Work as a groundworker in The Hague
As a groundworker, you dig trenches, expose cables and pipes with a shovel and backfill the trench afterwards. The crew is small and works outside.
- Hourly wage (indication) €15.98 to €16.97 gross per hour
- Start time Usually 07:00
Applying and registering with us is free of charge.
What you do in and around the trench
You dig by hand where the excavator cannot or may not go.
- Digging trenches by hand and trimming them to depth
- Exposing cables and pipes with a shovel
- Guiding the excavator operator during digging
- Helping with sewers, manholes and house connections
- Laying ducts and cables in the trench
- Backfilling and compacting the trench in layers
Where you work
- Streets getting a new sewer
- Pavements where cables or fibre go in
- Sites being prepared for building
What you bring to work in the trench
- You work outside all year and dig, lift and bend a lot
- You understand a toolbox talk in Dutch or English
- You stop digging when unsure about a cable or pipe
- A category B driving licence is often required
For work in a trench on a construction site, the minimum age is 18.
Honest about your pay with and without experience
As a newcomer to construction, you usually start on a general labourer's starting wage. Your hourly wage only rises with experience.
Gross hourly wage without experience, aged 21 and over
€15.98 to €16.97 gross per hour
This is an indication, not a promised wage. Your hourly wage is always stated in the job.
- With experience
- €18.95 to €21.24 gross per hour
Night and weekend work often brings extra pay.
Source: starting table and wages for job groups A to C, Bouw en Infra collective labour agreement (cao), 1 July 2026. Checked on 5 October 2026.
On site at 07:00, in winter too
Mostly day work
The crew usually starts at 07:00. Night and weekend work comes up on roads, sewers and cables.
Frost and storms stop work
Frozen ground, a storm or a trench full of water stops the work.
Summer construction break
During the construction break (bouwvak), many crews take three weeks off.
Certificates and instructions for safe digging
VCA Basis
Always requiredIn practice, nearly every contractor requires this Dutch safety certificate.
Protective equipment
Always requiredYou get S3 safety boots, a helmet, hearing protection and high visibility clothing free of charge.
Careful digging instruction
Often asked forA toolbox talk or course teaches you to prevent damage to cables and pipes.
Clear agreements before you step into the trench
The wage is in the advert
The advert shows your gross hourly wage. It is at least what permanent colleagues get for that work.
You know the workplace beforehand
Beforehand, you hear the street, your start time and your contact on site.
Questions about hours or pay
Phone or message our team, also during a project.
From the shovel to a trade of your own
- Groundworker
- Skilled civil engineering operative
- Street paver, pipe layer, cable layer or excavator operator
- Team leader
You become a skilled operative by combining a course with work.
Groundworker jobs in and around The Hague
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From your application to your first working day
At every step you know what happens and who you can call.
You apply or register
You can use the form, send us a WhatsApp message or call us, also without a CV.
We call you
Our team calls you to get to know you and to hear what work you are looking for.
You hear what the work is
Before you start, you hear the tasks, the working hours, the gross hourly wage and what to bring.
You start working
On your first day you know where to go and who to call if you have a question.
Questions about digging, pay and experience
Why do I dig with a shovel beside an excavator?
Near cables and pipes, the machine is too rough. You first dig a trial hole by hand to see what is there.
Do I submit the excavation notification myself?
No, the company does that. You work from the drawing kept on site.
Is a groundworker's wage higher than a general labourer's?
Not if construction is new to you, because the starting wage is the same. Later your trade knowledge counts and your hourly wage goes up.
Can I start if I have never worked in a trench?
That differs per job. Each advert states whether experience is required.
Does the work go on when it freezes?
No, digging stops when the ground is frozen. Ask us beforehand what that means for your pay.
Are there costs when I apply through Groos?
No, we charge nothing for applying or registering. A CV is not needed either.
Ready to put a shovel in the ground?
Pick a job or register, no CV needed. Our team then phones you about the work you want.
You can also apply without a CV.