Netherlands minimum wage

The national minimum wage in the Netherlands also went up on 1 July, increasing by 1.26% from the previous €1,381.20 a month to the current figure of €1,398.60. The new rate is equivalent to €8.97 an hour for a 36-hour week. (The rate is set on a weekly or monthly basis – so someone working longer hours will have a lower hourly rate.) In contrast to France, the Netherlands minimum wage goes up twice a year, in July and in January. This means it has increased by 3.1% since last year, in line with collectively agreed rates. On the other hand, while the French SMIC is paid to all employees aged 18 and over, the Dutch minimum rate only applies to those aged 23 and over. 18-year-olds in the Netherlands only get 45.5% of the full minimum rate, equivalent to €628.45 a month.