Dutch motivation letter: how to write a motivatiebrief
A Dutch motivatiebrief for a job fits on one A4 page in at most five paragraphs, opens with Geachte and the reader's name, says why this employer and why you, and closes with Met vriendelijke groet.1
Written 13 October 2026. CitedCV. How we write our guides
One letter, three names
Dutch vacancies ask for a sollicitatiebrief or a motivatiebrief, and English ones for a cover letter or motivation letter. For a job they mean the same thing. werk.nl, the job site of the Employee Insurance Agency UWV, titles its guide ‘a sollicitatiebrief or motivatiebrief’, and Leiden University's Career Zone says both words describe the letter you attach to your CV.
A master's programme uses the same word for something else: a motivation statement or essay about your study plans, judged by an admissions committee. The difference is set out in a table further down. General cover letter basics have their own guide.
Before you write: take the vacancy apart
Leiden starts every letter with a vacancy analysis and says it saves time later and prepares you for the interview.
- List the qualities the employer asks for, in its own words.
- Note the tasks you would do and the field the team works in.
- Find a contact name: Leiden says to ask the organisation if the vacancy does not give one.
- Pick two or three moments from your work that prove the qualities on the list.
- Check which of those moments are already on your CV, so the letter adds rather than repeats.
Layout and length
Shorter than one A4, five paragraphs at most
werk.nl asks for a letter preferably shorter than one A4 with no more than five paragraphs. Leiden is a little stricter: one A4 with text on about two thirds of it, in three or four paragraphs. werk.nl and Taaladvies.net both separate paragraphs with a white line.
The block at the top
Taaladvies.net, the advice service of the Dutch Language Union, gives the usual Dutch business letter order: sender, a white line, the addressee, a white line, place and date, then a subject line starting with Betreft: or Onderwerp:. Every part starts at the left margin. Months are written in lower case, as in Rotterdam, 2 november 2026.
Font, file and name
werk.nl suggests a clear font such as Verdana or Arial, a PDF of both letter and CV, and a file name like Sollicitatie_Functietitel_Voornaam_Achternaam.
Tone
Leiden wants a clear, direct and businesslike tone with an example behind each claim: having had phone contact with customers says more than calling yourself a good communicator. werk.nl adds: do not start every sentence with Ik, avoid abbreviations, and read the text aloud before sending.
Opening and closing lines in Dutch
The salutation (aanhef)
- Geachte is right in most cases, says Taaladvies.net; Beste is less formal and very common.
- Add the name: Geachte mevrouw De Vries, or Geachte R. de Vries if you do not know how the person wants to be addressed. Taaladvies.net says a bare Geachte is unusual in the Netherlands.
- No name at all? Use a role, such as Geachte selectiecommissie. Mijne heren and L.S. are outdated.
- mevrouw and heer take a small letter; the first part of a surname takes a capital when no first name or initial comes before it (Onze Taal).
- In the Netherlands a comma always follows the aanhef, and the first sentence still starts with a capital letter (Taaladvies.net, Onze Taal).
The first sentence
werk.nl wants an opening that makes the employer curious, and suggests mentioning a phone call if you had one. Leiden suggests something relevant from your CV, something about the organisation, or the name of someone you spoke to there. Either way, name the position in the first paragraph.
The close
End by saying you would like to explain your application in an interview; werk.nl and Leiden both close this way. Taaladvies.net calls Met vriendelijke groet the most usual sign-off and Hoogachtend very formal. Leave a few lines for the signature, then your full first name and surname.
Annotated skeleton with Dutch sample lines
The applicant is invented: Kerem Aydın, a quality engineer from Bursa applying to an automotive supplier in Helmond. Each Dutch line is written for this guide; the gloss shows what it says.
| Part | Dutch sample line | English gloss | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afzender | Kerem Aydın, Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkije, +90 532 000 00 00, kerem.aydin@example.com | Sender details | Top left, before the addressee (Taaladvies.net). |
| Geadresseerde | Voorbeeld Automotive B.V., T.a.v. mevrouw L. de Vries, Postbus 100, 5700 AC Helmond | Company, for the attention of Ms L. de Vries | Two spaces between postcode and town in Dutch letters. |
| Plaats en datum | Bursa, 2 november 2026 | Bursa, 2 November 2026 | Month in lower case. |
| Betreft | Betreft: sollicitatie Quality Engineer, vacature 2026-118 | Re: application for Quality Engineer, vacancy 2026-118 | Leiden: make clear which vacancy you mean. |
| Aanhef | Geachte mevrouw De Vries, | Dear Ms De Vries, | Comma, then a capital on the next line. |
| Opening | In uw vacature vraagt u iemand die 8D-rapporten zelfstandig afrondt; dat doe ik sinds 2021 voor twee Europese autofabrikanten. | Your vacancy asks for someone who closes 8D reports on their own; I have done that since 2021 for two European carmakers. | Starts from the employer's need, not from Ik. |
| Motivatie | Helmond trekt mij omdat u produceert voor elektrische aandrijvingen, het werk waar ik mij de afgelopen twee jaar op heb gericht. | Helmond appeals to me because you supply electric drivetrains, the work I have focused on for two years. | Why this employer, with one concrete reason. |
| Waarom ik | Bij mijn huidige werkgever bracht ik het aantal klantklachten over lasnaden terug van 14 naar 3 per kwartaal. | At my current employer I cut customer complaints about welds from 14 to 3 a quarter. | One example with a number, also on the CV. |
| Praktisch | Voor deze functie heb ik een verblijfsvergunning als kennismigrant nodig; ik zag dat u erkend referent bent bij de IND. | For this job I would need a highly skilled migrant permit; I saw you are an IND-recognised sponsor. | Only an IND-recognised employer can apply (IND). |
| Afsluiting | Ik vertel u graag in een gesprek meer over mijn aanpak. | I would be glad to tell you more about my approach in an interview. | Ask for the interview. |
| Slotgroet | Met vriendelijke groet, | Kind regards, | The usual Dutch sign-off. |
| Ondertekening | Kerem Aydın | Kerem Aydın | Full first name and surname. |
| Bijlage | Bijlage: cv | Enclosure: CV | After the signature or in the subject block. |
If you write in English, keep the same structure and use Dear Ms De Vries. Leiden advises avoiding Dear Sir/Madam when you can find a name.
