Side income with a full-time job: how to do it

Why earn extra alongside your job?

More and more people in the Netherlands with a full-time job are looking for ways to earn extra money. And that is not surprising: the cost of living is rising, mortgages are getting more expensive and everyone would like some financial breathing room. But there are more reasons to do small jobs alongside your regular job.

First of all there is the financial benefit. With a few hours of small jobs a week you can quickly earn hundreds of euros a month extra. You can use that extra money for savings goals, a holiday, paying off debts or simply a bit more comfort in your daily life. It feels good to know you are not completely dependent on one salary.

Earning extra also has personal benefits. You learn new skills, build a network and perhaps discover a hidden talent. Who knows, your side income may grow into something bigger. Many successful entrepreneurs once started with something on the side next to their regular job.

Finally, it offers flexibility. Unlike a second regular job, with small jobs you decide when you work and how much you do. A busy week at work? Then you do a bit less. A quiet period? Then you pick up extra jobs. That freedom makes it much more doable than a traditional side job.

Check your employment contract

Before you start earning extra, there is one important step you must not skip: checking your employment contract. In the Netherlands you may in principle earn extra alongside your job, but your employer can set conditions.

The secondary employment clause

Many employment contracts contain a so-called nevenwerkzaamhedenbeding (secondary employment clause). This clause sets out whether and under what conditions you may work alongside your job. Since the introduction of the Dutch Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Act (Wet transparante en voorspelbare arbeidsvoorwaarden, August 2022), an employer may not simply forbid you from doing other work. There must be an "objective justification", such as:

• Health and safety (for example preventing overwork)
• Protecting confidential business information
• Avoiding conflicts of interest
• Complying with the Dutch Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet)

In practice this means your employer needs a good reason to forbid you from doing small jobs. Simple jobs such as dog walking, doing groceries or garden work rarely cause a problem. It is different if your side income competes directly with your employer or if your work performance suffers.

What to do?

Our advice: be open with your employer. Tell them you would like to do some small jobs in your free time to earn extra. Most employers have no problem with this, as long as it does not affect your main job. By discussing it, you prevent awkward situations later. Transparency is always better than doing small jobs in secret.

Time management: the work and side income balance

The biggest challenge of earning extra alongside a full-time job is time management. You already spend 40 hours a week on your job, plus travel time, household tasks and social commitments. How do you fit small jobs in without burning yourself out?

The most important principle is: plan your rest as deliberately as your work. Block at least one evening a week and one full day at the weekend for yourself. Without enough rest you will not keep it up, and your performance in your main job will suffer.

A handy approach is working with fixed "job blocks". Decide at the start of the week which evenings and which part of the weekend you are available. Stick to it and do not take on more than you planned. It is tempting to accept extra jobs when they are on offer, but in the long run that leads to overload.

Use travel time smartly too. Choose jobs close to home or on your route from work to home. That way you minimise the extra time spent travelling. With KlusjeBij you can filter jobs by distance, so you always find work nearby.

The best jobs for weekdays

After a day at work you are not always in the mood for heavy physical jobs. Fortunately there are plenty of tasks you can easily do in an hour after work. The ideal weekday jobs are short, flexible and not too strenuous.

Dog walking

One of the most popular evening jobs. Many dog owners look for someone who can take their dog out for a walk after work. It gets you outside, is good for your own health and earns on average 10-15 euros per walk. With two dogs at once you can easily double your hourly rate. Read more about dog walking as a side income.

Doing groceries

More and more people, especially older people and busy families, are looking for someone to do their grocery shopping. You can easily combine this with your own shopping after work. A grocery run quickly earns 15-25 euros. Find out how to earn extra doing groceries.

Online tasks and admin

You can also earn extra from your sofa. Think of small administrative tasks, data entry or answering emails for small business owners. You can do these jobs whenever it suits you, even at 21:00 in the evening on the sofa.

