Do you want to get to work in the Netherlands and are you looking for a job that can be arranged quickly? Working in a warehouse is a good start for many people from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Romania. You often do not need a diploma or experience, and you can start quickly.
In this article, you will read about what a warehouse worker does, what you can earn, and how to quickly find a warehouse job in the Netherlands.
What is working in a warehouse?
A warehouse is a large storage facility where products arrive, are stored, and are sent out again to customers or stores. Think of clothing, food, packages, or machine parts. Your work ensures that everything reaches the right place on time.
As a warehouse worker, you have various tasks. The most common are:
- Order picking: removing products from the shelves based on an order list or scanner.
- Packing: preparing products for shipment in boxes or on pallets.
- Loading and unloading: emptying or filling trucks, sometimes using a pallet jack or forklift.
- Sorting: placing packages on the correct route or destination.
- Inventory control: counting and checking if everything is correct in the system.
Many warehouses work in shifts. For example, you might work in the morning, afternoon, or at night. This is convenient if you prefer fixed hours or if you are flexible.
What do you earn as a warehouse worker?
Your salary in a warehouse depends on your age, your experience, and the CAO. A CAO is a collective labor agreement: an agreement on wages and working hours that applies to everyone in that sector. For warehouse work, the CAO for logistics or temporary workers often applies.
You receive extra pay if you work in the evening, at night, or on the weekend. This is called a shift allowance. You also accrue holiday pay and vacation days. On your payslip, the document showing your salary, you can see exactly what you earn and what is deducted in taxes.
Do you work through a recruitment agency? Then you receive the same wage as someone who works directly for the company. This is required by law. You can find more explanation in this article about how a recruitment agency works in the Netherlands.
What warehouse vacancies are available in the Netherlands?
There are warehouse vacancies throughout the Netherlands, especially around large cities and ports. Well-known logistical areas include Moerdijk, Venlo, Tilburg, and the region around Rotterdam. Charlie works has branches in The Hague, Weert, Moerdijk, and Zwaag, close to many warehouses.
The most common positions are:
- Order picker
- Packer
- Forklift driver (with certificate)
- Sorter
- All-round warehouse worker
For most positions, you do not need work experience. You will receive an explanation and training on your first working day. Also, view the page with logistics vacancies for an overview of available jobs.
Tips for getting started quickly
Do you want to start working in a warehouse in the Netherlands quickly? These tips will help you on your way.
1. Arrange your documents
You need a passport or ID card and a BSN. A BSN is your citizen service number: a personal number that you need in the Netherlands to work and pay taxes. You apply for it at the municipality.
2. Arrange housing and transport
Living close to your work saves time and money. Charlie works arranges its own housing with an SNF quality mark. This mark means that the home is safe and tidy and that there are clear rules. Transport to work is also arranged. More info can be found on the page about private housing for flexible workers.
3. Language is not a problem
You do not need to speak Dutch to start. In most warehouses, colleagues from different countries work together. You will receive instructions in English or your own language. Read more about working in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch.
4. Be flexible with working hours
If you are willing to work in shifts, you will find a job faster. Evening and night shifts also result in extra pay.
5. Work through a recruitment agency
A recruitment agency arranges your contract, your wages, and often also your housing and transport. So you don’t have to figure everything out yourself. This saves stress, especially if you have just arrived in the Netherlands.
Career growth in the warehouse
Do you start as an order picker? Then you can grow after a while. For example, to forklift driver, team leader, or planner. Many companies pay for a course for a forklift or reach truck certificate. This way, you earn more and get more responsibility.
Summary
Working in a warehouse is a good way to get started quickly in the Netherlands. You often do not need experience or Dutch, the wages are fairly regulated in the CAO, and there are many vacancies. Through Charlie works, you arrange work, housing, and transport all at once.
Ready to start? View all vacancies and find a job that suits you.
