What is happening at ASML?
At the end of January 2026, ASML announced that around 1,700 roles would disappear, about 1,400 of them in the Netherlands. Most are management roles in technology and IT. In June, union members approved a social plan (sociaal plan). It states that there will be no compulsory redundancies until 1 May 2027.
If you do not find a new role within ASML during that period, ASML will offer you a settlement agreement. This sets out when your employment ends and what you receive.
What the ASML social plan gives you
Time to find new work
For the Tech and IT transition, you can stay employed up to and including 30 April 2027. During that time you have priority for vacancies within ASML. You receive support from the internal mobility center and Randstad RiseSmart. If you need training, a budget of up to € 5,000 is available.
Your severance payment
The severance payment is based on 1 monthly salary per year of service at ASML. In addition:
- You always receive at least 4 monthly salaries.
- From age 50, you receive extra months: 1 from 50, 2 from 53, 3 from 56 and 4 from 60.
- The maximum is € 400,000 gross, or 24 monthly salaries if that is higher.
- If you are close to the Dutch state pension age, the payment may be capped. It will never be lower than the statutory transition payment.
Signing bonus and cooling-off period
If you sign your VSO within 10 working days and do not withdraw, you receive a signing bonus of 1 basic monthly salary, with a minimum of € 5,000 and a maximum of € 10,000 gross. That is helpful, but it also means you have to decide quickly.
Under Dutch law you have a 14-day cooling-off period after signing. If you use it and withdraw, you lose the signing bonus. So it is best to have your VSO checked before you sign, within those 10 working days. We take that deadline into account.
Budget for advice
ASML gives you a budget of € 1,250 (excluding VAT) for legal, tax or financial advice. You can use it to have your agreement checked.
What we check in your ASML settlement agreement
The right monthly salary
Your severance depends on how ASML defines monthly salary, and this differs per salary group. For groups 1 to 9, holiday allowance, fixed shift allowance, overtime, the 13th month and average profit sharing are included, among other things. For group 10 and above, the average STI bonus over the past three years is included. If something is missing, your payment will be lower.
Your years of service
Did you previously work for a legal predecessor of ASML, or did you have several consecutive contracts? We check whether all your years of service are counted correctly.
Your non-compete clause
As a rule, ASML will not hold you to your non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. For core engineering, sales and sourcing roles, there is an exception for companies ASML classifies as competitors, and the period is reduced from 12 to 9 months. Planning to join another chip company? We look at exactly what your VSO says.
STI, LTI and shares
LTI granted in your year of departure is calculated pro rata. Salary group 10 and above is entitled to a pro rata STI. We check that your STI, LTI, profit sharing and share plan are handled correctly.
Unemployment benefit (WW) and end date
We check that the reason for termination is worded correctly and that your notice period is respected. That way your Dutch unemployment benefit (WW) is not put at risk.
Your residence permit and the search period
Many international colleagues work at ASML on a residence permit linked to their job. ASML offers help with IND rules, an explanation of the three-month search period for a new job, and support with relocation, including a flight home and moving costs. Your end date in the VSO directly affects when that search period starts. We help you make sure your agreement and your residence situation fit together.
Be careful with a second suitable job offer
You may turn down a first offer of a suitable role without giving a reason. If you turn down a second offer, ASML will end your employment without applying the social plan. Unsure about an offer? Talk to us first.
Let us go through your ASML agreement with you
Losing your job is stressful, especially when your stay in the Netherlands depends on it. Send us your settlement agreement through the form. We check it free of charge, within your signing deadline, and explain in plain English what is right and what to look out for.
See also the overview of ongoing reorganisations (in Dutch).
