TOOL
Dutch Employment Contract Risk Scanner
Paste contract text or upload a text-based PDF to spot common risk areas, restrictive clauses, expat-specific obligations, and practical questions to ask before signing.
- Flags common Dutch / English contract phrases: probation, notice, salary, overtime, non-compete, handbook refs, relocation repayment, permits, 30% wording
- Paste text, upload a text-based PDF, or use the manual checklist if you cannot share full text
- PDFs are extracted once on the server and not kept; analysis runs in your browser — see FAQ for details
- Planning only — not legal advice; confirm everything material with HR and official sources
At a glance
Dutch employment contract risk scanner
What this tool is for
A planning scan for expats reviewing Dutch employment contracts or offer letters before signing — not a legal verdict on clauses.
What it can do
Surface pattern-based flags, heuristic “missing / unclear” topics, expat-relevant cues (permits, 30% wording, relocation repayment), and concrete questions to ask HR — from the text you paste or extract.
What it cannot do
It does not judge validity or enforceability, read scanned PDFs without a text layer (no OCR here), see annexes you did not paste, or replace advice from an employment lawyer or official sources.
Best for
Anyone who wants a structured first pass, a checklist of gaps, and language to use with HR before signing.
Before you start
Planning and awareness only — not legal advice. This scanner does not determine whether a clause is valid or enforceable, and it only sees the text you provide. Handbook pages, CAO articles, and annexes often contain pay, hours, and discipline rules that are not repeated in the main PDF — request the full pack (with version dates) before signing. For restrictive clauses, repayment, or immigration-linked obligations, use the questions we generate with HR and consider a qualified Dutch employment lawyer alongside the official sources below.
Contract scanner
Loading contract scanner…
How this scanner works
Deterministic clause matching
We match common Dutch and English contract phrases with explainable rules — not LLM guesses. Every finding ties to text patterns you can search for in your document.
PDF: text layer only (no OCR here)
Upload works when the PDF already contains selectable text (most employer portals). Image-only scans produce empty or nonsense text — you will see a low “extraction quality” warning. In that case, copy text from the original source, ask HR for a text PDF, or type key clauses into the paste box.
Privacy — we do not keep your contract file
Contract text is not written to our database for this tool. PDF upload is used only to extract text for that request, then discarded. Pattern matching and your results stay in this browser tab until you leave or refresh. On a shared computer, close the tab when finished. Analytics may still record page views (see site policy).
Why this is not legal advice
Risk labels describe practical planning concern from keyword-style rules, not court outcomes. A clause can look “standard” and still need HR confirmation, or look “broad” and still depend on CAO or reasonableness tests you cannot assess here.
Dutch employment contracts — planning context
Use this page when you are comparing offers, preparing questions for HR, or deciding whether to involve a lawyer. The scanner highlights salary and allowance wording, notice and probation, overtime inclusion, non-compete and client restrictions, handbook incorporation, relocation repayment, and expat topics such as permits and the 30% ruling when those phrases appear in the text you supply.
Pair results with the Dutch salary net calculator, 30% ruling calculator, and payslip decoder for payroll context after you sign.
Official sources
Use these for general rules and updates. They do not replace a review of your wording, CAO, or handbook.
- Business.gov.nl — employment contracts
General rules on contract types and employer obligations (Dutch business portal).
- Government.nl — working in the Netherlands
High-level overview of work, contracts, and permits.
- Rijksoverheid — arbeidsvoorwaarden (NL)
Government hub on pay, leave, and working conditions (general reference, not case advice).
- Belastingdienst — 30% facility
Authoritative conditions for the payroll tax facility — contract wording alone does not prove eligibility.
- IND — Highly skilled migrant scheme
Official immigration rules when your stay depends on employer sponsorship.
Frequently asked questions
No. ExpatCopilot provides planning and awareness support only. It does not determine whether a clause is valid, enforceable, or fair. For binding advice, consult a qualified employment lawyer.
It only reacts to wording present in the text you provide. It can miss topics if they use unusual phrasing, appear only in an annex you did not paste, or live in a handbook referenced but not attached. Treat flags as prompts to verify, not conclusions.
Not in this free version. We extract text from PDFs that already contain a selectable text layer. Image-only scans look like very little text or garbage characters — use “Paste text” instead, or export a text-based PDF from your employer’s portal. OCR may be offered in a future paid tier.
We do not save your contract to a database for this tool. PDF uploads are read on the server for the extract request and discarded afterward; pattern matching runs in your browser from the extracted or pasted text. Clear the page or close the tab when you are done on a shared device. Normal website analytics may still run (see site privacy policy).
Usually: contract type and dates, salary basis and holiday allowance, pension, probation and notice, overtime, leave, non-compete or client restrictions, confidentiality and IP, handbook references, relocation or signing-bonus repayment, and any visa or 30% ruling wording.
They appear in some roles but scope, duration, geography, and role definition matter. This tool flags wording that looks broad or underspecified so you can confirm details — not whether a court would uphold it.
Employers often mention it, but eligibility depends on tax rules and timing, not wording alone. Check whether support is described as discretionary or committed, and align with official Belastingdienst guidance.
Ask for the handbook and relevant annexes before signing. Material rules may live outside the main contract PDF.
Paste the offer text — the same heuristics apply, but expect more “missing / unclear” flags until you receive the full contract and policies.
Consider it when non-compete, repayment, immigration, or broad policy incorporation clauses appear, or when core pay and notice terms are unclear.
They describe practical planning concern from pattern matching, not court outcomes. “Review before signing” means the wording deserves extra scrutiny (for example repayment or very broad restrictions). “Worth confirming” is routine follow-up with HR. “Common / standard” means the phrase is often seen — you should still confirm your situation.
Yes. Many Dutch roles are governed by a CAO or internal policies that are not repeated in your individual contract. If the contract references a handbook, CAO, or intranet rules, request those documents (dated version) before you rely on the scan.