The average hourly rate of a self-employed professional (zzp’er) in the Netherlands in 2025 is €81 excluding VAT. This rate is the same as in 2024, but the range is wide. Depending on the sector and role, rates can vary from €32 to €138 per hour.
For legal professionals, the average is €138 per hour, while freelancers in the cleaning, hospitality, or cultural sector sometimes do not exceed €50 per hour.
What determines your rate as a freelancer?
The rate of a self-employed professional is influenced by several factors:
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Sector and specialisation: Sectors such as IT, legal, and business services often offer higher margins. In healthcare, transport, and hospitality, rates are structurally lower.
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Job content: Interim IT managers, consultants, and directors can charge more for their experience than operational roles such as drivers or security guards.
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Supply and demand: In sectors where there is a shortage of good freelancers, rates rise faster.
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Experience and negotiation: Men appear to earn on average 9% more than women, partly because they more often work in higher-paying sectors and negotiate more assertively.
How do you set an appropriate rate?
A healthy hourly rate covers not only your working hours, but also:
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Non-billable hours: Think of administration, acquisition, training, and breaks.
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Cost structure: Workspace, software, insurance, pension, and business travel.
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Taxes: Set aside enough for income tax, VAT, and your provisional assessment.
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Future growth: Take into account investments in yourself or your business.
At Balancify, we help freelancers map their income and expenses through smart dashboards, so you can set a rate that really works for you.
What is the impact of legislation such as the DBA Act?
From 1 January 2025, the Tax Administration will enforce the DBA Act more strictly. This means that freelancers and clients must be extra alert to bogus self-employment. If you work too long for one client under authority and with fixed working hours, there is a risk that your work will be seen as disguised employment.
What can you do?
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Use the employment relationship check from the Tax Administration
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Work with clear contracts and separated responsibilities
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Make sure you have multiple clients where possible
Balancify helps you assess your situation and draw up contracts that comply with current regulations.
When is it time to revise your rate?
According to Knab, 62% of freelancers in 2025 increased their hourly rate compared to last year, by an average of 10%. Reasons include rising costs, more experience, and increased demand.
Use market data as a benchmark, but base your rate mainly on what you need to remain profitable. With our forecasting models, you quickly gain clear insight into what is possible.
What are the biggest advantages of having insight into your hourly rate?
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Financial peace of mind: You know where you stand, also for tax and VAT.
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Stronger negotiating position: You can justify your rate better.
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Faster growth: You create room for investments and strategic choices.
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Stronger mortgage or rental application: We provide income forecasts and annual statements.
Conclusion
Even though the average freelance hourly rate is €81, the differences per sector are large. Many entrepreneurs underestimate their value or forget to include costs and non-billable time.
At Balancify we help freelancers to properly substantiate their rate, be fiscally prepared, and look ahead.
Curious whether your rate is right? Schedule a no-obligation introduction via Balancify.
