Workplace Accident in the Netherlands: Key Steps and Legal Support for Expats
Most people assume workplace safety is “handled” by rules and common sense, until something goes wrong. The Netherlands has a detailed health and safety framework (the Working Conditions Act and related regulations) that requires employers to manage risks proactively. Even in well-run organisations, accidents still happen, and the first hours and days after an incident often determine whether liability and compensation can be established later.
Arbo rules in plain terms, why they matter after an accident
Dutch occupational safety law is built in layers. The Working Conditions Act sets the general duty to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, while the Working Conditions Decree and related rules provide more specific requirements. Many sectors also work with “arbocatalogues”, practical sector agreements on how to meet safety standards. You do not need to memorise these documents as an injured employee, but it helps to understand the core idea: employers are expected to identify risks, give proper instructions, provide protection, and actively enforce safety.
Reporting the accident, when the Labour Inspectorate must be notified
Serious workplace accidents must be reported by the employer to the Netherlands Labour Inspectorate. This applies in cases of a fatal accident, hospital admission, or suspected permanent injury, including situations where permanent injury becomes clear later. If you are an expat employee, you may not be the party who reports, but you do benefit from correct reporting because it triggers formal documentation and, where appropriate, an investigation.
Preserving the scene, why “cleaning up” can create legal problems
When an accident is reportable, the employer must keep the accident location unchanged until the inspector has attended and documented the situation. This is not a formality. If the scene is altered too early, it can undermine the investigation and complicate liability discussions with insurers later.
Labour Inspectorate investigation and interviews, what to expect
After a report, an inspector may visit quickly, take photographs, hear witnesses, and collect information. In some cases, follow-up interviews take place later. Depending on the facts, interviews can be conducted in different capacities, and for employers and managers there can be exposure to enforcement or even criminal law consequences in serious cases. The practical takeaway is simple: do not improvise explanations under pressure, and do not sign statements you do not fully understand.
What you should do as an injured employee, immediately and in the first weeks
Your priority is medical care and recovery. Still, there are a few actions that protect your position without turning your life into a legal project. Report the incident in writing, ask for confirmation that it has been recorded, and keep copies of any incident report or internal messages. Make sure your medical complaints are documented from the start and keep a basic record of appointments and costs. If your employer starts discussing reintegration steps or a settlement agreement while your situation is still unstable, get advice early, because employment law and compensation strategy are closely connected in workplace accident cases.
Work-related traffic accidents, employer responsibility and insurance
In the Netherlands, employers must report certain serious workplace accidents under the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet). This generally applies to fatal accidents and serious accidents, such as those involving hospital admission or suspected permanent injury. The reporting duty matters because it can trigger an investigation and create important documentation.
If an employer fails to report when required, that can lead to significant fines. For your case, correct reporting and documentation can also affect the evidentiary position.
Why legal support should start early
Workplace accident cases in the Netherlands often run on two tracks at once. There is a liability and compensation track with the employer’s insurer, and there is an employment law track involving sick leave, reintegration duties, pay continuation, and the workplace relationship. Handling one track without protecting the other is where expats often lose leverage. Early legal support helps you secure evidence, communicate correctly, and prevent employment decisions from damaging your compensation claim.
How we help after a workplace accident
After a workplace accident, you should be with an employment lawyer, and we are fully specialised in workplace accident cases and employer liability. There are no costs for you, we recover our fees from the insurer when the other party is liable. All damage heads are included, from medical expenses to pain and suffering. You have one fixed point of contact, you always speak to the same lawyer. You focus on recovery, we take care of the rest.
This blog was written by Mr. Stijn Blom
Employment law attorney at expatlawyer.nl B.V. Stijn has extensive experience in employment law and supports expats and entrepreneurs on a daily basis with a wide range of employment law issues. From dismissal cases, workplace accidents to drafting watertight agreements and regulations – with his practical and personal approach, he helps employers and employees move forward. Want to know more? Visit Stijn’s page.
Expatlawyer.nl is happy to think along with you if you have questions about the topic of workplace accidents. Feel free to get in touch. You can always schedule a free online intake.
January 2026
