Avonduren

Avonduren is a Dutch-language term used to describe hours of work that occur in the evening, outside the conventional daytime working period. It is commonly encountered in employment contracts, collective labor agreements, and scheduling practices in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions. The concept centers on distinguishing evening work from daytime and night work for both scheduling and compensation purposes.

Because there is no single national definition of avonduren, the exact start and end times are defined by the relevant collective labor agreement (CAO), company policy, or statutory provisions. In practice, the evening window may range from late afternoon into the evening, with some agreements extending into the late night. The key idea is that these hours are perceived as part of the evening rather than ordinary daytime hours.

Avonduren can affect pay and conditions. Many CAOs provide for an evening premium, higher hourly wages, or different overtime rules for avonduren. The scheduling of these hours can influence employees’ work-life balance, commuting, and eligibility for rest periods.

Relation to other time categories: If avonduren spill over into designated night hours, the work may be governed by separate night-work rules, which typically impose stricter limits and may carry additional protections. In all cases, labor hours are subject to broader regulations on maximum hours, rest periods, and safety.

See also: Overtime, Nachtwerk, Arbeidstijdenwet (Working Hours Act), CAO (collective labor agreement).