Java Developer Hiring Trends in Netherlands

This report was last updated on Aug 31, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software Java Engineer job market in the Netherlands has demonstrated significant fluctuations in job openings, peaking at 96 new postings in week 23, followed by a drop to just 6 in week 25, leading to a competitive landscape for potential hires.
A total of 1,500 job openings for Software Java Engineers exist in the Netherlands, with the talent pool comprising approximately 4,500 candidates, indicating a challenging hiring environment for CTOs and engineering managers.
The seniority distribution reveals that 68% of Software Java Engineering jobs are Mid-Senior level positions, highlighting the importance of targeted recruitment strategies to attract experienced professionals in this category.
Amsterdam is the leading city for Software Java Engineer opportunities in the Netherlands, accounting for 48% of all job openings, followed by Utrecht and Rotterdam, which collectively capture 80% of the market.
The median time to hire for Software Java Engineer positions is 33 days, emphasizing the need for proactive recruitment strategies to ensure timely placement of talent in a competitive job market.

Number of roles opened and closed for Java Engineers in Netherlands in the last 3 months

The Software Java Engineer job market in the Netherlands has displayed significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks. With a peak of 96 new job postings in week 23, there has been a dramatic decline in subsequent weeks, dropping to just 6 in week 25 before recovering to a more stable range of 22 to 61 in the following weeks. Notably, the number of jobs closed has been high, particularly in week 24 with 16 closures and week 25 with 75, indicating a competitive landscape for Software Java Developers in the Netherlands compared to other roles. This trend contrasts with other European countries, suggesting a unique demand pattern that CTOs and hiring managers should consider when formulating their recruitment strategies for Software Java positions.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Netherlands:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Jobster	Netherlands	Information Technology & Services	2023	84
Capgemini	France	Management Consulting	1967	61
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	42
ASSET Rail	Netherlands	Transportation/trucking/railroad	2007	34
Docentenmarktplaats.nl	Netherlands	Government Administration	2014	32
JYSK	Denmark	Retail	1979	30
CIMSOLUTIONS	Netherlands	Information Technology & Services	1992	27
Sopra Steria	France	Information Technology & Services	1968	25
Bilfinger België & Nederland	null	null	null	24
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	23

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Netherlands

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Netherlands

The software engineering landscape in Europe showcases a dynamic imbalance between job openings and the available talent pool. In the Netherlands, the ratio of software Java job openings to talent pool size suggests a challenging environment for hiring managers; with a jobs-to-talent ratio indicating a tighter market compared to countries like Germany and Poland. While the Netherlands boasts 1,500 job openings against a talent pool of around 4,500, Germany has 2,000 openings but a larger talent pool of 10,000, making it relatively easier to hire there. Similarly, Poland, with 1,200 openings against a talent pool of 8,000, also presents a more favorable hiring scenario. This disparity emphasizes the need for well-defined recruitment strategies for CTOs and other hiring managers looking to secure skilled Software Java Engineers in the Netherlands amid growing competition for talent.

Seniority distribution of Java Engineer job openings in Netherlands

Seniority Distribution of Java Engineering Jobs in Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the seniority distribution for Software Java Engineering jobs reveals that 68% are classified as Mid-Senior level, making this the predominant category. Entry-level positions account for 16% of the job market, while Associate roles comprise 14%. This data underscores the need for robust recruitment strategies, particularly for hiring Mid-Senior level Software Java Engineers, to meet the increasing demand in the technology sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the software development job market displays a clear preference for full-time positions, which comprise 93% of available roles. Contract positions represent 6% of the total, followed by part-time roles at 1%. This distribution underscores the significance of full-time employment in attracting skilled Software Java Engineers in the region.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Netherlands

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software Java Engineer positions in the Netherlands exhibits significant variability. Notably, the largest segment of hires occurs between 25 to 30 days, accounting for approximately 1689 and 1683 positions, respectively. A further analysis reveals that 10 days remains a significant threshold, with 1031 roles filled. As hiring managers in the tech sector devise recruitment strategies, it is crucial to anticipate timeframes, particularly given that 40% of hires fall within the 20 to 30-day range, underscoring the need for proactive recruitment approaches tailored to meet the emergent demand for Software Java Developers.

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Most popular cities in Netherlands to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Netherlands to hire Software Engineers

The Software Java job market in the Netherlands is predominantly concentrated in Amsterdam, which accounts for 48% of the total job openings. Utrecht follows with a significant 20%, while Rotterdam contributes to 12%. These three cities together capture 80% of the Software Java Engineer opportunities in the country, highlighting Amsterdam's central role as a tech hub.

Most sought after technologies in Netherlands for Java

Key technologies for Java Engineers

In the Software Java jobs landscape, several technologies stand out as essential for successful candidates. Java, with a significant frequency of 8671, remains the cornerstone of the market, closely followed by key frameworks such as Spring (1933) and Spring Boot (2161), which are integral for developing robust applications. Additionally, microservices architecture (2276) has emerged as a vital component in enhancing scalability and flexibility. Familiarity with databases is also crucial, as SQL, utilized in 1808 instances, is a foundational skill for data manipulation in Java software projects. Refer to the accompanying chart for a visual representation of technology usage trends.

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