Working in a culture-related profession

Do you hold a diploma from an EEA member state Link opent externe pagina  or Switzerland, and would you like to work indefinitely in a culture-related profession in the Netherlands? If so, you need to apply for recognition of your foreign professional qualification. If you would like to work in a culture-related profession occasionally or temporarily, you need to register this intention.

Conditions

Working indefinitely in a culture-related profession
  • You hold an EU residency permit.
  • Your diploma was issued in an EEA member state or Switzerland.
  • You are eligible to work in the occupation in question in the country where your diploma was issued.
  • The level of the study programme you completed is equal to Dutch higher education, or higher.
You will find the full terms and conditions in the Regeling erkenning EU-beroepskwalificaties cultuurberoepen (link in Dutch) Link opent externe pagina .
Temporary or occasional work in a culture-related profession
  • You hold an EU residency permit.
  • Your diploma was issued in an EEA member state or Switzerland.
  • You are eligible to work in the occupation in question in the country where your diploma was issued.

For which occupations?

You need to register or apply for recognition for the following occupations:

  • general national government archivist
  • national government archivist
  • provincial archivist
  • municipal archivist 
  • water authority archivist

Apply or register

  • Use the ‘Recognition of EU professional qualifications for occupations in the cultural sector’ form to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications.
  • Use the ‘Temporary or occasional services of EU professional qualifications for culture-related professions’ form if you want to register temporary or occasional work.
  • Submit all requested supporting documents.

What happens next

Recognition of your professional qualification

The procedure to recognise your foreign professional qualification is as follows:

  • You submit a form requesting recognition of your professional qualification. The supporting documents you need to include are specified on the form.
  • In relation to your diploma, DUO may consult Nuffic Link opent externe pagina  or make enquiries with the relevant authorities in the country where the diploma was issued.
  • If these authorities are unable to verify your diploma, we require a statement from your educational institute confirming that you graduated successfully.
  • We will inform you of our decision.
  • If we reject your application, you can lodge an objection.
Temporary or occasional work

The procedure to register temporary or occasional work is as follows:

  • You submit the registration form. The supporting documents you need to include are specified on the form.
  • DUO makes enquiries about your diploma with the relevant authorities in the country where the diploma was issued.
  • If these authorities are unable to verify your diploma, we require a statement from your educational institute confirming that you graduated successfully.
  • We will inform you of our decision.
  • If you meet the conditions, you will receive a letter confirming the registration. You will then be eligible to work in the occupation in question.
  • If you do not meet the conditions, your will receive a rejection.
  • If we reject your registration, you can lodge an objection.

Free

Recognition of your foreign professional qualification or registration of temporary or occasional work in a culture-related profession is free.

Contact

Please contact the Diploma Services Department if you have any questions. You can call us on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on +31 50 599 77 78. Or send an email to diplomaservices@duo.nl.