Netherlands

Netherlands 

At a glance

• Disability inclusion in the Netherlands is governed by the ‘Equal Treatment of Disabled and Chronically Ill People Act (2003). 

• Netherlands has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Key stats

• Around six in ten people of working age in the Netherlands has a disability or long-term health condition (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2020). 

• 72 per cent of disabled people in the Netherlands are employed, compared with 82 per cent of non-disabled people (ABN AMRO, 2024).  

The law

• Disability legislation: 
  • Equal Treatment of Disabled and Chronically Ill People Act (2003) – Prohibits direct and indirect discrimination in a number of areas. These include employment, education, housing, public transport, and provision of goods and services. This creates the duty to provide ‘effective adjustments’ to remove barriers for disabled people. [UN translation] 
  • Inclusive Employment Act (2015) – Intended to make it easier for disabled people to access the job market. It requires municipal governments to provide financial and other support for disabled people to find and stay in work. 

• Definition of disability – Dutch law has no single definition of disability. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights defines disability as “long-term physical, mental and psychological impairments that may prevent persons from participating fully, effectively and on an equal basis with others in society.” 

Language

• Acceptable language: 
  • Disabled – To describe someone as “disabled” in Dutch, some sources recommend saying “gehandicapte” (handicapped person). 
  • Disability – Some sources recommend using the word “beperking” to refer to a “disability.” 
  • Person-first language – Some sources recommend using person-first language (“person with a disability”) rather than identity-first language (“disabled person”). This may be less likely to cause offence. 
  • Talking about adjustments – Dutch law talks about “effective adjustments” when describing changes to remove barriers for disabled people. 
  • Style guide – The Amsterdam Local Government has created a writing guide for talking about disability in Dutch in an inclusive way. 

• Unacceptable language: 
  • Identity-first language – Language such as “disabled person” may be more likely to cause offence. Use identity-first language (“person with a disability”) instead. 
  • Outdated language – Some terms for disability were common but are now unacceptably offernsive. These include “invalide” and “mindervalide.” 
  • Style guide – The Amsterdam Local Government has created a writing guide for talking about disability in Dutch in an inclusive way. 

Employment

• Adjustments / accommodations: 
  • Dutch law entitles disabled employees to ‘effective adjustments.’ Whether an adjustment is ‘effective’ depends on context. Employers do not have to make adjustments that would create an undue burden on the organisation. 
  • Disabled students can receive support with adaptations and adjustments if they are participating in apprenticeships or internships whilst studying. The municipality’s Public Employment Service (UWV) provide these adjustments. 

• Positive discrimination – The Equal Treatment Act (2003) allows employers to recruit selectively from underrepresented groups, including disabled people. Employers can treat disabled people more favourably than non-disabled people in recruitment, when setting employee benefits, and when promoting employees. 

• Asking for information – Employers can ask for information about disability during recruitment, after making an offer and during employment. The information must be voluntary and anonymous, and meet GDPR requirements. 

• Quotas – The Netherlands does not require organisations to meet a set quota of disabled people in their workforce. 

• Data – Employers in the Netherlands are not required to collect data relating to disabled employees. 

• Incentives – The Netherlands runs several financial support schemes for employers to hire and retain disabled employees. These include: 
  • Wage subsidies 
  • Job coaches 
  • Minimum wage exemptions 
  • Compensation for workplace adjustments. 
  • Read the UWV’s website for more information.  

Customers

• The Equal Treatment Act (2003) prohibits discrimination against disabled people in the provision of goods and services. The duty to provide “effective adjustments” also applies to customers. 

Built environment

• There is a Netherlands-specific standard for ‘accessibility of environment, buildings and dwellings,’ called NEN 1814. 

• Meeting this standard is a requirement for public bodies. It is voluntary for private businesses. 

Digital accessibility

• Digital Accessibility Act – Requires public bodies to meet accessibility standards. The Ministry of the Interior has a website with more information. 

• European Accessibility Act – As a member of the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) also applies in the Netherlands. This is due to come into effect in July 2025. The EAA mandates a minimum standard of accessibility across a wide range of digital products and services. It applies to public bodies and private businesses. The EAA is being adopted into Dutch law via sector-specific industry codes. As a result, the relevant domestic legislation depends on the industry sector at question. See our guidance on the EAA for more information on the EAA. 

Case studies

Would you like to showcase your organisation’s work on our Knowledge Hub? Contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.

Country-specific disability organisations

• ieder(in) – A Dutch umbrella organisation that brings together 238 disability organisations in the Netherlands. Using the UN CRPD, they seek to create an inclusive society for disabled people. 

• Inclusion Netherlands – An association of disabled people in the Netherlands for promotion inclusion and sharing knowledge around disability. 

• HandicapNL – A charity that runs projects to remove barriers for disabled people in the areas of work, living and leisure. 

• UWV – The Dutch Public Employment Service (UWV) has resources for employers on hiring and retaining disabled employees, and accessing government support for employers.