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The renewed enforcement of rules around bogus self-employment since January 1st has caused unrest among freelancers in the Netherlands. No less than 19 percent say they are now considering quitting self-employment altogether. This is 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 reveals that more than half of freelancers (58%) are unclear whether they are still allowed to work as a self-employed professional under the current legislation. This lack of clarity is most strongly felt by freelancers in the fields of engineering & technology (80%), education (79%), and management & organization (77%).
Uncertainty and doubt across the board
Freelancers aren’t the only ones confused. Increased enforcement has also created uncertainty among clients, with two out of five freelancers (38%) noticing more reluctance from hiring parties. Those with two to five clients report this hesitation most often (43%). Freelancers in healthcare (38%) and IT (37%) are increasingly being turned away by their current clients.
Assignment volume already declining
Three out of five freelancers (59%) report a noticeable or suspected decline in the number of assignments due to stricter enforcement by the Dutch Tax Authority. The impact is 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%) are more likely to experience this drop.
Alternative employment offers rejected by majority of freelancers
Despite the enforcement pressure, alternatives to self-employment are not appealing to most freelancers. 40% of respondents say 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%) say they have not made a decision yet, and another 34% responded with open comments such as: “Then I stopped,” “I continued as a freelancer anyway,” or “I don’t want a contract.”
These responses reveal 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 is 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.
