Much research is done by governmental institutions to support policy decisions, to advise Ministries and to understand societal behaviour. Researchers, analysts and policy advisors are demanded in several disciplines, like: IT, finance, law, policy, behavioural and social sciences.

You can think of governmental organizations like the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), the National Police, the Central Bureau for Statistics and the Netherlands Court of Audit.

Some of the tasks you can expect as a researcher at a governmental institution are:

  • Conducting research in interdisciplinary projects
  • Data analysis
  • Writing research reports
  • Policy advising
  • Knowledge integration
  • Connecting science and policy

You will find most governmental jobs on werkenbijdeoverheid.nl and werkenvoornederland.nl.

Competencies

For a research job in the governmental sector it is important to bring good research skills and expertise on a subject. In addition, the following skills are beneficial:

  • Political sensitivity
  • Persuasiveness
  • Collaboration skills
  • Creativity
  • Project management skills
  • Dutch language skills

Most of the institutions operate in Dutch. Although English is the second common language in the Netherlands, in the governmental sector Dutch language skills are almost always necessary. For example, to write Dutch policy papers or research publications. Find out more about learning Dutch.

Salary indication

Scale 10-13 - wetenschappelijk medewerker, Government Collective Labour Agreement (CAO Rijk)