Self-employment declines as freelancers quickly find new jobs

After two decades of mostly uninterrupted growth, self-employment in the Netherlands has declined this year for the first time, with former freelancers quickly finding new jobs, according to the Dutch central bank (DNB).

There are 10% fewer self-employed workers this year than in 2024. Their numbers have fallen by some 131,000 since the end of 2024, when they peaked at almost 1.3 million.

In mid-2026, around 12% of the workforce was primarily self-employed, still a substantial share by international standards.

Little impact on unemployment
But according to the DNB, the decline has had little impact on unemployment, with half of former freelancers finding paid work within three months. About a third move to permanent positions or to jobs with prospects of a permanent contract. Others move into flex work. Only 7% become unemployed, which is comparable to previous years.

“Leaving self-employment therefore mainly results in movement within the labour market rather than a greater flow into unemployment,” the DNB said.

About half of former self-employed workers move to different sectors entirely, especially healthcare and social care, education and government, retail, transport and hospitality.

The DNB says this confirms that the Dutch labour market is dynamic. However, its research does not show how people’s income, productivity or employment conditions change after they leave self-employment for new work.

The DNB says it cannot say definitively why the decrease is happening. It does note that stricter enforcement against so-called false self-employment since 2025 may play a role.

“We observe relatively high levels of movement between self-employment and employment in sectors where false self-employment is frequently debated, including healthcare, construction, facility services and business services,” it said.