Freelancing offers benefits such as freedom, flexibility, the ability to choose your own assignments, and potentially higher income.
Freelancing is about freedom, choice, and growth. You pick your assignments, set your rate, and design work around your life. In the Netherlands, there are also tax schemes and public-sector routes that make independent work even more attractive. This guide explains what freelancing gives you, and how to turn those advantages into real results.
You decide when, where, and with whom you work. Plan your week around projects, family, or study. Choose the set-up that lets you do your best work. More autonomy usually leads to higher satisfaction.
You set your hourly or project price. That lets you reflect value, scarce skills, and delivery speed. You can also negotiate scope, milestones, and timelines. Clear pricing + clear deliverables = faster client decisions.
You work across different clients and sectors. That keeps things fresh and accelerates learning. New stacks, markets, and teams mean short learning cycles and a portfolio that grows fast, useful for winning bigger, better-fit work.
Pick assignments that advance your goals: stretch projects for your CV, work with public impact, or fully remote gigs for more location freedom. Build a network around the future you want.
If you qualify as a Dutch sole proprietor (zzp’er), you may be eligible for tax benefits such as the self-employed deduction, starters’ deduction, and the Small Businesses Scheme (KOR) for VAT. Use the Dutch tax authority’s entrepreneur checks/guidance to see what applies to you, or consult the government’s English portal for entrepreneurs.
Tip: verify eligibility using official guidance and keep records from day one. Rules can change, always rely on current government information.
Many assignments in national and local government appear via Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DAS) and vendor portals. If you know the process—choose the right category, follow the format, submit on time. You gain access to large, stable clients with clear procedures. It’s transparent, deadline-driven, and a great way to build steady pipeline.
Not ready to jump all in? Start alongside your job. It’s a practical way to validate your niche, gather first cases, and learn how invoicing and taxes work. Do check your employment contract for side-gig or non-compete clauses.
Write a one-liner clients instantly understand:
I help [audience] with [problem] through [approach]; result: [proof].
Add 2–3 sector keywords (e.g., public sector, e-commerce, healthcare) and 3–5 skills/tools clients actually search for.
Use a rate range per assignment type (implementation, advisory, training). Ranges keep conversations efficient and give room for scope and deadlines.
Build 2–3 case snapshots: situation → approach → result. One metric per case is enough (+18% conversion, –25% lead time, NPS +1.2). Turn them into a one-pager or lightweight deck; add visuals or a repo link if relevant.
Striive brings clients and professionals together with smart matching and clear contracting and payment flows. You find better-fit assignments faster, keep control over choices and pricing, and avoid the administrative drag, so freelancing stays exactly what it should be: flexible, rewarding, and sustainable.