Working in a cultural profession

Like many other countries, the Netherlands has a number of regulated cultural professions. This means that only those in possession of specific professional qualifications, such as diploma’s etc, can carry out these professions. These professions include: Chief state archivist, state archivist, provincial inspector of archived documents, municipal archivist and district water board archivist as defined by the 1995 Public Records Act. Also included in this list is the profession of manager as defined by the Decree concerning the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage.

Therefore, if it is your intention to become established in the Netherlands and you wish to work in one of the cultural professions mentioned, you will in all instances be obliged to apply for recognition of your overseas educational qualifications.

If you practise one of the professions mentioned in another EU member state and wish only to work in a cultural profession on a temporary or ad hoc basis in the Netherlands, the submission of a report (an advanced declaration) for temporary and ad hoc service to the DUO will suffice. You will then be exempt from applying for recognition of your overseas professional qualifications. However, you will be required to meet a number of basic requirements.