Discover why hospitality entrepreneurs are receiving the first HOP invoices, when the premium started, and what the mandatory contribution funds within the hospitality sector.
Many hospitality entrepreneurs have recently discovered a new item in their mailbox: the first invoices for the HOP premium. For some, this came as a surprise, often because the exact start date and calculation method weren’t entirely clear. In this article, we break down what HOP is, why the premium must be paid, when the obligation started, and when you can expect the first invoices.
What Is HOP?
The Hospitality Development Platform (HOP) is a collective fund created by the sector’s social partners, including Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN), CNV, and De Horecabond.
The goal is simple: strengthening the hospitality sector through coordinated investments in:
training and development for employees
improved working conditions
campaigns to enhance the sector’s appeal and image
initiatives around sustainability and long-term sector development
In essence, HOP pools resources to support the entire hospitality ecosystem, funded jointly by employers and employees.
Why Are You Receiving an Invoice Now?
If your business falls under the hospitality collective labour agreement (CAO), you are automatically included in the HOP scheme. Both employer and employee contribute: the total premium is 0.2% of gross wages, 0.1% paid by the employer, and 0.1% withheld from employees.
This contribution is not optional; it is a binding agreement within the sector’s CAO.
Receiving an invoice simply means the fund is now formally implementing premium collection.
From When Does HOP Apply and When Did the Premium Start?
The HOP CAO regulation was declared generally binding in September 2024.
Actual premium collection started on 1 April 2025. From this date onward, employers must contribute 0.1% of the gross wage bill and must also withhold 0.1% from employees.
The first invoices are sent in the autumn of 2025, typically covering the second quarter of 2025 (April–June).
After that, invoices are issued periodically, often quarterly.
So while the framework was established earlier, the real financial obligation began on 1 April 2025, and the first invoices logically follow later in the year.
What Exactly Are You Paying For?
Your contribution funds sector-wide initiatives aimed at strengthening and modernising the hospitality sector, including:
Employee training and professional development
Improvements in working and employment conditions
Sector campaigns to attract and retain staff
Innovation, sustainability, and long-term strategic development
HOP isn’t designed to benefit individual businesses alone, the goal is to lift the entire sector.
What Should You Do as an Entrepreneur?
Check your payroll administration from 1 April 2025 onward to ensure both parts of the premium (employer and employee share) are processed correctly.
Budget for periodic invoices, beginning in late 2025.
Communicate clearly with employees about the deduction, transparency avoids unnecessary questions later.
Conclusion
The HOP premium has been mandatory since 1 April 2025. If you are receiving your first invoice now, that is entirely expected and part of the sector’s agreed-upon premium structure. The 0.2% contribution (split between employer and employee) finances initiatives that strengthen the hospitality sector through training, better working conditions, image improvement, and long-term development.
