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Internship application letter (stagebrief)

With a stagebrief you apply for an internship at a company in the Netherlands. The company doesn't expect years of experience, but it does want to know what you study, what you want to learn and why you want to intern there. Your internship period belongs in the letter too, so they can see straight away whether it fits.

How to structure an internship letter

  1. Greeting: address the internship supervisor or contact person by name.
  2. Opening: your study programme, the internship you're looking for and the period.
  3. Why this company: mention something concrete: a project, the way they work or a department you want to learn in.
  4. What you bring: two or three examples from your studies, projects, side job or volunteering.
  5. Learning goals: what you want to learn during the internship, in line with your programme.
  6. Closing: ask for an interview and mention that your CV is attached.

Example (in Dutch, fictional)

Beste mevrouw Visser,

Voor mijn opleiding marketing en communicatie zoek ik een meewerkstage vanaf februari, voor vier dagen per week. Op uw website las ik hoe uw bureau campagnes maakt voor lokale ondernemers, en precies dat wil ik leren: van idee tot uitvoering.

Op school werkte ik in een projectgroep aan een campagne voor een buurthuis. Ik schreef de teksten voor sociale media en hield bij welke berichten het best werden gelezen. In mijn bijbaan in een kledingwinkel help ik klanten en denk ik mee over de etalage...

Tijdens de stage wil ik vooral leren hoe je een campagne plant en meet. Mijn cv stuur ik mee. Ik vertel u graag in een gesprek meer.

Met vriendelijke groet,
Lotte de Vries

Tips for your internship letter

  • Use the requirements from your internship guide or assignment: mention the learning goals your programme asks for.
  • Show you know the company: mention a project, client or way of working.
  • No work experience? Use school projects, a side job or volunteering as examples.
  • State your internship period and days per week clearly.
  • Keep it short: one A4 page at most, with your CV attached.

Have your internship letter written

Rather not write it yourself? Tell us below where you want to intern, what you study and what you've done so far. Within 24 hours you'll receive a tailored Dutch internship application letter plus an improved CV as PDFs, for €4.95 incl. VAT.

Your letter and CV will be written in Dutch, for internships in the Netherlands.

Price includes 21% VAT · Secure payment via Stripe · Delivered by email within 24 hours · Data deleted 30 days after delivery

Frequently asked questions

What goes into an internship application letter?

Your study programme, why you want to intern at this company, what you want to learn and what you can already do. Also mention your internship period and how many days a week you're available.

I don't have much work experience. What do I fill in?

That's normal for an internship. Describe your programme, courses and projects, a side job, volunteering or sports. We use those for the examples that fit the internship.

How much does an internship application letter cost?

The same as a regular order: a one-off €4.95 including 21% Dutch VAT, for a tailored internship letter plus an improved CV, by email within 24 hours.

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