Software Developer Hiring Trends in The Randstad, 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 Engineers job market trends in the Netherlands' Randstad indicate a talent pool of considerable size, with significant demand for skilled professionals amidst increasing competition.
Over the past three months, 10 notable companies have been actively hiring Software Engineers, with Jobster leading the charge at 84 open positions, followed by Capgemini with 61, and ASSET Rail with 34.
Current data suggests a tightening job market, with the median time to hire for Software Engineers in the Netherlands at 32 days, emphasizing the urgency for effective recruitment strategies.
Amsterdam emerges as the prime location for Software Developer opportunities, representing 48% of job postings, followed by Utrecht at 21% and Rotterdam at 13%.
Key technologies in demand include Java and Python, highlighting trends in hiring Senior Software Developers that indicate a strong shift towards full stack development capabilities.

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in The Randstad in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software Engineers job market in the Netherlands' Randstad has experienced fluctuating activity. Notably, there were weeks with a significant discrepancy between new jobs posted and positions closed. For instance, week 23 saw 10 new job postings, while week 24 recorded a sharp decline to only 2 new roles, coinciding with 7 positions closed. This drastic variation suggests challenges in retention and demand fluctuations that hiring managers, including CTOs and Engineering Managers, should navigate carefully. When comparing these trends to other European countries, the Randstad appears to face unique dynamics that demand tailored recruitment strategies for acquiring Senior Software Developers.

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 Engineers job market trends in the Netherlands, particularly in The Randstad, reveal a competitive landscape. With the number of job openings relatively high compared to the available talent pool, the jobs-to-talent ratio indicates a tightening market. For instance, countries like Germany and the United Kingdom also exhibit significant demand, yet they face similar talent deficits. Switzerland presents a slightly more favorable ratio, but with increasing competition, hiring in the Netherlands remains a challenge for CTOs. As such, organizations must leverage innovative recruitment strategies to attract skilled Software Engineers amidst these emerging trends across Europe's technology landscape.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in The Randstad

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in The Randstad

In the Netherlands' job market for software engineering, a notable distribution is observed among different seniority levels. Mid-Senior level roles dominate the landscape, comprising 54% of the available positions. Following this, Associate level roles account for 26%, while Entry level positions represent 9% of the overall job offerings. This distribution underscores the emphasis on experienced software engineers in The Randstad, highlighting the need for effective recruitment strategies tailored to meet the demands of the technology sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the employment type distribution for engineering roles reveals that full-time positions dominate the sector, accounting for 93% of job opportunities. Contract roles make up 6% of the employment landscape, while part-time positions constitute 1%. This data indicates a strong preference for stable, full-time employment among Software Engineers, suggesting hiring managers in The Randstad should consider emphasizing these opportunities in their recruitment strategies.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Netherlands

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

In the competitive Software Engineers job market trends in the Netherlands, particularly in The Randstad, the time to hire showcases a significant distribution that hiring managers must consider. The majority of candidates are hired within a 25 to 30-day timeframe, with 1,689 candidates taking 25 days and 1,683 candidates requiring 30 days. This underlines the urgency for recruitment strategies among CTOs in the Netherlands' tech sector, as positions may remain open longer amidst high competition. Additionally, with a notable number of roles filled between 10 to 20 days (over 1,800 candidates), there lies an opportunity for proactive hiring approaches to capitalize on quality talent swiftly. Understanding these trends in hiring Senior Software Developers is crucial for optimizing recruitment tactics in the rapidly evolving landscape of Software Developer opportunities in the region.

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Most popular cities in Netherlands to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Netherlands to hire Software Engineers

The Software Engineers job market in the Netherlands, particularly within The Randstad, showcases a pronounced concentration of job openings. Amsterdam leads with 48% of the total job postings, followed by Utrecht at 21% and Rotterdam, which accounts for 13%. These figures underscore Amsterdam's dominance as a focal point for tech talent in the region, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in The Randstad for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the competitive landscape of the Software Engineers job market trends in Netherlands The Randstad, certain technologies stand out due to their prominence among job listings. The most frequently used programming languages include Java, with a substantial presence of 10,493 occurrences, followed closely by Python at 10,601. JavaScript also features prominently, with 8,023 mentions, showcasing its essential role in web development. Additionally, TypeScript (5,239), React (6,591), and PHP (6,098) are increasingly in demand, indicating a shift towards full stack development capabilities. These insights reflect the emerging hiring trends for Senior Software Developers in The Randstad, as depicted in the attached chart.

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