CV in English vs Dutch: which one to use (2026)

Expats in the Netherlands often ask whether their CV should be in English or in Dutch. The honest answer is that the vacancy decides. Recruiters judge a CV by how well it fits the job and the team, and the language is part of that fit. This guide explains when to use which language, what changes in an English CV, and which translation mistakes to avoid.

The short answer: follow the vacancy

Look at the language the job post is written in. If the post is in English, send an English CV. If it is in Dutch, send a Dutch CV. If you cannot tell, look at the company website and at the language it uses for its team. The language of a company's vacancies and website is a good hint for the language its team works in.

When to use an English CV

• The vacancy is written in English.
• The team works in English.
• The company is international and has its headquarters or a large office abroad.
• You apply from abroad, or you are looking for work in the Netherlands from another country.
• The recruiter or hiring manager does not speak Dutch.

When to use a Dutch CV

• The vacancy is written in Dutch.
• The job is customer-facing in Dutch, such as a receptionist, a sales role in a Dutch-speaking region or a healthcare role with Dutch-speaking patients.
• The employer is a Dutch-speaking organisation, such as a municipality, a school, a healthcare provider or a small local business.
• The job requires Dutch-language writing, such as reports, policy documents or communication with residents.

Mixed cases

Some vacancies sit between the two. A Dutch-language post at an international company may still have an English-speaking team. In that case, a Dutch CV is the safer choice, and you can add a line about your English level. If the post is in English but the work is entirely Dutch-speaking, write the CV in English and state clearly that you speak Dutch at a level that fits the job. Your language levels are part of the application, whichever language the CV is in.

Never mix the two languages on one CV. A CV that switches between Dutch headings and English sentences looks unfinished. Keep one language throughout, and keep the names of companies, schools and certificates as they are.

What changes in an English CV

The structure stays the same as a Dutch CV: one or two pages, reverse chronological order, a short profile, and the same sections. Our guide on how to write a CV in the Netherlands covers those norms in full. The CV builder uses these English headings: Profile, Work experience, Education, Skills, Languages, Courses, Hobbies and Contact. A few details change:

• Dates are written as month and year, for example March 2021 to present. The builder writes present where a Dutch CV has heden.
• Contact details go at the top, as in a Dutch CV. Leave out the date of birth and marital status, as in a Dutch CV.
• References become References available on request.
• Use British spelling, such as organised, programme and prioritise.

Translating job titles

Translate job titles to the English title that describes the work. Do not translate word for word. A literal translation sounds strange to an English reader, and sometimes it means something else. Some examples:

• Magazijnmedewerker: warehouse operative or warehouse worker. Not magazine employee, because magazijn means warehouse.
• Verzorgende IG: healthcare assistant (verzorgende IG). Keep the Dutch title in brackets so an employer can check the qualification.
• Heftruckchauffeur: forklift driver.
• Doktersassistente: doctor’s assistant, or medical assistant in general practice.

When there is no direct translation, write a short explanation in brackets, or in the job description under the title. Your job title should still be recognisable to a recruiter who has never worked in the Netherlands.

Translating education

Keep the name of the programme and the school in their original form. Add the English name of the level, so a reader can place it. For example: Nursing (HBO bachelor), or Logistics assistant (level 2, MBO). If you hold a foreign diploma, give its English name and the country where you earned it.

Dutch words that mislead

Some Dutch words look like English words and mean something else. These are common mistakes in English CVs written by Dutch speakers:

• Actueel means current or up to date, not actual.
• Eventueel means possibly or if needed, not eventual.
• Sympathiek means likeable or friendly, not sympathetic.
• Bijvoorbeeld means for example.
• Realiseren means to achieve or deliver, not to realise in the sense of understanding.

Machine translation helps with a first draft, but it can make these mistakes too. Read the whole CV once in English, out loud, and check each sentence for meaning, not only for spelling.

Stating your Dutch level

If you speak Dutch, say so on an English CV, with a level. The CEFR scale from A1 to C2 is widely used in English. B1 and B2 are the two levels of an independent user. Write it as a short line, for example: Dutch B2 (independent user). Be honest. A level that is too high is quickly noticed in an interview.

Keep one master CV

Write your CV first in the language you use most. Then create the other version as a translation, not as a separate document. Keep the same facts, dates and job titles in both versions, so that an employer who sees both gets the same story. When you update one version, update the other as well.

Checklist for an English CV

• The language matches the vacancy, and the CV uses one language throughout.
• Job titles describe the work, and Dutch titles are explained where needed.
• Education names keep the original programme name and the level.
• Dutch language level and right to work are stated.
• Spelling is British and consistent.
• The CV has been read out loud, and a native speaker has checked it if you can ask one.