Laundry Services Jobs in the Netherlands: Your 2026 Pathway to a Steady Career

Imagine a career path where the demand is as constant as the need for clean clothes. That is the promising reality of laundry services jobs in the Netherlands as we look ahead to 2026. While it might not be the first job that springs to mind when you think of this vibrant country, it is quietly becoming a cornerstone of its service economy. For anyone, from a student looking for a reliable part-time income to someone seeking a stable, long-term career without needing years of university, this sector holds surprising potential. The Dutch way of life, with its busy schedules and high value on cleanliness and order, creates a perfect environment for laundry services to thrive. This is not just about working in a laundrette; it’s about stepping into a modern, organised industry that keeps the wheels of Dutch society turning smoothly. Let’s peel back the curtain and see what these jobs truly involve and why the next two years could be your perfect window of opportunity.

What Does a Laundry Service Job Actually Involve?

Many people picture a simple room with washing machines, but the modern laundry service in the Netherlands is far more sophisticated. The work is varied and requires a mix of practical skill and personal responsibility. Understanding the day-to-day tasks will help you see if it’s the right fit for you.

• Sorting and Preparing: This is the first and most crucial step. You will learn to sort laundry by colour, fabric type, and soil level. It is not just about separating whites from colours; it is about understanding which materials need gentle cycles and which can handle a more robust wash. You will also check garments for stains, ensuring they are treated correctly before they go into the wash.

• Machine Operation and Maintenance: You will become an expert in operating industrial-grade washing machines, tumble dryers, and steam presses. This is not like using your machine at home. It involves understanding different chemical detergents, fabric softeners, and wash cycles. A key part of the job is also basic machine maintenance, like cleaning lint filters and reporting any faults to keep everything running safely and efficiently.

• Stain Removal and Treatment: This is where a bit of science comes in. You will be trained on how to treat a wide variety of stains, from coffee and grass to ink and wine, using specific techniques and spotting agents. Getting a stubborn stain out successfully is one of the most satisfying parts of the job.

• Ironing and Finishing: For many services, especially those handling hotel linens or business shirts, ironing is a major component. This involves using large, professional-grade steam presses for sheets and tablecloths or skilled hand-ironing for delicate garments and shirts. The goal is a crisp, pristine finish that looks perfect.

• Quality Control: Every item that leaves a professional laundry is checked. You will be responsible for ensuring that clothes and linens are perfectly clean, stain-free, and smell fresh. You will look for any minor damage, like loose buttons or small tears, that might have been missed earlier.

• Logistics and Organisation: Many laundry services, particularly the new wave of app-based ones, involve a logistical element. This can mean managing customer orders, tracking which items belong to which client, and carefully packaging finished orders for delivery. Attention to detail is absolutely vital here.

Why are Laundry Services Jobs in the Netherlands Booming?

The Netherlands is a special case when it comes to the growth of this sector. Several unique factors, specific to Dutch society and its economy, are coming together to create a surge in demand for laundry workers leading into 2026.

• A Fast-Paced Lifestyle: Dutch cities are known for their busy, efficient pace. People work long hours, have active social lives, and value their free time. For many, the chore of doing laundry is something they are happy to outsource to a professional service. This frees up their weekends and evenings, making laundry services a valuable time-saving solution.

• A Massive Tourism and Hospitality Industry: The Netherlands, with Amsterdam at its heart, is a global tourist destination. This means thousands of hotels, restaurants, and holiday rentals. Each one generates a huge, daily volume of laundry – bed linens, towels, tablecloths, and staff uniforms. This commercial side of the business provides a huge number of stable, year-round jobs.

• A High Concentration of Students and Young Professionals: Cities like Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen are packed with students and young people starting their careers. This demographic often lives in shared housing with limited or no laundry facilities. They are the primary customers for convenient, affordable laundry services, creating a constant demand for workers to manage their orders.

• A Strong Culture of Cleanliness: The Dutch have a well-known appreciation for cleanliness and order, or “gezelligheid” in their homes and surroundings. This cultural trait means that people are not only more likely to use a laundry service but also expect a very high standard of quality, which requires a skilled workforce to deliver.

