The short answer
Working-time limits and required rest concern your actual overall work pattern. A legal-looking schedule at one employer may become problematic when a second job fills the rest periods.
Put both schedules on one calendar
Under the general adult rules, daily and weekly limits coexist with averages over longer periods. Night work, young workers and particular sectors can have additional rules.
Separate scheduling from tax administration
Tell employers the information needed to assess hours and safe rest. Keep start and finish times for both jobs, including changes and extra shifts. Separately, apply payroll tax credits to no more than one income and check combined annual tax. A second employer does not automatically know what the first employer pays or schedules.
What to do next
- Combine all shifts, overtime and travel planning in one calendar.
- Check the general limits and any night-work or sector rules.
- Confirm tax-credit settings and keep records of both jobs.
You finish an evening shift at 23:00 and accept another employer’s 06:00 start. Looking at each employer separately hides the short rest between jobs. Check the combined schedule before accepting.
Questions people ask
Can each employer separately schedule the maximum hours?
No. Your combined work pattern and rest must be assessed. Two separate contracts do not create two separate bodies that can each work the maximum.
Do night shifts need a separate check?
Yes. Night work has additional rules beyond the general daytime adult limits.
Should I record overtime from both jobs?
Yes. Keep actual start and finish times and changes across both employers.
Can both jobs apply tax credits?
No. Payroll credits may be applied to at most one income at a time. Annual combined income still affects final tax.
Does a second job automatically breach my contract?
Check the clause and its legal basis rather than assuming every restriction is valid. Ask for advice on a disputed restriction.
Sources
Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.