It is only possible to terminate an employment contract in the Netherlands with specific permission from the UWV (Dutch unemployment agency). There are basically four (4) different situations that constitute as “fair” grounds for dismissal of an employee in the Netherlands. Those situations are (1) dismissal by mutual agreement, (2) dismissal due to economic reasons (3) employee has a long-term incapacity to work or (4) Urgent case involving serious neglect or destructive conduct.