• The Rise of On-Demand App Services: The modern world runs on apps, and laundry is no different. Several Dutch companies have developed apps where you can schedule a laundry pick-up, cleaning, and delivery with a few taps on your phone. This digital convenience is making laundry services more accessible than ever, further driving growth and the need for staff to fulfil these orders.

The Different Types of Laundry Jobs You Can Find

The term “laundry job” covers a range of roles. Depending on your interests and career goals, you could find yourself in one of several settings.

• Commercial Laundries: These are large-scale industrial facilities that handle laundry for hotels, hospitals, restaurants, and sports centres. The work is fast-paced and often involves operating heavy machinery. The scale is immense, but these roles often come with structured shifts and the stability of working for a larger company.

• Local Laundrettes and Dry Cleaners: These are the smaller, customer-facing shops you see on high streets. The work here is more varied. One moment you might be serving a customer at the counter, the next you are operating a press or managing the dry-cleaning machine. It is a great role for someone who enjoys a bit of customer interaction alongside the practical work.

• On-Demand Service Hubs: These are the behind-the-scenes locations for app-based laundry services. They function like small, highly organised warehouses. The work focuses on efficiency, order management, and quality control to ensure the right laundry gets back to the right customer perfectly cleaned and on time.

• In-House Hotel Laundry: Many larger hotels have their own laundry room on the premises. Working here, you become part of the hotel team. The atmosphere is often unique to that hotel, and you are dealing with a consistent type of laundry, which allows you to become a real expert in handling hotel linens.

• Specialist Roles: With experience, you could move into more specialist areas. This could include becoming a stain removal expert, a manager overseeing a team of laundry attendants, or a logistics coordinator who manages the pick-up and delivery routes.

What You Can Expect to Earn in 2026

While pay can vary, the good news is that this sector is becoming more competitive for employers, which often leads to better wages and conditions for workers. As of now, and looking ahead to 2026, here is a general idea.

• For entry-level positions like a laundry attendant or assistant, you can expect to start at or slightly above the Dutch minimum wage, which is set to increase annually. This provides a solid foundation.

• With just a few months of experience, demonstrating reliability and skill, it is common to see a pay rise. Many employers value good staff and are willing to pay a bit more to keep them.

• For supervisory roles, such as a shift leader or team manager, the salary is naturally higher. These positions require you to oversee other staff, manage workflow, and handle any issues that arise.

• Many jobs in this sector also include secondary benefits. These can include extra holiday pay, travel allowance if you use a bicycle or public transport, and sometimes even contributions towards your pension. For full-time roles, these benefits add significant value to your overall package.

• It is also worth noting that many laundry jobs, especially in student cities, offer part-time and flexible hours. This makes them an excellent source of income for people who are studying or have other commitments.

The Skills That Will Make You Stand Out

You do not need a university degree to get started, but having the right set of skills and attitudes will make you a highly sought-after candidate. Employers are looking for people they can rely on.

• Reliability and Punctuality: This is perhaps the most important skill. Laundry services run on tight schedules, especially when serving hotels or fulfilling on-demand orders. Being on time and dependable is absolutely essential.

• An Eye for Detail: Can you spot a small, faint stain? Do you notice a loose thread? A great laundry worker has a sharp eye for detail, ensuring that every item that leaves the facility meets a high-quality standard.

• Physical Stamina: The work involves being on your feet for most of the day, lifting laundry baskets, and moving items between machines. A reasonable level of physical fitness is helpful.

• Responsibility and Honesty: You will be handling other people’s personal belongings. Employers need to trust that you will treat these items with care and respect. A reputation for honesty is invaluable.

• A Willingness to Learn: The best workers are those who are eager to learn about different fabrics, new cleaning techniques, and how to use the equipment properly. Showing a proactive attitude will quickly set you apart.

• Basic Teamwork: While some tasks are independent, laundry work is often a team effort. Being able to work well with others, communicate clearly, and help out your colleagues makes for a much better working environment.

How to Find and Apply for These Jobs in the Netherlands

The process of finding a job in this sector is refreshingly straightforward. You do not need complex application letters; you just need to know where to look and how to present yourself.

• Online Job Boards are Your Best Friend: Websites like Indeed.nl, LinkedIn, and regional job boards are filled with listings for laundry assistants and attendants. Set up a simple alert for “laundry” or “wasseria” in your chosen city.

