In employment law most time limits are short and strict: if you are too late, you in principle lose your right, however strong your case. This overview sets out the most important time limits for employees, with the moment at which they start to run and the statutory provision. Reference date: 23 September 2026.
The most important time limits
| Situation | Period | Runs from | Statutory provision | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You want to challenge a notice of termination (including summary dismissal), or seek reinstatement or fair compensation | 2 months | the day on which the employment ended | article 7:686a(4)(a) of the Civil Code | summary dismissal |
| You want to claim the transition payment through the subdistrict court | 3 months | the day on which the employment ended | article 7:686a(4)(b) of the Civil Code | transition payment |
| Your employer did not tell you (in time) whether your fixed-term contract would be renewed: notification payment | 3 months | the day on which the duty to notify arose, i.e. one month before the end date (not from the end) | article 7:686a(4)(e) of the Civil Code and article 7:668 of the Civil Code | fixed-term contract |
| The employer must notify you whether a contract of six months or longer will be renewed | no later than 1 month before the end date | article 7:668(1) of the Civil Code | fixed-term contract | |
| You have signed a settlement agreement and want to rescind it | 14 days (3 weeks if the agreement does not mention this right) | the day on which the agreement was concluded | article 7:670b(2) and (3) of the Civil Code | settlement agreement |
| You have consented in writing to termination and want to withdraw that consent | 14 days (3 weeks if the employer did not inform you of this right within two working days) | the date of the consent | article 7:671(2) and (3) of the Civil Code | dismissal |
| Statutory holiday entitlement | lapses 6 months after the end of the calendar year in which you accrued it | unless you were reasonably unable to take holiday | article 7:640a of the Civil Code | holiday and leave |
| Extra-statutory holiday entitlement | time-barred after 5 years | after the end of the calendar year in which you accrued it | article 7:642 of the Civil Code | holiday and leave |
| Claiming unpaid wages | time-barred after 5 years | the day after the wages became due | article 3:308 of the Civil Code | wage claim |
| Objection to a UWV decision (WW, ZW, WIA) | 6 weeks | the day after the decision was sent or handed over | article 6:7 of the General Administrative Law Act (Awb) and 6:8 Awb | UWV objection |
An application must have reached the subdistrict court within the time limit. A letter to your employer does not interrupt these time limits. If you are unsure of the date on which a time limit began, go by the earliest date and have it assessed straight away.
Notice periods for the employer
If the employer gives notice, the notice period depends on how long the employment had lasted on the day notice was given (article 7:672(2) of the Civil Code). If UWV has granted permission, the notice period is shortened by the duration of that procedure, but at least one month always remains (article 7:672(6) of the Civil Code). A collective labour agreement (cao) may deviate from this. The employee’s own notice period is in principle one month (article 7:672(4) of the Civil Code).
| Length of employment on the day notice is given | Employer’s notice period |
|---|---|
| less than 5 years | 1 month |
| 5 to 10 years | 2 months |
| 10 to 15 years | 3 months |
| 15 years or more | 4 months |
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to challenge a summary dismissal?
Two months after the day on which the employment ended. Within that period the application must have reached the subdistrict court (article 7:686a(4)(a) of the Civil Code).
Within what period must I claim my transition payment?
If you want to claim the transition payment through the subdistrict court, the application must be filed within three months after the end of the employment (article 7:686a(4)(b) of the Civil Code).
How long may I think it over after signing a settlement agreement?
You can rescind the agreement in writing, without giving reasons, within fourteen days after it was concluded. If the agreement does not mention that right, the period is three weeks (article 7:670b(2) and (3) of the Civil Code).
Written by Onur Arslan, employment lawyer at Arslan Advocaten. This overview is general information and does not replace advice on your situation. Time limits checked against the statutory text in force on wetten.overheid.nl, 23 September 2026.