Dutch hospitality hits record jobs but struggles with shortages of youths, harassment

The Dutch hospitality sector employed a record 522,005 people in 2025, but it still faces a persistent labor shortage and high rates of harassment, especially among young workers, according to Marijke Vuik, chair of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN).

Young people remain the backbone of the industry, making up 51 percent of all hospitality workers. Vuik told the Horecava trade fair in RAI Amsterdam, “We rely heavily on this group. We are feeling the tightness in the labor market sooner than other sectors, and we cannot solve the shortage because there are simply fewer people available for the same work.”

Vuik said innovation is key to coping with fewer staff. Automation, faster equipment, smarter workflow, and even robots could help behind the scenes, but she stressed that guest-facing roles must remain human. “Hospitality is and remains people’s work,” she said.

The sector also faces high rates of sexual harassment. Research by EenVandaag found that 72 percent of young female hospitality workers have experienced inappropriate behavior. On Monday, Mariëtte Hamer, government commissioner for sexual harassment and sexual violence, unveiled a new sector-wide plan at Horecava. It includes a reporting hotline and staff training. Hamer said, “Many young people work in hospitality. That 72 percent really needs to go down.”

Despite the risks, young people are still drawn to hospitality jobs. CNV union chair Piet Fortuin said, “Many young people want to work in hospitality because they enjoy interacting with people. It is important, however, to have a workplace where issues can be openly discussed.”