Good news for Dutch minimum wage earners: the wage is set to rise again starting in 2026. The government has adjusted its initial plans, which had faced significant criticism for being detrimental to low-income workers.
While it may seem like a small increase, calculations show that those earning the minimum wage will certainly notice the difference in their wallets.
“Buffelboete” Scrapped #
The government’s original plans, announced on Prince’s Day, would have actually left minimum wage earners worse off. For someone working a 36-hour week, this would have meant an extra cost of nearly €14 per month.
The term “buffelboete” (buffalo penalty) was coined by the FNV union, after which parties like NSC and GL-PvdA called on the government to amend the plans. The government has complied and is now submitting the changes to the House of Representatives. They are expected to be quickly approved by both the House and the Senate.
From January 2026, the minimum wage for workers aged 21 and older will be €14.71 gross per hour. The current rate is €14.40, and at the beginning of this year, it was €14.06. While it may not seem like a huge increase (GL-PvdA, for example, advocates for a minimum wage of €18 per hour), calculations show that employees will have extra money left over each month as a result.
Over €100 Extra Per Month #
The higher hourly rate naturally leads to an increase in the monthly amount. For someone aged 21 or older working full-time (40 hours), the monthly income will be as follows: Dutch people earning the minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will receive a monthly salary of €2,312.08 from 2026.
This results in a net gain of twenty euros per month. That’s €240 per year. Holiday pay and any bonuses are not included in this calculation.
For younger employees, the amounts are lower, but there is also a slight increase almost across the board. The minimum wage rates for under-21s are as follows:
- 20 years: €11.77
- 19 years: €8.83
- 18 years: €7.36
- 17 years: €5.81
- 16 years: €5.07
- 15 years: €4.41
However, the benefits are only felt by full-timers. Dutch people who work half the time, i.e., twenty hours per week, will actually be worse off. They will have to make do with about ten euros less per month.
On the other hand, Dutch people earning a modal income (€3,875 gross per month) will benefit even more: they will receive an extra €38.50 net per month. Dutch people earning twice the modal income will even see their net income increase by €48 per month.