Entry-Level Marketing Jobs in the Netherlands: How to Get Hired in 2026

You want a marketing job in the Netherlands and you have no experience to show for it. The listings make that hard right now. On 14 October 2026, the JobRise feed showed 16 open marketing roles in the Netherlands, and not one of them had "junior", "intern", "graduate" or "trainee" in the title. Zero out of 16.

That number is a snapshot of one feed on one day, not a market survey. But it matches what most people hear back: the visible market is aimed at people with a track record. Breaking in takes a different route than clicking "apply" on the same eight listings everyone else sees.

What the current listings actually look like#

Ten of the 16 were posted in the last 30 days, and 8 of those landed in the last 7 days. So the feed moves, and roles appear in bursts rather than on a steady weekly drip.

The companies with the most open listings on that date were Next Job Abroad (4), Pearl Abyss Europe (2), Bunq (2), Treatwell (2) and CXG (2). Lighthouse Reports, Brafton, Infosys Consulting - Europe and OnLogic each had one. Some of those names are recruiters or staffing firms, so treat them as channels, not just employers.

Amsterdam held 6 listings, Utrecht 2, and Amstelveen, Oosterhout and Groningen one each. Job types were almost all full-time: 15 full-time and 1 contract. For wider context, the same feed carried 191 open listings across all categories in the Netherlands on that date.

No listing in this slice showed a salary. That is normal here for marketing roles, and it means you have to ask about the range early rather than guess.

Which titles you should aim at#

The open roles on 14 October 2026 read like this: "Marketing Graphic Designer" at Pearl Abyss Europe, "Social Media Manager" at Lighthouse Reports, "PR Manager" and "B2B Brand Manager" at Treatwell, "Marketing Manager" at OnLogic, "Freelance SEO Content Writer - Dutch" at Brafton, plus "Transaction Review Lead" at Bunq and "Third-Party Risk Management Program Lead" at Infosys Consulting - Europe. Notice how many of these are one-person functions or specialist posts, not team entry points.

For a first role, widen the target to titles that are hired at junior level even when the word "junior" is missing. Think along these lines:

• Marketing assistant or marketing executive
• Content creator, copywriter or SEO content writer
• Social media coordinator
• Marketing and communications officer
• CRM or email marketing specialist
• Digital marketing executive
• Growth or marketing intern (often unadvertised, so ask)

The Dutch-flavoured ones matter. "Marketing en communicatie medewerker" is a real job title here, and "medior" sits between junior and senior. If you read Dutch, you double your options overnight.

The skills Dutch employers actually check#

Hiring managers here tend to be practical and a bit blunt. They want to know what you can do on Monday morning, not that you are "passionate about brands". Three things come up again and again.

First, tools. Google Analytics 4, Meta Business Suite, an email platform such as Mailchimp or Klaviyo, a CMS like WordPress or Webflow, and basic Excel or Google Sheets. Canva is fine for social, but if the role says "Marketing Graphic Designer" you will need Adobe or Figma.

Second, language. English gets you into international companies in Amsterdam and Utrecht. Dutch opens the door to SMEs, agencies and anything with PR, copywriting or community work in it. For roles like the Brafton freelance SEO writer post, Dutch is the requirement, not a bonus.

Third, evidence. Certificates help, but a finished thing beats a certificate. Google's own analytics and digital marketing courses, HubSpot's content and inbound certifications, and Meta's blueprint courses are all free and recognised. Do them fast, then build proof.

Proof you can build in six weeks#

You do not need a job to have a portfolio. You need three projects that show a problem, what you did, and what happened.

Pick a local business in your city, a student association, or a cause you care about. Then run one small, measurable thing: a landing page with a signup form, a four-week Instagram or LinkedIn plan with actual posts shipped, an SEO audit of their existing site with prioritised fixes, or a short email sequence. Document it as a one-page case: goal, actions, screenshots, result or honest estimate. That is a portfolio.

One honest caveat: if you did not measure it, say so. Dutch hiring managers will ask follow-ups, and a made-up percentage will end the conversation.

A resume bullet that works with zero experience#

Most people write this:

"Responsible for social media and content for a small business."

Rewrite it like a person who did the work:

"Set up and ran Instagram for a Utrecht vintage shop with no prior presence: planned 12 posts around store events, wrote the captions in Dutch and English, and grew followers from 0 to 340 in three months with zero ad budget."

Same facts, but now it shows a starting point, a scope, and a number you can defend. Do this for every project, and use a free resume builder to keep the layout clean and readable.

Where entry-level openings actually get posted#

The advertised market is only part of it. In the Netherlands, junior marketing roles often go through:

• Company career pages, especially for scale-ups like Bunq and Treatwell
• Recruitment and staffing agencies, such as Next Job Abroad and CXG
• LinkedIn, both the jobs tab and the "open to work" signal recruiters filter on
• University boards and alumni groups, which are strong for internships
• Local platforms and city-based networks, since many SMEs never post nationally
• Direct outreach to the marketing lead at a company you like

The unadvertised half is where most first jobs come from. A short, specific message to a marketing manager beats fifty generic applications.

Your 7-step plan#

1. Pick a lane. Content, social, performance or CRM. Do not apply to all of them this month.
2. List ten companies in your city or field you would genuinely work for, including ones with no vacancy.
3. Build three small projects in six weeks, and write each one up as a one-page case with a number or an honest estimate.
4. Get two free certifications to pass the screening filter, then stop collecting them.
5. Rewrite your CV and LinkedIn around the projects, not around your studies or job titles.
6. Send twenty tailored messages to marketing leads, referencing one specific thing about their current marketing.
7. Follow up once after a week, then move on. Keep applying while you wait.

That plan takes about six weeks of evenings. It beats three months of spraying applications at the same listings.

What to expect on pay and paperwork#

Entry-level marketing salaries in the Netherlands vary widely by city, company size and language skills. Typical reported ranges for junior marketing roles run roughly from €2,400 to €3,200 gross per month, and Amsterdam tends to sit at the higher end. These are not guarantees and the numbers move, so check the current official sources such as the Dutch government's salary thresholds and the company's own posting before you negotiate.

If you are coming from outside the EU, ask about sponsorship early. Some employers in this slice are recruiters who place people across borders, but nothing about a listing guarantees a visa.

FAQ#

How many entry-level marketing jobs are open in the Netherlands right now?

On 14 October 2026, the JobRise feed showed 0 out of 16 marketing listings with a junior, intern, graduate or trainee title. That is a snapshot of one feed on one day, so check the live listings for today's picture.

Do I need Dutch to get a marketing job in the Netherlands?

Not always. English-only roles exist in international companies in Amsterdam and Utrecht, but Dutch opens SMEs, agencies and most PR or content work. Learning even basic Dutch makes a visible difference in callbacks.

What salary can I expect in an entry-level marketing role?

Typical reported ranges for junior marketing roles are roughly €2,400 to €3,200 gross per month, and they vary by city and company size. No listing in our slice showed a salary, so always verify current figures with official sources and ask the employer directly.

Are certifications enough to get hired without experience?

They help you pass initial screening, but they rarely win the job alone. Combine one or two recognised certifications with three small projects you can talk through in detail.

Should I apply to recruitment agencies for junior marketing roles?

Yes, they are a real channel in this market. Firms like Next Job Abroad and CXG appear among the most active listers, and they often handle roles that never reach public job boards.