Part-time

The Dutch model: the four-day working week with part-time work

In the Netherlands, the world kingdom of part-time, people work an average of 32 hours a week. The result? Very high productivity and top employment rate

by Enrico Marro

27 August 2025

2' min read

o Key points

The realm of part-time
Everybody works
Retired (intentionally) later

2' min read

The sly headline of a recent article in the Financial Times ("The Dutch are quietly shifting towards a four-day work week") is a bit clickbait, in these lean times of web traffic 'sucked in' by ChatGpt and the like.

In the sense that there is no Dutch government decree ready to impose the change from five to four working days.

But the short week is already a reality for many citizens of the Netherlands. In what way? By part-time.

The realm of part-time

The prestigious British journal has noticed a phenomenon that is actually ancient: the Dutch have the highest percentage of part-time workers among OECD countries.

A legacy of ancient traditions, of the full-throated defence of free time, of an exceptional productivity, of the greatflexibility offered by employment contracts and - let's not hide it - also of a minimum wage that in 2025 will exceed 2300 euro net per month, allowing the transition to part-time work with a lighter heart than in other countries.

The fact is that according to Eurostat the average Dutchman's working time is just over 32 hours per week: the lowest in the European Union. In fact, a four-day week. Constructed through self-reduction of hours.

And the great thing is that in spite of this, or perhaps because of this, the Holland is one of the richest economies in Europe in terms of GDP per capita: one of the rare triple A, but with better macroeconomic parameters than, for example, neighbouring Germany.

The only one in Europe, incidentally, still able to sport at least one unique technological behemoth such as Asml, the undisputed world queen of lithographic chip printing.

Everyone works

In the Netherlands not only is productivity very high, but the employment rate soars to 82% of the working-age population (OECD 2024 data), compared to 72% in the US, 69% in France and 62.9% in Italy (our country is one of the EU countries with thelowest average working life, second only to Romania).

Retired (deliberately) later

More: in the Netherlands the effective retirement age is among the highest in Europe: 66.6 years according to OECD 2022 estimates, second only to Denmark (67 years): in Ireland the average is 66 years, in Germany 65.8 years, in Spain 65 years and in Italy 64 years.

Probably the four-day working week has something to do with the attitude of King Wilhelm Alexander's subjects to work so long in life while still remaining the country where children are the happiest in the world (Unicef 2025 ranking) and in fifth position for overall happiness (World Happiness Report 2025).

After all, those who know the Dutch well know that there is only one thing that stresses them to death: the terror of being stressed. The four-day week is the logical consequence of this enviable cultural approach.