• Check Company Websites Directly: Many of the larger laundry service companies and hotel chains have a “careers” or “vacatures” section on their own websites. It is often worth applying directly through them.

• Do Not Underestimate the Power of Walking In: For smaller local laundrettes and dry cleaners, a classic approach still works wonders. Dress neatly, take a copy of your CV, and ask to speak to the manager. A friendly, confident face can make a much stronger impression than an anonymous online application.

• Prepare a Simple CV: Your CV does not need to be long. Focus on any previous work experience, even if it was in a different field like retail or hospitality. Highlight skills like reliability, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. Make sure your contact details are clear and correct.

• What to Expect in an Interview: The interview for a laundry job is usually quite practical and informal. The employer will want to gauge your attitude and reliability. They might ask questions like “Why are you interested in this work?” or “This job can be repetitive, how do you feel about that?” Be honest, positive, and show that you understand the basic requirements of the role.

The Day-in-the-Life of a Laundry Service Worker

To really get a feel for it, let’s walk through a typical day for someone like Anna, who works at a medium-sized laundry service in Utrecht that handles both commercial and private client orders.

Her shift starts at eight in the morning. The first thing she does is check the schedule with her team leader to see the priority orders for the day. A local hotel needs a large batch of bed linens returned by midday, and there are several private customer bags to be processed for afternoon delivery. The morning is a whirlwind of sorting. She and her colleagues work together to separate the massive pile of hotel laundry into whites, colours, and towels, while the private orders are kept strictly separate in their individual bags.

Once sorted, Anna starts loading the large industrial washers. She selects the correct detergent and sets the wash cycle for a load of white hotel sheets. While that machine is running, she moves to the stain treatment station. A customer’s favourite shirt has a grass stain on the sleeve. She carefully applies a pre-treatment solution, gently works it in, and sets the shirt aside to let the treatment do its work before it goes into a later wash.

By mid-morning, the first loads are ready for the dryers. Anna transfers the heavy, wet sheets into a large tumble dryer, again selecting the right temperature setting. The rhythm of the day is set by the machines – loading, transferring, drying. After her coffee break, she starts on the ironing. She feeds the now-dry and warm sheets through a massive flatwork ironer. The machine rollers press and fold the sheets in one smooth motion. It is satisfying to see a crumpled sheet transformed into a neat, perfectly folded stack.

In the afternoon, the focus shifts to the private orders. Each customer’s laundry is washed separately. Anna meticulously checks that socks are paired and that all items are accounted for against the order list. She then folds everything neatly and places it into the customer’s clean bag, ready for delivery. At the end of her shift, she helps her team tidy the work area, wipe down the machines, and ensure everything is ready for the next day. The work is physical, her hands are busy all day, but she leaves with the clear satisfaction of a day’s work well done, having played a key part in a service that helps so many people.

Addressing Common Questions and Concerns

It is natural to have some questions about what the work is really like. Let’s talk about a few of the common points people wonder about.

One thing people often ask is about the working environment. Is it very hot and humid? It is true that laundry facilities can be warm and noisy. Industrial dryers and steam presses generate heat, and the machines are not quiet. However, most modern facilities are well-ventilated, and you get used to the background hum of the machinery very quickly. It is a working environment that is full of energy and activity.

Another point is the potential for monotony. Some tasks, like folding, can be repetitive. However, the best way to look at it is to see the repetition as a rhythm. Many people find a kind of calm focus in the routine. Furthermore, in most roles, you are not doing one thing all day. You will rotate between sorting, washing, drying, and ironing, which breaks up the day and keeps things interesting.

People also worry about the physical aspect. It is a physical job, there is no denying it. Lifting heavy, wet laundry requires using correct techniques to avoid strain. You will be on your feet, moving around. But for many, this is a positive aspect. It is not a desk job where you are sitting still for eight hours. You are active, using your body, and the day goes by very quickly because you are constantly engaged in the workflow.

Finally, there is the question of career progression. It is a mistake to think of a laundry job as a dead end. Because the sector is growing, there are real opportunities for advancement. A hard-working and reliable laundry attendant can, within a year or two, become a shift supervisor. From there, you could move into a management role, overseeing an entire facility. You could also specialise, becoming the go-to person for dry-cleaning operations or customer service management. The industry needs good people who are willing to learn and grow with the business.