Employees and civil servants in the Netherlands who become unemployed are insured by the Unemployment Insurance Act (WW). In theory, if eligible, you will receive 75% of the wage most recently earned (a maximum of € 177,03 per day) in the first two months, thereafter 70%.

To be eligible for the unemployment benefit, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• be below the age of 65;
• lose at least five working hours per week;
• no longer be entitled to wages for these lost working hours;
• be available for work;
• not be on Sickness benefit, WAO benefit upon full occupational disability, or IVA benefit;
• not be in receipt of WGA benefit (unless you had a job in addition to the WGA benefit and lost that job);
• meet the requirement of '26 out of 36 weeks': you must have been employed for at least 26 weeks in the 36 weeks before the first day of unemployment.

For occupational groups such as artists, musicians and film employees, a lower requirement of weeks applies: 16 from 39 weeks.

The length of your entitlement to this benefit depends on your employment history. Below is a table that gives you a rough indication of the length of your salary-related benefit. The benefit will be payable for as many months as the number of years in employment (with a maximum of 38 months)

The employee that becomes unemployed after resigning from his job cannot benefit from the allowance.

Sources:

1. http://internationalezaken.szw.nl/
2. http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/
3. http://holland.angloinfo.com/