Travel allowance in the Dutch hospitality industry: when are you entitled to it?
Do you work in a hotel, restaurant or another hospitality business in the Netherlands? If so, you may have to travel quite a distance to get to work. Especially when working early, late or weekend shifts, public transport is not always an option. A travel allowance can therefore be an attractive employment benefit.
But is an employer in the Dutch hospitality industry required to reimburse your travel expenses? And how much can you receive? We explain the most important rules.
Is a travel allowance mandatory in the Dutch hospitality industry?
No. In the Netherlands, there is no general legal requirement for employers to reimburse commuting costs.
However, this does not mean you are never entitled to reimbursement. A travel allowance may be included in:
the collective labour agreement (CLA) that applies to you;
your employment contract;
the employee handbook or a company policy;
an individual agreement with your employer.
Always check which agreements apply to your job.
What does the Dutch hospitality CLA say about travel expenses?
The Dutch hospitality CLA for 2025–2026 does not include a general travel allowance for commuting. If your employer is covered by this CLA, they are not required under the CLA to reimburse your regular travel between home and work.
However, a hotel or restaurant can choose to offer a travel allowance. In practice, employers often use travel reimbursement as an additional employment benefit.
There are also exceptions within the hospitality CLA. For example, a specific travel reimbursement arrangement applies to workplace trainers who attend certain meetings organised by SBB, the Dutch organisation for vocational education and the labour market.
When are you entitled to a travel allowance?
Whether you are entitled to reimbursement depends on your situation. The table below provides a quick overview.
Situation | Entitled to a travel allowance? | What should you check? |
|---|---|---|
Commuting under the Dutch hospitality CLA | Not automatically | Employment contract and company policy |
Travel allowance included in your contract | Yes, according to the agreed terms | Amount, distance and conditions in your contract |
Employer has its own travel reimbursement policy | Depends on the policy | Employee handbook or employment conditions |
You are covered by a different CLA | Possibly | Which CLA applies and what it states |
Business travel requested by your employer | Depends on the CLA and agreements | CLA, contract and company policy |
Workplace trainer travelling to an SBB meeting | Yes, under certain conditions | Arrangements in the hospitality CLA |
How much can an employer reimburse for travel expenses?
In 2026, employers in the Netherlands can reimburse up to €0.25 per kilometre tax-free, subject to certain conditions, for commuting and business travel.
This does not mean every employee is automatically entitled to €0.25 per kilometre. It is the amount an employer can reimburse without paying tax, not a legally required allowance.
For example, an employer may pay €0.23 per kilometre if that is what has been agreed. Employers may also set conditions, such as a minimum or maximum commuting distance.
Does your employment contract state that you receive the "maximum tax-free allowance"? If so, changes to the tax-free limit may affect your reimbursement. The exact wording of your employment conditions is therefore important.
What about travelling by public transport?
Do you travel to work by train, bus, tram or metro? Even then, your employer is not automatically required to reimburse your expenses.
An employer may choose to cover the actual costs of public transport. Whether this applies to your job depends on your CLA and the agreements you have made with your employer.
When considering a new job, it is therefore worth checking not only the mileage allowance but also the reimbursement policy for public transport.
Covered by a different CLA? Different rules may apply
Not everyone working in hospitality is automatically covered by the Dutch hospitality CLA.
For example, if you work in contract catering or for a recreational business, a different CLA may apply. The collective labour agreements for contract catering and recreation have their own arrangements for commuting expenses.
Which CLA applies depends on the employer's activities and the scope of the agreement. Simply working in a hospitality-related role does not necessarily determine which rules apply to you.
If you are unsure, check your employment contract or ask your employer or HR department which CLA applies.
Commuting or business travel?
There is also a difference between commuting and business travel.
Commuting refers to your regular journey between your home and your usual workplace. For example, driving from home to the hotel where you work every day.
Business travel refers to journeys you make for work. This could include attending a training session, travelling to a meeting at another location or visiting another hotel branch at your employer's request.
Separate reimbursement arrangements may apply to business travel. Your CLA, employment contract or company policy may specify which expenses your employer covers. There is no general legally required mileage rate that every employer must pay for business travel.
My employer does not reimburse travel expenses. What can I do?
If you do not receive a travel allowance, start by checking your employment conditions.
Review your employment contract and find out which CLA applies to you. Also check your employee handbook or any other company policies. Look for any individual agreements you may have made about travel expenses.
If you are entitled to reimbursement under these agreements but are not receiving it, discuss the issue with your manager or HR department.
An existing travel allowance may also be considered an employment benefit. In some circumstances, an employer cannot simply change or withdraw such an arrangement.
If your CLA, contract and company policies do not provide for travel reimbursement, your employer can generally choose not to cover your regular commuting costs.
Check travel expenses when starting a new job
A travel allowance might seem like a small part of a job offer, but it can make a significant difference over a year. This is especially true if you travel to a hotel some distance from your home five days a week.
When reviewing a job vacancy, look beyond the salary and pay attention to:
the amount reimbursed per kilometre;
the minimum distance required to qualify for reimbursement;
the maximum number of kilometres covered;
reimbursement for public transport;
any arrangements for parking expenses;
the policy for business travel.
This will help you compare employment conditions between different hotels.
Frequently asked questions about travel allowances in the Dutch hospitality industry
Is my hospitality employer required to cover my commuting costs?
Not generally. However, your employer may be required to reimburse these costs under your CLA, employment contract or company policy.
Am I entitled to a standard mileage allowance under the Dutch hospitality CLA?
No. The Dutch hospitality CLA for 2025–2026 does not include a general mileage allowance for regular commuting.
Does my employer have to pay €0.25 per kilometre?
No. In 2026, €0.25 per kilometre is the amount an employer can reimburse tax-free, subject to certain conditions. It is not a legally required minimum.
My contract states €0.23 per kilometre. Will I automatically receive €0.25 instead?
No. If a specific amount has been agreed, it does not automatically change when the tax-free limit increases. The exact wording of your employment conditions determines your entitlement.
Do the same rules apply to business mileage?
Not always. Separate arrangements for business travel may be included in your CLA, employment contract or company policy.