Household help

An hour of ironing, tidying or light cleaning for someone in the neighbourhood. This is relatively simple work you can do without special skills. The rate is usually between 13 and 18 euros an hour.

Weekend jobs that pay well

At weekends you have more time and energy for bigger jobs. These are also the jobs that usually pay better, because they take more effort or specialist knowledge.

Garden work

In spring and summer there is huge demand for garden help. Think of mowing lawns, weeding, trimming hedges or doing up a garden. Garden work quickly earns 15-25 euros an hour, and on a Saturday morning you can easily do two to three gardens. See garden jobs in your area.

Moving help

Moving is hard work, but it pays very well. As a carrier you can earn 15-20 euros an hour, and moves often take half a day to a full day. It is ideal for a Saturday when you have nothing special planned. Sign up for moving jobs.

Cleaning

Thorough cleaning work, such as a deep-clean of a kitchen, cleaning windows or a big spring clean, is well paid. Rates are between 14 and 20 euros an hour, depending on the nature of the work. Find cleaning jobs near you.

Small jobs and repairs

Are you handy? Then you can earn well at weekends with small jobs such as putting up a shelf, repairing a tap or assembling furniture. Handy people quickly earn 20-35 euros an hour.

How much can you realistically earn?

The big question: how much does earning extra alongside your job really bring in? That depends on a few factors: the type of jobs you do, how many hours you are available and your rate. Below is a realistic overview.

Important to remember: it is not just about the hourly rate. The ideal jobs are the ones that take little travel time, need little preparation and fit well into your schedule. A job at 12 euros an hour close to home can be better value than a job at 20 euros an hour that takes 45 minutes to get to.

Build it up gradually as well. Start with 5 hours a week and see how it goes. After a month or two you will know exactly how much you can handle without it costing your wellbeing or your main job. Want more inspiration? Read our guide to earning money quickly.

Tax and side income

You have to pay tax on side income. That puts some people off, but in practice it is not so bad once you know the rules. These are the main points.

Result from other work

You declare your side income as "result from other work" (resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden) in your Dutch tax return. It falls in box 1, just like your salary. Because you already have a full-time job, your side income is taxed at the rate of your highest bracket. For most full-timers that is 36.97% (2026).

Deducting costs

The good news: you may deduct costs from your side income. Think of travel costs (0.23 euros per kilometre), tools, cleaning products and other materials you need for your jobs. So always keep your receipts and a mileage log.

VAT and the Chamber of Commerce

If your turnover is less than 20,000 euros a year (as it is for most people doing small jobs), you fall under the small business scheme (kleineondernemersregeling, KOR) and do not have to charge VAT. Registering with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce) is not necessarily needed either if you do small jobs occasionally.

Want to know everything about tax on side income? Read our detailed article on tax on side income in 2026.

Tips to prevent burnout

Earning extra alongside a full-time job can be rewarding, but it also has risks. The main danger is overload. If you are not careful, you start running on empty, and you notice it everywhere: your work, your health and your relationships. Below are the most important tips to prevent this.

Remember: earning extra should enrich your life, not drain it. The goal is to create extra financial room, not to work yourself into the ground. If you notice it gives you more stress than enjoyment, it is time to adjust. Perhaps that means fewer hours of small jobs, or a different type of job that suits you better.

Also consider earning extra from home if you find that travelling to jobs takes too much energy. Read more about earning extra from home.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Earning extra alongside your full-time job is very doable if you go about it smartly. The key is good planning, choosing the right jobs and guarding your limits. Start small, build up gradually and regularly check whether the balance is still right.

First check your employment contract, discuss your plans with your employer and start with a few hours a week. Choose jobs that fit your schedule: short, flexible tasks on weekdays and bigger jobs at the weekend. And do not forget to declare your side income properly to the Belastingdienst (the Dutch tax office).

With the right approach you can earn hundreds of euros extra every month without it costing your health or your social life. It is all about balance. And that balance is yours to set.