Freelancing in the Netherlands, also known locally as being a Zelfstandige Zonder Personeel (ZZP), has really taken off—the landscape is constantly evolving and almost always for the better.
With 2025 already one-quarter finished (scary), fresh data on freelance hourly rates across the nation has already begun to provide us with valuable insight on current market trends. Not every freelance job pays equally, but we’ll explore which industries are commanding the highest and lowest rates; we’ll check in to see how freelancers feel about the future, and we’ll give you the data to back it all up.
If you’re looking for an unabridged, in-depth look at these insights, be sure to wander through Knab’s comprehensive Uurtarievenboekje 2025 survey of 20,000 freelancers across 70 common professions.
Great news! Rates are growing all across the Netherlands
One clear trend is that many freelancers have raised their rates over the past year. According to the Knab survey, 63% of Dutch freelancers increased their hourly rate in 2024 in anticipation of 2025.
This indicates that a majority of ZZP’ers are adjusting prices, likely due to factors like inflation, increased expertise, or higher demand for their services. In fact, the average rate increase was around 4% nationally, though some professionals raised theirs even more.
Certain fields saw especially notable jumps. For instance…
- Artists led the pack with about a 10% increase in rates—the highest of all groups surveyed
- Contractors weren’t far behind, upping their fees by roughly 8%
- No shocker, electricians and other technical trades saw above-average adjustments, with around 77–80% of practitioners raising their rates.
- On the flip side, a few sectors were more cautious. For example, only 54% of copywriters raised their rates, indicating some hesitation or market constraints in certain creative fields.
The data shows that freelancers across multiple industries are recognizing the need to keep their pricing current. Even if a few industries were more reserved in pricing updates early-on this year, the majority of freelancers are matching changing markets and charging what their skills are worth—not underselling.
To generalise these trends, we’ve noticed that overall:
- Freelancers are charging more: Nearly two-thirds of ZZP’ers raised their rates last year, with a typical increase of ~4%.
- Stronger inflation and cost awareness: Given rising costs of living and doing business, freelancers are adjusting prices to maintain their income.
- Field-specific jumps increased: Creative and contracting sectors saw some of the biggest hikes (8–10%), whereas a few fields lagged slightly in rate increases.
- Regular updates are becoming more common: The trend suggests it’s becoming normal to review and update your freelance rate annually to keep up with this new market.
High earners vs. low earners: Who Charges What?
The data we’ve seen in 2025 shows a wide range of hourly rates across freelancers with varying professions.
There exists a rather significant gap between the highest and lowest freelance occupations. While significant in number, it reflects the healthy diversity of skills and market demands one can find in the Dutch economy; accessibility into a broad range of skills, gigs and time investments comes easier with such a spread.
The Netherlands highest earning freelance professions in 2025
At the top end, knowledge-intensive and specialized professionals command premium fees. Legal consultants and jurists lead the rankings with an average hourly rate around €133—the highest of all surveyed groups. Close behind are roles in IT and consulting; for example, experienced IT architects charge roughly €116 per hour on average, and business analysts or tax advisors also often top €100+ per hour.
It’s not uncommon for skilled consultants, software developers, architects, or medical specialists to bill rates in the high two digits or even over €120 for the most in-demand expertise.
The Netherlands lowest earning freelance professions in 2025
Meanwhile, at the lower end of the spectrum are occupations in sectors with traditionally lower market rates or high competition. Cleaners (schoonmakers) have the lowest average freelance rate at about €32 per hour. Other lower-paid examples include security personnel and cooks, who earn in the mid-€30s per hour range. These roles, often more labor-intensive or commoditized, illustrate how much earnings can vary.
The nationwide average hourly rate likely falls somewhere between these extremes, reflecting a mix of high-paid specialists and lower-paid service providers. Access to both ends means the freelance industry is quite all-inclusive in the Netherlands.
- Legal Consultant / Jurist: ~€133/hour (highest overall)
- IT/Technical Architect: ~€116/hour
- Accountant / Financial Advisor: ~€111/hour on average
- Marketing Consultant / Copywriter: ~€75–€80/hour
- Web Developer: ~€70/hour (mid-range)
- Chef / Cook: ~€36/hour
- Cleaner: ~€32/hour (lowest)
These figures are averages; actual rates depend on experience, specialization, and the scope of work.
What’s behind these Dutch hourly-rate trends?
Sometimes it’s just the cost of doing business, but between a globally-growing cost of living and properly paid skillsets lies our answer.
Specialised skills are in demand: In today’s knowledge economy, companies are willing to pay a premium for niche expertise. Highly skilled knowledge workers (e.g. IT experts, healthcare professionals, legal advisors) are in high demand, allowing them to charge higher rates. For instance, in fields like data analysis and medicine, over 95% of freelancers report strong demand for their work. When your skills are scarce or critical, clients expect to pay more for your time.
Experience and reputation: Seasoned freelancers who have built up 10+ years of experience often justify higher rates. The survey data indicates that veteran professionals typically charge more than newcomers in the same field. (For example, an experienced Scrum Master earns about €102/hour vs. €86/hour for a starter in that role.) As you gain portfolio and trust, you can command a better price.
The cost of doing business: Freelancers must cover their own expenses, from taxes, insurance, equipment, training, and non-billable hours. Many raised rates ~4% last year partly to keep up with inflation and rising costs. If you don’t adjust your fees occasionally, your real income can decline.
Market transparency: With resources like the Knab rate book and online communities, freelancers today have more insight into what others charge. This transparency encourages aligning rates with market averages. It also helps to self-identify if you’re undercharging for your sector.
Confidence and positioning: Interestingly, psychology plays a somewhat major role. Setting a higher rate can signal professionalism. One finding was that charging too low may cause clients not to take you seriously. Savvy freelancers balance being competitive with not underselling their value. The overall positive sentiment among freelancers—86% feel optimistic about their business future—suggests many are confident in asking for fair compensation.
Our outlook for 2025 and beyond?
All signs indicate that the Dutch freelance sector will remain robust in 2025. The majority of freelancers are bullish about their prospects, and with good reason.
Businesses continue to seek flexible, specialized talent, and many freelancers are better informed about their worth than ever before. We’re seeing a more empowered freelance workforce: adjusting rates proactively, specializing to differentiate themselves, and leveraging data to make decisions.
For freelancers (and aspiring ones), staying on top of these trends is vital. Regularly benchmark your rates against industry peers, and don’t be afraid to revise your pricing as your experience grows or market conditions change.
Remember that while setting the right hourly rate is key to your income, how you manage that income is equally important. This is where Xolo can help Dutch freelancers thrive. Xolo offers a hassle-free solution for managing your freelance finances and compliance, from automated invoicing and bookkeeping to ensuring you meet all tax obligations with ease. By offloading the boring (but necessary) admin work, you can free up more hours to do what you do best—whether it’s coding, consulting, designing, or any craft—and maybe even increase those billable hours per week.
Elevate your freelance business in 2025! Explore Xolo’s all-in-one platform for ZZP’ers in the Netherlands to make your freelance journey smoother: Start now with Xolo.
