Who We Are and What We Do at BlueStone

Who we are

BlueStone Solutions B.V. is a Dutch employment and immigration specialist based in the Alkmaar region, just north of Amsterdam. We are a recognised sponsor with the IND (the Dutch immigration service); we are certified under the NEN 4400-1 standard; and we are a member of the VVDN, the association for highly skilled migrant service providers.

Those three credentials matter more than they might sound. Recognised sponsor status lets us apply for highly skilled migrant permits and EU Blue Cards directly with the IND, which is why our applications are typically decided within two to eight weeks rather than months. NEN 4400-1 certification means our payroll administration and tax compliance are independently audited, so the companies we work with are protected from hidden liabilities. And our VVDN membership keeps us at the table when the rules change, which in the Netherlands happens more often than most people realise.

We are a small, hands-on team. When you call us, you speak to someone who knows your file. That is deliberate. Immigration and employment are personal, and we think the service should be too.

One thing we are not: a recruitment agency. We do not place candidates. We make it possible for the people you have already found, or the job you have already been offered, to become a legal, compliant, working reality in the Netherlands.

What we do

Our services can be used on their own or combined, depending on your situation. Broadly, they fall into three groups.

For people

If you are a highly skilled professional from outside the EU, we guide you through the route that fits you best:

• Highly skilled migrant permit (kennismigrant), the most common route for degree-holders with a Dutch job offer

• EU Blue Card, for those who want mobility across Europe alongside their Dutch residency

• Orientation year, for recent graduates who want a year to find work in the Netherlands

• Remote job opportunities, for professionals working for an employer abroad who want to be based here

• 30% rulingguidance, the tax facility that can make a significant difference to your net income

• Employer of Record Solution BlueStone officially employs you on behalf of another company.

We also run the BlueStone App, a job portal where highly skilled migrants and Dutch employers can find each other.

For companies

If you want to hire international talent but are not (yet) a recognised sponsor, we offer several ways to move forward:

• Employer of Record: BlueStone becomes the legal employer of your new hire in the Netherlands. We take on the contract, payroll, taxes, social security and, because we are a recognised sponsor, the permit. Your employee works under your direction from day one, and you receive a single monthly invoice.

• Dutch payroll and employment: outsource the monthly administration of salaries, payroll taxes and statutory payments to us, whether or not immigration is involved.

• Highly skilled migrant and EU Blue Card applications: we prepare, submit and monitor the application on your behalf.

• Becoming a recognised sponsor: if you plan to hire from outside the EU regularly, we can help you obtain your own recognised sponsor status with the IND.

For recognised sponsors

Companies that already hold recognised sponsor status still need a partner for the administration around it. We support recognised sponsors with permit applications, compliance monitoring, payroll and everything in between, so the status you have worked to obtain stays in good standing.

How we work

Every case follows the same five steps, and we keep you informed at each one.

1. Gathering information. We assess the candidate, the role and the employer to confirm the route and the conditions.

2. Agreement. Together we agree the salary conditions and the services required.

3. Application. We submit the application to the IND and monitor it, usually for two to eight weeks.

4. Immigration. Once the IND approves, the employee can travel to the Netherlands.

5. Let's work. After collecting the permit, work begins, and we stay alongside you for the questions that come afterwards.

Why it matters

The Netherlands is one of the most attractive places in Europe to work and live, and one of the most regulated. Salary thresholds change every year. Recognised sponsor rules tightened on 1 January 2026, and further changes are on the way. Dutch employment law has its own logic around sick pay, holiday allowance, pension and dismissal that surprises even experienced international HR teams.

We handle all of this so you don't have to. Our aim is simple: to take an opportunity that looks complicated on paper and turn it into a signed contract, a valid permit and a good start in the Netherlands.

Let's talk about your situation

Every company and every highly skilled migrant is different, which is why our solutions are always tailored. Whether you are an employee, an employer or a recruitment agency working with international talent, get in touch and we will tell you frankly what is possible and how long it will take.

Call us on +31 72 303 4081 or reach us through the contact page at bluestone.nl.