Working in the Netherlands with family: Start together via ABflexkracht!

Moving to a new country for work is exciting. It’s understandable that you’d prefer not to take on this adventure alone, but together with your partner, sibling, or a close friend. Good news: with ABflexkracht you can come to the Netherlands to work as a family. In fact, we believe it’s important that you feel comfortable together. We arrange jobs for both (or more) of you, and help you live and work together wherever possible. In this article, we’ll explain how it works if you want to come to the Netherlands with your family: what we arrange, what to look out for, and the benefits of starting this adventure together. This way, you’ll begin well-prepared!

At ABflexkracht, different family combinations can work in the Netherlands:

• Brothers and sisters
• Cousins
• Parents with adult children (18+)
• Partners/spouses
• Brothers- and sisters-in-law
• Uncles/aunts with nieces/nephews

Even larger groups, such as three brothers or several sisters, are welcome. The only condition is that everyone is at least 18 years old. Important: each family member receives their own employment contract, salary, and rights. Nobody depends on the other, but of course we make sure you can stay together as a family in the Netherlands.

At ABflexkracht, we fully understand why you’d want to take this step with your loved ones. Moving together, working together, sharing new experiences… it makes the adventure even more special. Whether you’re a couple, best friends, or siblings: you’re welcome to find jobs through us as a duo (or group). We have plenty of vacancies where we can place two motivated people at the same time; perfect for those who want to begin their Dutch adventure together.

During your registration, you can indicate that you want to come with a partner or family member. We’ll take this into account right from the start. Our recruiters search for jobs that suit both of you. Often we can even arrange work at the same employer or in the same region. That way you might travel together to work and have similar schedules. Convenient when you live and work together as a family.

→ Is it really possible to work as a couple or duo? Yes! Many couples and family members have already done it. Since ABflexkracht offers work in various sectors (from horticulture to logistics), there’s almost always something suitable for everyone. You both get your own contract, a fair salary, and good working conditions. We make sure each person is treated individually, while also supporting you as a couple or family.

One of the most important questions couples or families ask is: Can we live together? The answer is: yes, we arrange that! When you come via ABflexkracht, we do everything we can to provide shared housing. We know how important it is to be together after work, especially in a foreign country.

In practice, this means we look for accommodation you can move into together. Usually this is a furnished house or apartment where several temporary workers live, with enough bedrooms. Couples may share a room (depending on the housing layout), while siblings or friends usually get separate bedrooms in the same house. We always take family members into account so that no one is separated from their loved ones.

Our housing is clean and comfortable, with all the basic facilities you need. All homes meet Dutch standards and are SNF-certified, guaranteeing quality. We also ensure that housing is close to your workplace, so you don’t have long commutes. Cooking together in the shared kitchen, relaxing in the living room after work: it’s all possible. Families are always placed together whenever possible, helping you quickly feel at home in the Netherlands.

Some workers already have family or friends in the Netherlands (for example, a brother, uncle, or friend who lives here). In that case, you’re not obliged to use ABflexkracht housing. You can choose to live with your family. We’ll still help you find work, but we won’t arrange housing for you. We’ll ask for your address, so we can find jobs close to where you live. Important: let us know during registration if you already have housing or are staying with family, so we don’t arrange accommodation unnecessarily.

Working in the Netherlands with family can also mean bringing your children. This situation is more complex. ABflexkracht provides housing for working temporary employees, but our shared houses are not designed for children. Only adult colleagues live together. If you want to bring your children, you’ll need to arrange your own suitable family housing. In some cases, we can give tips or referrals, but we cannot provide family homes as part of our package.

Working in the Netherlands with your family or partner comes with many advantages. ABflexkracht makes sure everything is arranged for both of you, from contracts to salaries and transportation. Here are the main benefits:

• Wide range of jobs for both of you:
  We offer a large number of vacancies in agriculture, logistics, production, and more. Almost always, we can find suitable jobs for both people. Sometimes you may even work at the same company or location, which is of course convenient. But it could also be that one of you works in a greenhouse while the other works at a flower auction, for example. In all cases, we try to minimize commuting distances and align your schedules as much as possible.
• Fair wages and weekly payments:
  You will both receive your own contract with a market-based salary according to the Dutch collective labor agreement (CAO for Temporary Workers). We are transparent about what you will earn. At ABflexkracht, we pay out wages every Thursday, so you always have access to your money. If one of you qualifies for a raise (for example, by obtaining a certificate or due to a CAO increase), we apply that directly. You are financially secure and will receive at least the Dutch minimum wage. Or more, depending on the position.
• Shared transportation to work:
  When you come to the Netherlands together, we also make sure you can travel to work together (provided the workplaces are close to each other or the same). As mentioned before, we arrange housing near the workplace. Often this means cycling together to work or traveling together by car. In some cases, couples carpool with a small group of colleagues; this is not only practical but also nice company along the way. All transport arrangements (bike, car, etc.) that we provide also apply when you come with family. You don’t have to worry about transportation, it’s taken care of in advance.
• Support with all formalities:
  When you go abroad to work alone, there’s already a lot to arrange. As a pair, you can support each other, and ABflexkracht goes one step further: we guide everyone through the paperwork. BSN numbers, municipal registration, health insurance, bank accounts… we help you both with these, often at the same time so, for example, you can go to the town hall together for registration. Because we have experience with couples and families, we know how to make these processes run smoothly. You’ll also receive all information in Polish, Bulgarian, or English (if desired), so that you fully understand everything. Our team of coordinators even includes people who speak your native language, which is very helpful when things need to be explained clearly.
• Learning and growing together:
  Working via ABflexkracht offers opportunities for development. Perhaps you both want to learn Dutch to integrate more easily, we offer language courses for that. There are also trainings for safe working (VCA) or job-specific skills. Are you both open to it? Then you can motivate each other and gain new skills together. You may even grow into higher positions; we encourage and support this. For example, you might both start as production workers, and one of you could develop leadership skills and move up to team leader, while the other earns a specialized certificate. Everything is possible; and learning together makes the journey even more rewarding.

