn arbeidsovereenkomst?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- wetten.overheid.nl: Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7, artikel 672 (opzegtermijnen), geldend per 1 juli 2026, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Heb ik recht op een transitievergoeding als ik word ontslagen?, accessed 11 October 2026.
- Rijksoverheid: Hoe kan ik mijn vakantiedagen opnemen?, accessed 11 October 2026.
