The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) reported on October 22 that new business registrations rose 15% in the third quarter. Freelancers without staff drove most of the jump, with starts up 20%. The country counted 62,395 new businesses in the quarter.
The timing stands out. The Netherlands has spent the past year cracking down on false self-employment, and U.S. states keep tightening their own contractor tests. The Dutch numbers show that solo work can keep growing even when regulators push hard.
What The Dutch Numbers Show
KVK says 82% of the new businesses are sole proprietorships with no employees. Closures fell 4.3% to 36,610, and bankruptcies rose by less than 1%. On October 1, the country had more than 2.6 million registered businesses, up 1.5% from a year earlier.
The surge follows a rough stretch. The Dutch Tax Office began enforcing its false self-employment rules in 2025, and freelancer numbers dropped sharply afterward. Data from the Dutch central bank (DNB) tells the other half: the self-employed headcount fell by roughly 131,000 from a peak near 1.3 million at the end of 2024.
Why This Matters For Self-Employed Workers
The DNB found that leaving freelance work did not push people into unemployment. Half of former freelancers landed paid work within three months, and only 7% ended up jobless. About a third moved into permanent jobs or roles with a path to one.
Together, the two reports describe a market that churns rather than collapses. Some workers return to employment while new freelancers fill the gap. U.S. contractors face a similar mix, with clients leaning on outside talent while hiring stays cautious.
The two datasets measure different things: KVK counts new registrations, while the DNB counts the total stock of self-employed workers. Both can be true at once: many people start freelancing, yet the overall pool stays smaller than it was in 2024. For you, that means more competition from fresh entrants in a market that remains tighter than before.
What Self-Employed Workers Should Do Next
Check how your own arrangements would hold up under a strict contractor test. Review whether you set your own hours, use your own tools, and serve more than one client. Written contracts that match how you actually work protect both sides, so keep copies of your invoices and agreements in one place.
Keep a short list of backup options too. About half of former Dutch freelancers moved into other sectors, including health care, education, and retail. A plan B, such as part-time contract roles or a niche service offer, keeps income steady if a major client changes course.
What To Watch Next
Watch the next quarterly report from KVK to see whether the startup wave holds. The DNB also said its research cannot yet show how income and working conditions changed for people who left freelancing. That missing piece will shape how policymakers judge the crackdown.
Closer to home, the record 74.9 million independent workers MBO Partners counted shows the U.S. moving in the same direction. Keep an eye on state ABC tests too, such as the one in our report on New Jersey’s rules, now in effect.
