If you have just received a letter about your company doctor appointment, or you are trying to make sense of what happens next, you do not have to work through this alone.

Support during sick leave for expats navigating the Dutch system.

SICK LEAVE SUPPORT

When you're on sick leave in the Netherlands, the process itself can feel overwhelming, especially when English isn't the default and the rules are not familiar.

I offer psychological support and practical preparation alongside your recovery.

The Dutch sick leave process is unfamiliar territory for most internationals.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT

IIn the Netherlands, reporting sick (ziekmelding) triggers a structured legal and HR process that most expats have never encountered. There is a company doctor (bedrijfsarts), a reintegration obligation, a two-year framework, and a series of conversations with your employer that most people feel entirely unprepared for.

This uncertainty adds significant psychological weight on top of whatever is already making you unwell. My background combines over 13 years of experience in international HR organizations with psychological expertise, which means I understand both sides of this process.

Important distinction:

I do not provide medical or legal advice, and I do not take a position in disputes between employees and employers.

My role is to support you: your mental state, your clarity, and your preparation, so you can navigate these conversations from a more grounded position.

WHAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH

Practical support alongside psychological recovery.

  • Clarifying what to expect from the sick leave and reintegration timeline, so the process feels less opaque and more manageable.

  • Working through what you want to communicate, what to ask, and how to represent your situation clearly to the company doctor.

  • Structuring your thoughts before difficult conversations with a manager or HR, including what you are comfortable sharing and how to set the right expectations.

  • Addressing the anxiety, rumination, and overwhelm that often accompany prolonged sick leave, separate from but connected to the practical dimensions.

  • As return to work approaches, working through fears, setting realistic expectations, and building the readiness to re-enter a demanding environment.

THE DUTCH SICK LEAVE TIMELINE

  • You report sick to your employer (Ziekmelding). This starts a two-year reintegration process governed by the Wet verbetering poortwachter, the Dutch Gatekeeper Improvement Act.

  • The company doctor (bedrijfsarts) prepares a formal assessment of what you can and cannot do, and advises on reintegration steps. For many internationals, this is the first unfamiliar and emotionally stressful stage of the system.

  • You and your employer create a plan van aanpak (reintegration action plan) based on the company doctor’s advice. Understanding your rights, obligations, and limits within this process is important.

  • Your employer reports your long-term sickness absence to the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency). Reintegration progress continues to be monitored, and concerns about job security often intensify during this phase.

  • Around week 52, you and your employer formally review the reintegration process and adjust plans if necessary.

  • If reintegration has not succeeded after nearly two years, a WIA assessment (Work and Income According to Labour Capacity Act) may follow through the UWV. This phase can involve significant practical, financial, and psychological stress.

What to expect, and when.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions I'm often asked.

I'm not yet on sick leave but I'm struggling at work. Can I still come to you?

Absolutely. Early psychological support often helps people manage before a situation deteriorates to the point of sick leave. You do not need to be on formal leave to benefit from counselling.

I'm currently on sick leave due to burnout. Can you help?

Yes. Burnout-related sick leave is one of the most common situations I work with. I can support both the psychological recovery and the practical navigation of the Dutch sick leave process running alongside it.

No. You can contact me directly. You do not need a diagnosis, referral, or formal sick leave status to begin counselling.

Do I need a referral or diagnosis?

Absolutely. Sessions are private and confidential. I do not share information with employers, HR, or occupational health services unless you explicitly request it in writing.

Are sessions confidential?

You don't have to figure this out alone.

Get in touch