The short answer
A fixed-term employment contract normally ends on its agreed date or defined event. This differs from ending it early.
Read the end condition carefully
For many temporary contracts of six months or longer, the employer must notify you in writing about continuation at least one month before the end. Exceptions exist, including some contracts without a calendar end date, so check the actual arrangement.
Prepare for the final payroll and practical consequences
Ask about remaining wages, holiday allowance, unused leave and any transition-payment entitlement. Check separately whether housing and employer-arranged insurance continue. Save employment records before access to the payroll portal is removed. If you are sick at the end, confirm the UWV report rather than treating the final pay as the end of every administrative obligation.
What to do next
- Record the agreed end date and applicable notification requirement.
- Request written renewal or non-renewal information.
- Check final wage items and any housing, insurance or benefit steps.
A nine-month contract ends on 30 November. A discussion about possible renewal is not the same as a written renewal agreement. Keep the employer’s notification and clarify whether you are expected to work afterward.
Questions people ask
Does the employer need to dismiss me at the agreed end date?
A fixed-term contract can end automatically on its agreed date. Notification requirements and payment consequences are separate checks.
Can I leave before the end date?
Check for a valid interim termination clause or another lawful route. Do not assume the ordinary one-month notice rule always lets you leave early.
Does sickness extend a temporary contract?
Not automatically. The agreed end date can remain valid, with a possible UWV sickness-benefit route afterward.
What belongs in the final settlement?
Check outstanding wages, holiday allowance, unused leave and possible transition payment against your employment records.
What if I keep working after the end date?
Continuing work can have contractual consequences. Ask for written clarification promptly and obtain advice on your contract history.
Sources
Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.