01
Contact and location
A city, professional email, phone and useful portfolio or LinkedIn link make the application easy to progress.
Netherlands · Dutch or English, as requested · country-aware CV guidance
Dutch CV builder for a direct, readable CV
Make a CV for the Netherlands with a clear profile, relevant results and the language the vacancy requests. Keep the layout practical and export a text-readable PDF or Word file.
- A4-ready layout
- Selectable text
- PDF and Word export
- No signup or watermark
Applying in Netherlands
What makes a strong Netherlands CV?
CV maken is a broad Dutch search intent, but a useful Netherlands CV is built around the actual vacancy. Dutch employers often value a direct, readable explanation of what you can do, how you work and what result you produced. That does not mean an informal document is right for every sector: finance, government and regulated work still require accuracy and professional tone.
Decide first whether the application should be in Dutch or English. An international Amsterdam team may ask for English; a local employer may expect Dutch. Show language ability honestly, make commuting or relocation clear when relevant, and use a sollicitatiebrief only when the employer or context calls for it.
Local search terms, used honestly
Terms to recognise in a Netherlands application
Search language helps you find the right guidance, but it does not replace a correctly written application. These terms appear in Netherlands job-search context. Use a local term in your CV only when it is accurate for the vacancy and the language you can work in.
| Term | Meaning or practical use |
|---|---|
| CV maken | creating a CV |
| sollicitatiebrief | cover or application letter |
| profiel | profile or summary |
| werkervaring | work experience |
| opleiding | education |
Market-specific decisions
Before you send a Netherlands CV
A template cannot make these decisions for you. Review the vacancy, then use the points below to decide what belongs in this version of your CV and what should stay in your master record.
Be direct, not vague
Use a compact profile and bullets that say what happened because of your work. Dutch directness is not an excuse for dropping evidence or professional context.
Choose English or Dutch deliberately
The language of the advert and team is the best guide. A few translated headings do not make an English CV a Dutch-language application.
Keep personal information limited
Contact, location and relevant work status are usually enough to start. A photo, date of birth or family information should never be added automatically.
Show practical fit
For roles involving Dutch customers, regulation or communication, give evidence of language use and local knowledge. For international roles, explain the cross-border result instead.
A readable document
Suggested Netherlands CV structure
Keep the structure familiar and the evidence specific. Conventional headings help a recruiter and an ATS find the same information, even when the surrounding language changes.
02
Profiel
Say what you do, at what level and for which type of employer in a few lines.
03
Werkervaring
Use result-led bullets and the terminology that appears in the vacancy when it is truthful.
04
Opleiding and certificates
Give the official course, institution and date, explaining an international qualification in plain language.
05
Talen and skills
Separate language proficiency from technical skills and do not overstate conversational Dutch or English.
Final review
Netherlands CV checklist
Read the finished PDF as the employer will read it, not as the editor sees it. If a local-language version is required, have the complete document reviewed by a person who can work professionally in that language.
- The application language is the one requested by the Netherlands employer.
- The opening profile is direct and supported by evidence below it.
- The CV does not add a photo or personal information without a reason.
- Relocation, commute, permit status or availability is clear if it matters.
- Dutch terms such as werkervaring and opleiding are used accurately when writing in Dutch.
- The exported PDF is selectable, readable and no longer than the content requires.
Original A4 designs
Netherlands CV templates
These Resume Earth designs are built for the conventions described above. They are original layouts — not copies of third-party products — and each remains editable, text-based and free to export.
Questions job seekers ask
Netherlands CV FAQ
What does CV maken mean?
CV maken means creating a CV. A Dutch-language application should use accurate Dutch throughout, not just the phrase CV maken in a title or a few translated section headings.
Should a Dutch CV include a photo?
Do not add one automatically. Check the employer and role, and use the space for relevant evidence when the vacancy does not ask for a photo.
Is a sollicitatiebrief required?
Some Dutch vacancies request a sollicitatiebrief, while others ask only for a CV or application form. Follow the specific posting and use the letter to explain motivation rather than repeat the CV.
Can I apply in English in the Netherlands?
Yes, especially for international teams, but the advert and workplace language decide. Make your Dutch level visible if the role involves Dutch-speaking colleagues or customers.