Dutch business start-ups rise by more than 15% in third quarter
The Chamber of Commerce counted 62,395 new businesses, the strongest rise in years. More than eight in ten were freelancers (zzp'ers), self-employed people without staff.
The Chamber of Commerce (KVK) counted more than 15% more new businesses in the Netherlands in the third quarter than a year earlier. It is the strongest rise in years.
The number of new sole proprietorships (eenmanszaken) in particular grew, standing 20% higher than a year earlier. Of all 62,395 starters, more than eight in ten are zzp'ers. New bv's (private limited companies) rose by 3.2%, a weaker increase.
Fewer businesses closed. In the third quarter 36,610 were dissolved, 4.3% fewer than a year earlier. Bankruptcies rose slightly, by less than 1%. On 1 October more than 2.6 million businesses were registered with the KVK, 1.5% more than a year ago.
The KVK linked the figures to the political debate: "Despite discussions about false self-employment and measures to curb the use of zzp'ers, this form of entrepreneurship remains an important part of the economy." False self-employment (schijnzelfstandigheid) means someone is a zzp'er on paper but does the same work as an employee in practice.
Politicians have struggled with the rules on zzp'ers for ten years. The new Zelfstandigenwet (self-employed act) is due to take effect in 2028.
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KVK (Kamer van Koophandel)
The Chamber of Commerce (KVK) is the Dutch public register of businesses, where companies operating in the Netherlands are registered in the Handelsregister. It also gives entrepreneurs business information and advice. Its registration figures are widely used to track how many new businesses are started.
zzp'er (zelfstandige zonder personeel)
A zzp'er is a self-employed person who works for their own account without employees, similar to a freelancer or sole trader. Most zzp'ers register with the KVK as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) or as a freelancer. Whether someone counts as self-employed or as an employee is a legal question that matters for their rights and obligations.
Zelfstandigenwet
The Zelfstandigenwet is a new Dutch law on self-employed workers (zzp'ers). It sets rules for when someone can be treated as genuinely self-employed and when they should be treated as an employee. It is meant to replace the long-running uncertainty over zzp'er rules.