Enforcement of bogus self-employment rules sparks unrest: one in five freelancers considers quitting

The renewed enforcement of rules around bogus self-employment caused unrest among freelancers in the Netherlands in 2025. No less than 19 percent said they are considering quitting self-employment altogether. This was one of the findings from recent research conducted among 2,297 freelancers by Bovib, HeadFirst Group, NBBU, PZO, RIM, SoloPartners, Temper, and YoungOnes.

The study revealed that more than half of freelancers (58%) were unclear whether they were still allowed to work as a self-employed professional under the current legislation. This lack of clarity was most strongly felt by freelancers in the fields of engineering & technology (80%), education (79%), and management & organization (77%).

Would you like to know more about how you can continue to work with self-employed professionals safely and compliantly in 2026? In our article, you can read all about the new government's legislative proposals concerning self-employed professionals and which rules are currently still being enforced.

Uncertainty and doubt across the board

Freelancers weren't the only ones confused. Increased enforcement had also created uncertainty among clients, with two out of five freelancers (38%) noticing more reluctance from hiring parties. Those with two to five clients, reported this hesitation most often (43%). Freelancers in healthcare (38%) and IT (37%) were increasingly being turned away by their current clients.

Assignment volume already declining

Three out of five freelancers (59%) reported a noticeable or suspected decline in the number of assignments due to stricter enforcement by the Dutch Tax Authority. The impact was especially apparent in the IT (56%), HR (53%), and healthcare (51%) sectors. Additionally, freelancers with only one client (48%) and those with two to five clients (42%) were more likely to experience this drop.

Alternative employment offers rejected by majority of freelancers

Despite the enforcement pressure, alternatives to self-employment were not appealing to most freelancers. 40% of respondents said they have been offered another form of employment, usually a payroll or temp contract, by their clients. However, only 18% chose to accept such an offer. Nearly half (48%) said they have not made a decision yet, and another 34% responded with open comments such as: “I 'd rather stop instead,” “I continued as a freelancer anyway,” or “I don’t want a contract.”

These responses revealed a clear trend: the vast majority of freelancers are not looking to switch to traditional employment. This finding is backed by their primary motivations: 82% say they value “the freedom to choose their own working hours and days,” and 64% cite “variety in work” as a key reason to remain self-employed.

When this is combined with the earlier statistic, that 1 in 5 freelancers was considering quitting, it paints a troubling picture for the future of the labor market: people are not being pushed into contracts, but out of work entirely.

A call for legal clarity and balance

The study’s initiators urge policymakers, government bodies, and employers to work together on creating a clearer and fairer labor market, one where compliance goes hand-in-hand with autonomy. Only then can the Netherlands build a future-proof labor model that works for freelancers and clients alike.

About the study

This study was conducted by Sparkey | Motivaction on behalf of Bovib, HeadFirst Group, NBBU, PZO, RIM, SoloPartners, Temper, and YoungOnes. A total of 2,297 freelancers affiliated with these organizations participated. Data was collected between June 3 and June 27, 2025.