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The Netherlands has, just like Australia, a school-based system of vocational education, and also an apprenticeship system, which are under pressure to respond to a changing economy. Firstly, the reforms in Dutch vocational education during the last ten years are discussed. In recent years the vocational education system has had to adapt to fundamental changes in job demands as well as to a strongly growing number of vocational students. The qualification system has been thoroughly restructured and various vocational learning paths and school types (apprenticeship system and school-based vocational education; initial and adult vocational education) are now integrated into one vocational education and training (VET) system. New content for vocational education has been proposed to better respond to the needs of a changing economy and labour market. New vocational curricula have been developed. It is, however, questionable if the object of delivering broad vocational competence has been reached. So further reforms are considered necessary.