A New Direction for Freelancers in The Netherlands

With Thierry Aartsen stepping in as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, a clear shift in policy toward freelancers is emerging.

The previous government spent years working on the VBAR legislation, intended to clarify the distinction between employees and self-employed workers. In practice, it created more uncertainty than clarity. Aartsen has already scrapped most of this proposal in his first weeks in office.

What remains is the “presumption of employment” for low-paid freelancers. This allows individuals with low hourly rates to go to court and claim employee status if they believe they are falsely classified as self-employed.

The real change, however, lies in the underlying approach. Previously, the system leaned toward: employee, unless proven otherwise. The new initiative flips this to: self-employed, unless proven otherwise. That shift in perspective is significant.

For many freelancers, the past few years have felt restrictive, with increased enforcement and growing hesitation among clients to hire independent professionals. This new direction signals more recognition of freelancing as a legitimate and valuable way of working.

The core assessment criteria remain largely the same and focus on two areas:

Entrepreneurship

• Do you have multiple clients?
• Do you invest in your own tools and business?
• Do you actively acquire clients?

Working relationship

• Do you control how the work is performed?
• Or are working hours and instructions largely dictated by the client?

The proposed framework will also introduce more sector-specific distinctions, meaning that in some industries individuals are more likely to be classified as employees than in others.

There is also a clear sense of urgency. Part of the revised legislation, specifically the presumption of employment, is expected to be submitted to parliament before the summer. This is tied to a deadline of August 31, linked to eligibility for European recovery funds.

The broader goal is to restore stability in the labor market. Uncertainty in recent years has made many organizations reluctant to engage freelancers. Alongside legislative changes, the government is even considering a public campaign to reduce that hesitation.

My view is that this could mark an important step toward a more balanced labor market. Less ambiguity, more trust, and clearer rules for both freelancers and clients. The real impact will depend on how these plans are implemented in practice.

I am curious to hear what others are seeing in the market right now.