How to Find Tech Jobs in Amsterdam

In terms of tech, many people still regard Amsterdam as merely the site for Uber’s alleged HQ and Booking.com’s invoice address. Its traditional looks may serve as a disguise: As you wander through the city's cobbled streets and stare at the slanted buildings, it may be easy to dismiss Amsterdam as a relic of the past, good for walking tours, coffee shops, cafés, football, and museums. However, beneath its colourful façade — and behind the radiant tulips — lies a dynamic ecosystem of startups, tech giants, and plenty of research institutions. According to Startup Amsterdam, there are currently 4,185 verified startups in Amsterdam, ranking the city as #3 in the tech ecosystem in Europe. You guessed it right: This means there are jobs aplenty for software developers.

The Amsterdam tech community embraces the Dutch concept of "gezelligheid," which is an untranslatable term embodying warmth, cosiness, and a sense of togetherness. The friendly collab spirit makes Amsterdam stand tall as one of the world's most AI-ready cities, providing tech companies with the opportunity to tap its 'living lab' status and establish themselves in dedicated hubs like Amsterdam Science Park and its Startup Village — just a half-an-hour tram ride away from the leisure-friendly Vondelpark.

The Best Ways to Find Tech Jobs in Amsterdam in 2023

Amsterdam is a hotbed for industries such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and creative tech. Companies like Adyen, Booking.com, TomTom, and many others have found their home in this city, contributing to its reputation as a global tech staple. Moreover, almost half of all employers are finding it difficult to locate decent candidates for their tech positions, according to a poll conducted by CodinGame and CoderPad.

Amsterdam is committed to exploring the limits of technology, whether via open data initiatives, smart city plans, or the promotion of tech-driven healthcare innovations. All of these means, quite naturally, more jobs for you to pick. Here's a basic rundown on how to join in:

1. IT Meetups in Amsterdam

Amsterdam offers plenty of IT meetups for software developers to pop in. For frontend developers, there’s Frontend Developer Meetup Amsterdam where they can delve into the world of web development, UX design, and performance optimisation. Those interested in the realm of data science and machine learning can join Amsterdam Data Science, a meetup that features discussions on data analytics, AI applications, and data visualisation. Additionally, there are meetups like AmsterdamPHP, an English-speaking group for PHP developers in and around Amsterdam, and Amsterdam.rb for Ruby developers, catering to various programming languages and frameworks.

2. Focusing your and profile on socials

We're committed to offering the best guidance, and suggesting you check out LinkedIn for finding jobs in Amsterdam feels both reiterative and not particularly targeted. But it’s one of the tools you can rely on. The general advice stands for every city: make sure your LinkedIn profile is spick and span, and your profile picture isn't a blurry selfie taken during a walking free tour, and you’ll be mostly fine.

Now, let's discuss the difference between finding a job in Amsterdam versus looking for one in Berlin and Vienna, for example. Each city has its own unique vibe and job market, so make sure to do your research before diving in. When we compiled the best companies to work for in the Netherlands, the fintech sector — stemming from the more traditional banking sector in this case — seemed to cover interesting ground. So even if Berlin is reputed as a Fintech hub, in large part thanks to N26, Amsterdam, with companies that are offshoots from other successful endeavours (and not simply made from scratch) could be a good place for you to hone your LinkedIn down to the “fintech” part of work.

And remember, networking is key, so don't be afraid to connect with people and show off your skills (in a non-annoying way, of course).

3. Navigating through Job Sites

Whether you are looking for the best place to work in Netherlands or searching for a position in the best cities for software developers, job sites are where the search should start. Specialised IT job boards focused on IT and tech-related roles, tailor their job listings to cater specifically to tech professionals. Jobseekers can benefit from niche job sites as they offer a streamlined search process and targeted opportunities within the IT sector in Amsterdam. Exploring multiple job sites, including our very own WeAreDevelopers, can help IT professionals cast a wider net in their job search and discover the most relevant and exciting opportunities available in Amsterdam's tech industry. Here is a brief list of where to start the search:

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What programmers need to know about working in Amsterdam in 2023

In general, Amsterdam is bustling with innovative companies and startups eagerly seeking their next developer. As you navigate the Dutch tech environment in search of a job, here's what you need to know:

Can foreigners find jobs in Amsterdam?

Yes! However, there is a bit of bureaucracy that comes into play depending on which of the following circumstances applies to you. On the one hand, Non-EEA passport holders, need to get a valid residence and working permit before finding a job in Amsterdam. There are two types of work permits for non-EEA nationals: the tewerkstellingsvergunning – TWV (work permit) and the gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid – GVVA (combined residence and work permit). On the other hand, citizens of an EEA (European Economic Area) country are free to move to the Netherlands and start working right away. No extra permits are required.

Another set of great news is that knowing Dutch is usually not a fundamental requirement. Dutch people are known for their superb English skills and generally use it in their day-to-day work. Over 90% of the population speak English at a level comparable to a native speaker, and the Netherlands currently ranks as #1 globally on the EF English Proficiency Index.

Can I work as a freelancer in Amsterdam?

If the idea of freelancing and being your own boss appeals to you, the Amsterdam Area presents a perfect opportunity to explore this path. In the Netherlands, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and one-person start-ups are known as ZZP'ers (zelfstandige zonder personeel) or self-employed without employees. The process of starting out as a freelancer closely resembles that of starting a business or registering a company in the Netherlands.

What is the average salary for a developer in Amsterdam?

According to the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, the average gross income for a person working in the Netherlands in 2023 is €34,260 euros per year or €2,855 per month. The average salary for a software developer is estimated to be €70,500 with an average salary of €64,500.

Software Engineer Salary in Amsterdam, Netherlands Compared to Other Positions