While many countries are still debating shorter workweeks, the Netherlands has already made it happen, quietly, gradually, and successfully.
Dutch workers now put in just 32.1 hours a week on average, the shortest in Europe. And it’s not because of a single law or flashy reform. Instead, it’s the result of a decades-long shift toward part-time and flexible work, a shift that has paid off.
It all started back in the 1980s, when more women entered the workforce. Policies encouraged part-time work, allowing families to balance jobs and childcare. Over time, this culture of flexibility spread beyond women to men as well. Today, it’s completely normal for a Dutch employee to work four days a week, even in full-time roles.
The results speak for themselves. The Netherlands is among the most productive countries in the world, with one of Europe’s highest GDPs per person. The country also boasts an employment rate of 82%, well above the UK and US. Shorter hours haven’t slowed the economy, if anything, they’ve made work more focused and efficient.
This shift has had a big effect on daily life. People spend more time with their families, enjoy a healthier work-life balance, and avoid burnout. Employers are on board too, many now offer compressed schedules, letting staff fit their hours into four days. In fact, working five full days is sometimes seen as unusual.
Of course, it’s not perfect. Women still hold fewer management positions than men, just 27% of managers are women, one of the lowest rates in the OECD. And some sectors, like education, struggle with staff shortages, making flexible scheduling harder.
Still, the Dutch model shows that working less doesn’t have to mean producing less. It proves that productivity, wellbeing, and economic growth can go hand in hand.
As countries like Scotland and the UK experiment with four-day week pilots, the Netherlands offers a living, breathing example of what the future of work could look like: more time, less stress, and an economy that still thrives.
