Registering as a zzp’er takes an afternoon. Getting your first Dutch client when nobody knows your name is the part nobody warns you about.
You’ve picked a business name, booked your KVK appointment and joined the roughly 1.2 million self-employed people working across the Netherlands. Then comes the quiet panic: where do the clients actually come from?
The Netherlands is still a nation of freelancers
For an international, going solo here is less unusual than it might feel.
The Netherlands has one of the highest shares of self-employed workers in Europe, with around 1.2 million people whose main job is working as a zzp’er (short for zelfstandige zonder personeel, or self-employed without staff).
The overall number dipped slightly in 2025 as the tax office cracked down on false self-employment. But the sectors where many internationals land, like ICT and specialist business services, kept growing, according to figures from the KVK.
A quick recap: what “going zzp” actually means
In practice, most freelancers register with the KVK (the Dutch Chamber of Commerce) as an eenmanszaak, a sole proprietorship.
There’s no legal difference between you and the business, which keeps the admin refreshingly simple.
If you haven’t done any of this yet, our full guide to becoming a freelancer in the Netherlands walks you through the whole setup, from residence permits to your BTW (VAT) number.
Word of mouth is harder when you’re new here
Most Dutch freelancers get work through referrals built up over years: old colleagues, former bosses, a neighbour who knows someone.
As a newcomer, you’re starting that network from zero, often in a language you’re still learning. So the first thing to sort out is somewhere to send people that shows exactly what you do.
That’s usually your own website. A LinkedIn profile borrows someone else’s platform and rules, while a simple site with your portfolio, services, rates and a contact form makes you look like a business rather than a hobbyist.
It’s cheaper and easier than most people expect, and you can build your own website without hiring a designer or writing a line of code.
Tap into the expat and freelance communities
Once you’re findable, the fastest shortcut to actual clients is the community you’re already part of. Expat Facebook groups, city-specific WhatsApp chats and coworking spaces are full of people who need exactly what you offer.
Meetups and sector-specific Slack or Discord groups work too. Show up, be useful, and mention what you do without turning every chat into a sales pitch.
Referrals here move quickly because everyone remembers being the new person.
Show up where the clients already are
Beyond your own circle, go where the work lives. LinkedIn is genuinely powerful in the Netherlands, but a static profile isn’t enough. Post about your work, comment on others’ posts and connect with local people in your field.
Freelance marketplaces and job boards are worth a look, and so are English-friendly recruiters like Undutchables.
Don’t treat your language as a weakness, either. Being the go-to English-speaking specialist can be the reason a Dutch company picks you.
It’s also worth browsing which Dutch companies actively hire internationals, since many of them happily bring on freelancers too.
Ask for referrals and testimonials from day one
One small job can quietly become your next three. When a client is happy, ask if they know anyone else who could use your help, and request a short testimonial for your website while the goodwill is fresh.
Social proof does a lot of heavy lifting when you’re new. A few genuine reviews reassure the next client that you’re the real thing, not just a nicely designed homepage.
Get your name out with content and visibility
You don’t need a marketing budget to be found. A bit of basic SEO on your own site, a Google Business Profile and the occasional post sharing your work will slowly pull people towards you.
Guest articles, local newsletters or a talk at a meetup all help too. And once the invoices start rolling in, our guide to paying your taxes as a zzp’er will keep the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax office) happy.
Already gone freelance here? Tell us how you landed your first Dutch client in the comments below.