New ZZP Legislation in 2026
The latest on LAW VBAR
Dutch self-employed legislation continues to evolve. While the VBAR law was originally intended to clarify false self-employment, political attention now seems to be shifting toward the proposed Self-Employed Act (Zelfstandigenwet). This potential new zzp law, expected around 2026, aims to provide clearer upfront guidance on when someone can genuinely operate as an independent professional.
For IT freelancers and hiring companies, this matters. The IT sector relies heavily on flexible talent, interim specialists, and freelance expertise to stay innovative and agile.
Why a new ZZP law?
In recent years, uncertainty around false self-employment in the Netherlands has increased. Since tax authorities resumed stricter enforcement, some organizations have become more cautious about hiring freelancers — including in IT, where independent specialists are often essential.
The Self-Employed Act aims to reduce this uncertainty by assessing factors such as:
- demonstrable entrepreneurship (e.g., multiple clients, business independence)
- how the working relationship with the client is structured
- sector-specific considerations where relevant
The goal is to reduce grey areas without limiting the flexibility the market depends on.
What does this mean for IT freelancers and clients?
For now, daily practice remains largely unchanged. If you work with:
✔ clear project-based agreements
✔ a professionally structured collaboration
✔ a market-conform hourly rate (often €36+ indicative)
the risk of discussions around false self-employment generally stays limited.
For IT hiring companies, this mainly means ensuring contracts, project scopes, and collaboration structures are set up properly. For IT freelancers, it means continuing to visibly operate as an independent professional.
Stay prepared — but don’t panic
The final shape of the 2026 ZZP legislation is not yet confirmed. Political decision-making is still ongoing and details may change. What is clear, however, is that transparency, solid agreements, and professional collaboration will only become more important.
Unsure whether your IT contracts or freelance setup are future-proof?
WannaFlex is happy to think along with you — whether you’re an IT freelancer or hiring one.
