Dutch cover letter example
A good Dutch cover letter (sollicitatiebrief) is short (one A4 page at most), personal and clearly matched to the vacancy. Here's how to build one:
- Greeting: use a name if you can ("Geachte mevrouw Jansen").
- Opening: why this role, and why this company?
- Body: two or three concrete examples that match the requirements.
- Closing: invite them to meet you for an interview.
Example (in Dutch)
Geachte mevrouw Jansen, Met veel interesse las ik uw vacature voor Klantenservicemedewerker. Klanten echt verder helpen geeft mij energie, en dat is precies wat uw team doet. Bij Bol.com handelde ik dagelijks 60+ klantvragen af met een tevredenheidsscore van 8,7... Graag vertel ik u in een gesprek meer over mijn motivatie. Met vriendelijke groet, Sanne de Vries
How long should a Dutch cover letter be?
One A4 page at most, usually 250 to 400 words. Recruiters often read quickly, so a short letter with concrete examples works better than a long list.
Which greeting should you use?
Use the contact person's name from the vacancy if you can: "Geachte mevrouw Jansen" or "Geachte heer De Vries". No name given? Use "Geachte heer/mevrouw". At an informal company, "Beste [first name]" also works.
How do you close the letter?
Finish by inviting them to an interview and "Met vriendelijke groet" (kind regards), followed by your name. Include your phone number and email address in the letter or on your CV.