Four-Day Work Week in Netherlands

Dutch workers have quietly adopted a four-day working week. Gavin Arm and Bert de Wit run a branding company in Amsterdam. They switched to a four-day week seven years ago without cutting salaries or extending daily hours.

"Work-life balance was at the heart of it," says de Wit. He believes it's about "working smarter not harder." The Netherlands now has the shortest working week in Europe, averaging 32.1 hours per week.

Despite fewer hours, Dutch productivity remains among the highest in Europe. Marieke Pepers from software firm Nmbrs reports that staff sickness is down and retention is up since the change. "We had to be super-critical in how we prioritise our work," she explains.

However, economists warn of challenges. The OECD notes that Dutch productivity hasn't grown in 15 years. With an aging population, the country may need to increase productivity or expand its workforce to maintain its quality of life.