Sickness allowance
The film below explains in Dutch what the rules are if you live in the Netherlands and work in Germany and become ill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eexDDTxCRRs Continued payment of wages in case of illness and sickness allowance If you work in Germany and become ill, you are initially entitled to a maximum of 6 weeks’ continued payment […]
Work
When you start working in Germany, many things will change for you. This includes a different tax code as well as the German social system and, above all, a different work culture. We have compiled information about cultural differences for you here. You will also be subject to different labour laws. In German labour law, […]
Taxes
If you live in the Netherlands and work in Germany, you will have to deal with both the German and the Dutch tax authorities. In the Netherlands it is then income tax and in Germany it is wage tax/income tax. The Netherlands and Germany have concluded a treaty to prevent double taxation. Because of this, […]
Wage / Salary
Dutch and German salaries are difficult to compare. There are differences in withheld taxes and social security contributions. The actual net income also depends on other factors, such as the deduction of mortgage interest, child supplement and the health insurance supplement (zorgtoeslag). Example of a payslip Below is an example of a payslip: In this […]
Working in a neighbouring country
More and more employees are deciding to work on the other side of the border, or are at least thinking about it. The reasons for this can be very different. For some it is difficult to find work in their own country, others receive an attractive job offer from a neighbouring country. If you want […]
Recognition of qualifications
Do you want to study in Belgium, work here or set up your own business here? Do you need to have your qualifications recognised for some reason? Consult the section Equivalence of qualifications. The Belgium.beportal (NL/FR) of the Federal Government provides a clear overview of the authorities you need to contact for each region if […]
Pensions
In which country do you receive a pension benefit? If you work in Belgium, you will accrue a old-age pension in Belgium. The pension you accrue depends on the number of years you were insured in Belgium and the amount of your income. For each year that you work in Belgium, you will receive a […]
Holidays and holiday pay
Holiday days In Germany, you have a legal right to holiday time. In principle, this is calculated as four working weeks over the whole year This means: For a 6-day working week it is 24 days, for a 5-day working week it is 20 days, etc. Holidays do not count towards Sundays and public holidays. […]
Labour law
Employment contract In a German employment contract some information must be included as standard: Name and address of the company Name and address of the employee Start (and possibly end) of the employment relationship Probationary period and its duration Notice period Place of work Working hours Number of days of leave Amount of wages/salary […]
Taxes
In which country do you pay your taxes? This is regulated in the double taxation agreement between Belgium and Germany. You pay tax in Germany on the income you receive in Germany. There may be some exceptions in this respect. This is the case, for example, with “posting” or “home office”. […]