Updated for 2026

13th month pay Netherlands: what do you keep?

Estimate your 13th month pay in the Netherlands for 2026, gross and net, and see why so much of it goes to tax.

Your details

Type of payment
Include holiday allowance?
More options
State pension (AOW) age?

Net 13th month

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Gross 13th month –

Tax withheld
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Special rate
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Spread per month (gross)
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Yearly pay incl. 13th month
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Payout
Usually in December

Estimate based on the 2026 rates. Not financial advice.

How it works

Enter your gross monthly pay, without holiday allowance. Then choose how your employer calculates the payment:

  • Full month: you get one extra monthly salary.
  • Percentage: you get a share of your yearly pay. 8.33% is common, because that is about one twelfth of a year.
  • Fixed amount: your employer pays a set sum, for example under your collective agreement.

Did you start or leave during the year? Set the months you worked. Many schemes then pay pro rata (in proportion to the months worked). You see the gross amount, the tax withheld, the share that goes to tax and the net amount in your bank account.

What the 13th month is

A 13th month is an extra payment on top of your 12 normal salaries. In Dutch it is called a dertiende maand or an eindejaarsuitkering (year-end payment). The two terms are often used for the same thing.

It is not required by law. You only get it if your contract or cao (collective labour agreement) says so. Read your contract: it tells you the amount, the conditions and the payout date.

Most employers pay it in December, with your normal December salary.

How it is taxed

Like holiday allowance, a 13th month is a one-off payment. Your employer uses the bijzonder tarief (special rate) for it, not the monthly table. The special rate depends on your yearly wage and is close to the tax on your next euro.

That rate includes more than your tax bracket. Above €29,736 a year, your general tax credit shrinks by 6.398% of each extra euro. Above €45,592 your labour tax credit shrinks by 6.51% as well. If your yearly wage is between €45,592 and €78,426, both happen at once. Together with the 37.56% bracket, roughly half of the payment goes to tax.

So do not plan with the gross amount. Plan with the net figure from the calculator.

Tips

  • Comparing job offers? A 13th month adds about 8.33% to your yearly pay. Include it when you compare in the gross to net calculator.
  • Your holiday allowance in May is taxed the same way. See the holiday allowance calculator.
  • A pay rise also lifts your 13th month if it is based on your monthly salary. See what you keep with the pay rise calculator.
  • Pension contributions are not included, so the real net amount can be a little different.

Example: €3,800 gross per month

Mark earns €3,800 gross per month plus 8% holiday allowance, so €49,248 gross a year. His contract gives him a full 13th month in December.

Full month8.33% of yearly pay
Gross payment€3,800.00€3,798.48
Payroll tax (special rate)€1,917.78€1,917.02
Net in your account€1,882.22€1,881.46

About 50.5% is withheld. Mark's wage is above €45,592, so his bracket rate of 37.56% and both shrinking tax credits apply to every extra euro.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 13th month mandatory in the Netherlands?

No. There is no law that requires a 13th month or year-end payment. You only get it when your employment contract or collective labour agreement promises it. If it is in there, your employer must pay it under the conditions written down.

When is the 13th month paid?

Usually in December, together with your normal salary. Some contracts pay it at another time, or spread it over the year as a small monthly extra. Your contract or collective labour agreement tells you the date. If it is paid in December, it is taxed with the special rate in that month.

Why is so much tax taken from my 13th month?
It is taxed with the bijzonder tarief (special rate), which is close to your marginal rate. That rate includes your bracket and the tax credits you lose on extra income. In the example on this page, about 50.5% is withheld. On your normal monthly salary the share is much lower.
What is the difference between a 13th month and an eindejaarsuitkering?
In daily use they often mean the same: an extra payment at the end of the year. A 13th month is usually exactly one monthly salary. An eindejaarsuitkering can also be a percentage or a fixed amount. Choose the right type in the calculator.
Do I get a 13th month if I worked only part of the year?

Often you get a part of it, in proportion to the months you worked. The exact rule is in your contract or collective labour agreement. Set the number of months in the calculator to see a pro rata estimate. Leave it at 12 if you worked the whole year.

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Last updated: 23 October 2026 · Sources: Belastingdienst – special rate