CV conventions in Netherlands & Belgium

These 2 countries follow broadly the same CV conventions: a photo is optional, date of birth is optional, 1–2 pages, and “references on request” is enough. The table below shows where individual countries differ.

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At a glance

CV conventions in Netherlands & Belgium
What it is called	Curriculum Vitae (usually written in Dutch or English)
Length	1–2 pages
Paper size	A4
Layout	Single column
Order	Most recent first
Dates	Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023)
Photo	Optional
Date of birth	Optional
Nationality	Optional
Marital status	Optional
Right to work / visa status	Optional
References	“References available on request” is fine
Explain gaps longer than	6 months

Tips

Direct, factual tone; a short profile and clear bullet points.
A photo is optional; date of birth and nationality are optional.
Mention languages with levels (CEFR A1–C2); multilingualism matters here.

Countries in this group

Country	Called	Usual language	Paper	Local differences
Belgium	Curriculum Vitae	French	A4	Belgium: write in the language of the region or employer (French, Dutch or German).
Netherlands	Curriculum Vitae	Dutch	A4

Other regions

Guidance checked October 2026. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.