Dutch · B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Workplace in Dutch: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Dutch words for workplace are de kantonrechter (the cantonal court (for labour disputes)), de CAO (the collective labour agreement (Collectieve Arbeidsovereenkomst)) and de WW (the unemployment benefit (Werkloosheidswet)). The full Dutch workplace phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Dutch vocabulary for workplace, with example sentences and English translations. This is B2 (Upper Intermediate) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Dutch to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Dutch curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key workplace vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de kantonrechter | the cantonal court (for labour disputes) |
| de CAO | the collective labour agreement (Collectieve Arbeidsovereenkomst) |
| de WW | the unemployment benefit (Werkloosheidswet) |
| de AOW | the state pension (Algemene Ouderdomswet) |
| de ontslagprocedure | the dismissal procedure |
| de transitievergoeding | the transition payment (severance) |
| het ouderschapsverlof | the parental leave |
| de Wet werk en zekerheid (WWZ) | the Work and Security Act |
| de arbeidsongeschiktheid | disability / inability to work |
| de ZW | the Sickness Benefits Act (Ziektewet) |
Example sentences
Mijn salaris wordt bepaald door de CAO.
My salary is determined by the collective agreement.
Ik heb WW aangevraagd na mijn ontslag.
I applied for unemployment benefit after my dismissal.
Ik heb recht op een transitievergoeding.
I am entitled to a transition payment.
Ik neem negen weken ouderschapsverlof.
I am taking nine weeks of parental leave.
Mijn zaak wordt behandeld door de kantonrechter.
My case is handled by the cantonal court.
Ik ontvang over twee jaar AOW.
I will receive the state pension in two years.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Dutch that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the Dutch you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →