Dutch self-employed numbers fall for sixth straight quarter

The number of self-employed people without staff in the Netherlands fell for a sixth consecutive quarter in the second quarter of 2026, while 2.7 million employees continued to work in flexible employment relationships, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

There were 131,000 fewer self-employed people without staff than in the fourth quarter of 2024. The figures show a decline in one form of flexible work, not an overall end to flexible employment: employees with flexible contracts remained at roughly the same level as in the previous quarter. [1] [2]

Nieuws.nl’s article argues that employers must consider how to combine secure staffing with access to temporary or specialist skills. It suggests a broader approach to workforce planning, including permanent staff, temporary workers and external professionals. The CBS figures establish the changes in employment, but do not show whether employers’ demand for flexibility is rising or whether any particular staffing strategy is more effective. [3]