Dutch culture guide · Work & The Office

Do the Dutch work overtime when a deadline is looming?

World 1 · Work & The Office

It's 16:58. Tomorrow's deadline is looming. What do your Dutch colleagues do at 17:00?

  1. Order pizza and push through the night
  2. Stand up, say “fijne avond!”, and leave
  3. Quietly expect you to stay late
  4. Call an emergency crisis meeting
Correct answer: B

Stand up, say “fijne avond!”, and leave

Correct — most chairs empty around 17:05. Overtime exists when it's truly needed, but it's the exception, never the expectation.

Even serieus

Seriously though

The Netherlands ranks among the best work-life balances in the world. Overtime happens when it's genuinely needed — but it's never a badge of honour.

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