The Volkskrant conducted research on this. They did the same five years earlier, in 2020. At that time, the Ministry of Defence and the police were about equal. Is that still the case? Well...
1. Ministry of Defence
We are preparing for conflict: the Ministry of Defence is in 1st place in 2025, with by far the most full-time jobs in the Netherlands. The ministry had about 74,333 employees at the end of last year, 10,000 more than number two. The growth of Defence is partly attributed to geopolitical developments and investments in security.
2. Police
The police follows as the second largest employer. With more than 64,000 jobs, this remains one of the largest public organizations in the Netherlands. Although this sector has also grown since 2020, it is a lot less than
3. Ahold Delhaize
Among commercial organizations, Ahold Delhaize is at the top. The parent company of brands like Albert Heijn and bol.com offers tens of thousands of jobs in retail, logistics, and e-commerce, providing enormous employment opportunities. In recent external lists, the company is listed with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide, indicating its size and scale.
4. Ministry of Justice and Security
The Ministry of Justice and Security is the fourth largest employer, with nearly 37,000 employees. Thus, this branch of the government is also an important employer, especially in the fields of law, security, and enforcement of legislation.
5. Rabobank
Rabobank, traditionally one of the largest commercial employers, is now in fifth place. The number of jobs has decreased compared to previous years, illustrating how banks and financial institutions are restructuring their workforce in response to automation and strategic changes.
6 to 10
In addition to the top 5, these organizations also play a significant role in the Dutch labor market:
- Tax Office: a major public employer with growth in its workforce.
- KLM: a large employer in aviation and logistics.
- Total Care Holding: a healthcare and welfare employer with extensive workforce capacity.
- ASML: a leading technology employer, especially in high-tech and engineering.
- PostNL: a logistics and delivery organization with thousands of jobs.
Additionally, broader lists of companies with the most employees show that large retailers such as IKEA, financial institutions like ING, and HR service provider Randstad are also among the largest employers.
Public vs. private employers: two different dynamics
What stands out in 2025: public institutions continue to grow. Defence, police, the Tax Office, and Justice show strong workforce expansion. There is also little shift among the commercial giants. Retail and logistics - represented by Ahold Delhaize and KLM - remain important job engines.
The financial sector is transforming: Banks such as Rabobank and ING remain large but are modernizing their organizational structure.
The largest employers of 2025
In 2025, the list of the largest employers in the Netherlands was dominated by a combination of large government institutions and commercial giants. Defence and police lead the rankings, followed by major players like Ahold Delhaize and Rabobank. These trends illustrate not only where the most jobs can be found but also how the labor market and economy are evolving in a time of technological change, digitization, and societal shifts.
Now the question hangs: what will we see in 2026? Will defence rise even further, or will a new ministry emerge?