• Emotional and social support:
  Working in a foreign country can be quite challenging, but having each other makes all the difference. It helps enormously against homesickness or stress. After work, you can do groceries together, cook together, or talk about your day. ABflexkracht notices that families often settle in more quickly because they bring a sense of home with them. At the same time, you’ll also integrate into the team of colleagues: you’ll meet new people, but you’ll always have each other to rely on.

Finally, here are some practical points to keep in mind when coming to the Netherlands with your family to work:

• Communicate your wishes clearly: When applying or registering, indicate who you are coming with. For example: “I’m coming with my wife” or “my brother also wants to join and work.” This way, we immediately know we need to arrange things for two people. You can also share specific requests (e.g., “we’d like to share one room” or “we have a dog/personal circumstances”). Please note: pets are not allowed in our accommodations.
• Make sure both of you have the right documents: Ensure that both you and your family member have a valid passport or ID card for travel. Since Poland and Romania are EU countries, no visa is required. For Ukrainian citizens, a special EU residence status (temporary protection) applies, which allows them to work, but please contact us so we can arrange any necessary paperwork. Also, bring along any diplomas or certificates for both of you if relevant.
• Expectations about working hours and shifts: Try to remain flexible, but let us know if you’d prefer to have the same working hours. We do our best to make that possible. Sometimes one person may end up in another department or shift; in that case, we’ll see if we can avoid or minimize it. It’s always nice to come home at the same time, but if that’s not possible, make clear arrangements (e.g., one cooks, the other reheats later). In most cases, though, we manage to provide similar schedules.
• Enjoy the Netherlands together (!): It’s not all about work! With your family member, you can explore the Netherlands on weekends. Go cycling in the area, visit a city, or spend the day at an amusement park. The big advantage of coming with family is that you always have a companion to explore with. This makes the experience richer and more fun.

Many families have already taken this step to come work in the Netherlands. Most look back with a smile and say they would do it again in a heartbeat. Some even decided to stay permanently and build a new life together here. At ABflexkracht, we do everything we can to make your journey as comfortable and successful as possible. From the very first contact to your possible return trip, we support and guide you wherever we can. Your adventure should be one you look back on with joy.

Are you excited to work in the Netherlands together? Don’t wait any longer, check out our current vacancies. Both of you can apply, and make sure to mention that you’re coming together (as a couple or family), so we can take that into account. Before you know it, you’ll both be on Dutch soil, working at a great company. New experiences, new people, and a new country; and all of it with your family member by your side.

We warmly welcome you at ABflexkracht. Together, we’ll make it a success!

Can my family member and I live in the same house?
Yes. ABflexkracht almost always ensures that partners or family members are housed together. Depending on the situation, you will either share a room or live in the same house (each with your own bedroom). It is very rare for couples to be separated in terms of housing; only in exceptional cases when accommodation is very limited. Even then, we quickly look for a solution to reunite you.

Will we each get a separate employment contract and salary?
Yes, every person working via ABflexkracht has their own contract and receives an individual salary. There is no such thing as a single “family contract.” Each of you has the same rights and obligations as individual employees. This also means that both of you receive vacation days and payslips in your own name. We do, however, try to keep the employment conditions aligned (for example, both full-time, both paid weekly), so everything is clear and consistent.

Can other family members (brother, sister, cousin) also work in the Netherlands via ABflexkracht?
Yes, in principle that’s possible. Everyone does need to register individually and meet the requirements (e.g., at least 18 years old, in possession of an EU passport/ID, willing to work in sectors such as agriculture, etc.). We then treat you as a group that wants to come together. For example, we have often helped two brothers or two friends both find a job. Make sure to clearly mention during contact that you want to travel and live together, so we can take this into account when looking for suitable roles.

Do my family member and I both need to speak English or Dutch to be able to work in the Netherlands?
No, this is not a strict requirement. Of course, it helps if at least one of you speaks English, as it makes communication in the workplace easier (many Dutch companies have English-speaking supervisors when working with international employees). Speaking Dutch is not mandatory many jobs can be done without it, and you can always learn over time. We also have Polish- and Bulgarian-speaking coordinators on staff, so communicating with ABflexkracht in your own language is possible.