Freelancing in The Netherlands: Pros & Cons of Being a ZZP’er

Among the many wondering if “Freelancing is the right choice” for you?

The Dutch’s ZZP structure for a one-person business is among the simplest to set up. But that doesn’t mean making the decision to build your freelance career in the Netherlands is equally easy. Weighing the pros and cons takes time, and a confident step into a new professional culture.

A painless registration with the KvK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce) will get your business going. Let’s break down some of the advantages, and potential disadvantages, of what comes after. 

If you’re serious about building your freelance career, this article will help you decide if Holland is the best place to lay some foundation.

5 advantages freelancers love having in the Netherlands

Personal and creative freedom are at the epicenter of every freelancer’s business. Globally, more professionals take the reins of this liberating journey each year. 

The Dutch government has been fighting for those freelancers, paving the way for thousands of businesses by implementing comprehendable and fair tax systems, alongside clear-cut routes and registration processes for launching one-person operations. 

When it comes to being a freelancer in the Netherlands, there are plenty of advantages that draw solopreneurs to the ZZP lifestyle. Here’s our top 6:

• Flexibility and independence: It’s well-known that freelancing offers the benefit of setting your own schedule, taking the time off you need when you need it, and choosing when and how to set your prices and salary. Being a ZZP’er in the Netherlands lets you foster that freedom in a land rich with opportunities and clients, as well as
  
  
• Owning your employment: Falling in close proximity with flexibility and independence, being your own employer gives you full control over the scope of your work and defining your role. The tasks you take, partnerships you create and accomplishments you make will be your own. And if you’re ready to grow your business, moving from a ZZP to a Dutch B.V. is simple.
  
  
• Tax deductions and financial benefits: The Dutch tax system offers generous incentives for entrepreneurs. ZZP’ers can take advantage of special tax deductions and allowances that employees can’t, to significantly lower their tax bills. There are credits like the zelfstandigenaftrek (self-employed allowance) and startersaftrek (startup allowance) that specifically reduce your taxable income in the early years of your business. You can also deduct business expenses (equipment, travel costs, training courses, etc.) from your profits. These tax benefits let you keep more of what you earn and invest it back into your business’ growth.
  
  
• Access the Dutch and EU markets: Setting up as a freelancer in the Netherlands opens the door to a powerful market. You’re not limited to just Dutch clients; you can work with businesses and customers across the entire EU. Thanks to the EU’s single market, a Dutch ZZP’er can provide services to clients in Germany, France or any other EU country without complex regulations. You can invoice internationally (in euros or other currencies) and even opt to work in English or Dutch, as many Dutch companies operate bilingually. This access to a broad market means more potential clients and opportunities to scale your income.
  
  
• Low entry barrier: Starting as a ZZP’er is straightforward and affordable. A Dutch sole proprietorship comes with minimal paperwork and cost. Register your business with the KvK for a small fee, and you’re basically ready to go. There’s no required starting capital or notary process for a ZZP. This ease of starting makes the ZZP structure the easiest way to get started with a business in the Netherlands, perfect for testing the waters of entrepreneurship without a massive upfront investment.
  
  

👉 Pro Tip: Tempted by these voordelen (advantages)? With the right support, you can maximize all the upsides of freelancing without getting bogged down by the hassle. Sign up for Xolo’s Netherlands product and let Xolo handle the boring admin stuff while you enjoy the freedom and rewards of being your own boss 🚀

5 disadvantages with being a ZZP’er in the Netherlands

We’ll be among the first to agree that freelancing isn’t all sunshine and stroopwafels – there are certainly challenges to consider. 

While the benefits often outweigh these challenges, it’s important to be open-minded to both ends of the spectrum. Individual preferences and situations may call for different choices when building a career. Here are some of the main potential disadvantages we’ve identified when being a ZZP’er in the Dutch context:

• Income instability: One of the biggest questions to ask when thinking “is freelancing right for me?” is whether you can handle an irregular income. As a freelancer, your earnings often fluctuate month to month. Some months you might have more work (and cash flow) than you can handle, and other months could be very quiet. There’s no guaranteed paycheck on the 25th of each month. This income instability means you need to budget carefully, build an emergency fund, and continually strive for new clients or projects to avoid dry spells. It can be stressful not knowing exactly how much you’ll make each period, especially compared to the steady salary of traditional employment.
  
  
• No employer benefits/pensions: When you work for yourself, you don’t get the built-in benefits that come with a regular job. There’s no employer-contributed pension plan, no paid vacation days, no sick leave, and no company-paid health insurance or disability insurance. Retirement savings and insurance are 100% your own responsibility as a ZZP’er. This means you need discipline to set aside money for your pension (for example, by investing in a private retirement fund) and consider taking out a disability insurance (arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering) to protect your income if you get injured or ill.
  
  
• Isolation and loneliness: Freelancing often means working alone, especially if you’re a one-person business without staff (the literal definition of ZZP). You might be working from home most of the time, separated from the social environment of an office or team. There’s no watercooler chat, and no colleagues to bounce ideas off day-to-day. You have to be proactive in building a network––many ZZP’ers join co-working spaces, attend networking events, or connect with other freelancers online to create a sense of community. While the freedom is great, some people miss the camaraderie that comes with working in a team.
  
  
• Administrative burden: Every ZZP’er quickly discovers that running a business means dealing with a lot of paperwork. Invoices, bookkeeping, quarterly BTW (VAT) returns, income tax filings, keeping track of receipts and expenses – the administrative tasks can pile up fast and become a major headache, especially if you’re not familiar with Dutch tax rules. Staying compliant with all the regulations takes time and attention to detail. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the bureaucracy of freelancing in the Netherlands, particularly if you’d rather focus on your actual work instead of forms and spreadsheets.
  
  

Managing the administrative side of freelancing is a major challenge – but we’ve got the good news: this is one disadvantage you can minimize with the right tools. 

Xolo is designed to automates tasks like creating invoices, tracking expenses, and even filing your VAT returns, so you don’t have to spend your weekends hunched over bookkeeping software. In fact, Xolo will handle the heavy lifting of compliance and accounting so you can focus on your clients and projects instead of drowning in admin. 

Sign up for Xolo’s Netherlands product today to offload tedious paperwork and reclaim time for the work you love ✅

Make freelancing in the Netherlands worth every second–go Xolo

So, is being a ZZP’er worth it? The answer ultimately depends on your goals and preferences. If you value flexibility, independence and the thrill of building something on your own, the voordelen of freelancing in the Netherlands can far outweigh the nadelen. Yes, you’ll face challenges like income fluctuation and extra responsibilities, but with careful planning and the right support, these challenges are manageable. Many freelancers will tell you that the freedom and satisfaction of running your own business make it all worthwhile.

You don’t have to tackle everything alone. One of the biggest cons – the paperwork and administrative burden––can be made almost painless with the help of platforms like Xolo. When you let Xolo take care of the admin (taxes, accounting, compliance, invoicing), you free yourself up to concentrate on growing your business and enjoying the Dutch freelance lifestyle.

With passion, planning, and a bit of support, you can turn the ZZP life into a rewarding and profitable adventure. Good luck on your journey, or as we say in Dutch: veel succes!