A letter for a job versus a letter for a programme
The admissions documents for a Dutch master's, including the CV and Studielink, belong to the master's guide. This table covers only how the letter changes.
| Point | Job (werk.nl, Leiden) | Programme (Utrecht University, TU Delft) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is called | Sollicitatiebrief, motivatiebrief, cover letter | Motivation statement (Utrecht), essay (TU Delft MOT) |
| Length | Under one A4, at most five paragraphs | Utrecht: generally one to two pages; TU Delft MOT, non-Dutch bachelor: 1,000 to 1,500 words |
| Language | Usually the vacancy's language | Utrecht: the language of the programme or track |
| The reader's question | Why this employer, why you, what you bring | Why this programme and university, which subjects interest you, how it fits your career or research plans |
| Evidence | Work examples with results | Academic achievements and signs of interest in the field; TU Delft MOT also asks for up to three possible thesis topics |
| Form | A letter with aanhef and slotgroet | A template or essay uploaded with the application |
| Closing | Ask for an interview | No interview request needed |
Sources, read on 13 October 2026
- werk.nl, Een sollicitatiebrief of motivatiebrief schrijven: length, paragraphs, font, PDF, file name, opening and closing.
- Leiden University Career Zone, Cover letter: vacancy analysis, two thirds of an A4, 3 to 4 paragraphs, letter outline, open applications.
- Taaladvies.net, Opmaak van een zakelijke brief in Nederland and Komma na aanhef: letter order, Geachte and Beste, sign-offs, comma rule.
- Onze Taal, on the capital after the aanhef and capitals inside the aanhef.
- Utrecht University, Motivation Statement template; TU Delft, MSc Management of Technology admission for non-Dutch bachelor's degrees.
Where this guide stops
- Short online fields: Leiden notes some employers ask for a 400-character motivation; use only the motivation part of the letter there.
- Open applications, sent without a vacancy, need more research first; Leiden lists the pros and cons.
- Programme letters differ per programme; check the programme's own page, as the TU Delft word limits show.
- Permit rules change; check the IND page before writing the practical paragraph.
Next steps
- Finish the CV first with the Dutch CV format guide, so the letter can point to it rather than repeat it.
- Have someone read the letter, as werk.nl and Leiden both advise; for a letter in Dutch, ask a native speaker.
- CitedCV can draft an English cover letter, once you buy any credit pack, from the same facts you confirmed for your CV. It does not write Dutch.
Questions people ask
How long is a Dutch motivation letter?
Under one A4 page. werk.nl says preferably shorter than one A4 with at most five paragraphs; Leiden suggests text on about two thirds of the page.
How do I start a motivatiebrief?
With Geachte plus the reader's name and a comma, for example Geachte mevrouw De Vries, then a first sentence that starts with a capital letter.
How do I end a Dutch cover letter?
Ask for an interview, then sign off with Met vriendelijke groet. Taaladvies.net calls it the most usual closing; Hoogachtend is very formal.
Is a motivatiebrief the same as a sollicitatiebrief?
Yes, for a job they are the same letter. werk.nl uses both words for one guide, and Leiden says both describe the letter sent with your CV.
Can I write Geachte heer/mevrouw?
Only if you cannot find a name. Taaladvies.net prefers a name or a role such as Geachte selectiecommissie, and Leiden says to ask the organisation for a contact person.
What is the difference between a motivation letter for a master's and for a job?
A programme letter explains your study plans and fit with the programme; Utrecht expects one to two pages. A job letter shows what you bring the employer.
Should I write my motivation letter in Dutch or English?
Use the vacancy's language for a job, and the programme's language for a master's, as Utrecht University asks. Have Dutch checked by a native speaker.
Should I mention that I need a visa in my letter?
Yes, briefly, if you need one. Only an IND-recognised employer can apply for a highly skilled migrant permit, so one factual sentence saves the reader a question.
Sources
- werk.nl (UWV), Een sollicitatiebrief of motivatiebrief schrijvenwww.werk.nl/nl/solliciteren/sollicitatiebrief
- Leiden University Career Zone, Cover lettercareerzone.universiteitleiden.nl/en/develop-your-skills/application-skills/application-letter
- Taaladvies.net (Nederlandse Taalunie), Opmaak van een zakelijke brief in Nederlandtaaladvies.net/opmaak-van-een-zakelijke-brief-in-nederland-algemeen/
- Taaladvies.net, Komma na aanheftaaladvies.net/komma-na-aanhef/
- Onze Taal, Hoofdletter of kleine letter na aanhefonzetaal.nl/taalloket/kleine-letter-na-aanhef
- Onze Taal, Hoofdletters in aanhef brief of mailonzetaal.nl/taalloket/hoofdletters-in-aanhef-brief-of-mail
- Utrecht University, Motivation Statement (template)www.uu.nl/sites/default/files/uu-motivation.pdf
- TU Delft, MSc Management of Technology, non-Dutch BSc degreewww.tudelft.nl/en/education/programmes/masters/mot/mot/application-and-admission/non-dutch-bsc-degree
- IND, Highly skilled migrantind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/highly-skilled-migrant