Officially, there is no 4-day workweek in the Netherlands, but the labor market has unconsciously adjusted so that many employees still work only 4 days a week. This is also due to the fact that the Netherlands has a significantly more flexible work system than Germany.
There is officially no four-day workweek in the Netherlands. Strictly speaking, there is neither a policy of working time reduction nor a four-day workweek in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch labor market has almost unwittingly adjusted so that companies have practically implemented the four-day workweek without a pay cut, after having practiced a policy of work-life balance for decades.
No official 4-day week, but more flexible work hours
In the Netherlands, the average working hours per week keep decreasing; many employees work part-time, and flexible work models are socially and politically supported. According to data from Eurostat from 2023, the average working time in the Netherlands is only 32.2 hours, the lowest in Europe, compared to 34 hours in Germany or 35.5 hours in Ireland. According to the Financial Times (Paywall), about 50% of the Dutch work part-time, with the proportion for women being as high as 75%.
Full-time working hours also rank among the shortest in Europe at 39.1 hours, only surpassed by Denmark with 38.7 weekly hours. In Germany, the figure was 40.2 hours per week in 2024.
Since working hours are shorter, the Dutch tend to compress them into four rather than five days. Bert Colijn, an economist at ING Bank, assured the Financial Times:
The four-day workweek is now very, very common. I work five days and am sometimes criticized for working five days!
In Germany, there are longer working hours and a stronger performance orientation in everyday life
How does this compare to Germany? In the Netherlands, in contrast to Germany, there is a flatter hierarchy: decisions are often made in teams, and the opinions of all employees are welcome. The working atmosphere is more relaxed and focused on collaboration. This is reported by the Dutch blog Peoos.de.
The Netherlands is a pioneer in part-time employment and flexibility, while in Germany, more overtime is still worked, and a clear separation between work and private life is maintained.
Many Dutch employees consciously work less than 40 hours a week to have more time for family and leisure. In Germany, work-life balance is also valued, but often restricted by longer working hours and stronger performance orientation.
Even when it comes to hybrid working or home office, the Netherlands is already a long way ahead of Germany. In the Netherlands, there is a right to home office (via tagesspiegel.de).
Iceland implemented the 4-day workweek nationwide in 2019. Six years later, it is evident that it is beneficial for both employers and employees. This supports the demands that Generation Z has long had: for an optimized work-life balance and better working hours: A country in Europe introduced the four-day workweek six years ago, and today we know: Generation Z was always right
