No hybrid freelancer gigs: disguised employment and mandatory office days

Companies are not afraid of freelancers. They are angry that they can no longer use freelancers as temporary staff — with mandatory attendance, Tuesday stand-ups, and the illusion of flexibility called “hybrid”.

ZZP2ZZP exists partly because of that frustration. Not because clients are always acting in bad faith, but because an entire market got used to freelancers who behave like employees, without employee rights and without real entrepreneurial freedom.

Disguised employment — not “fear”

The Dutch Tax Authority and the DBA Act distinguish between a genuine assignment (client–contractor) and employment. In practice the latter is often called bogus self-employment or a disguised employment relationship.

Since 1 January 2025 enforcement has tightened. Client and contractor are jointly responsible for assessing how the relationship works in practice — not only what the contract says.

Official resources:

• Dutch government: preventing bogus self-employment
• Ondernemersplein: DBA guidance
• Belastingdienst: employment relationships

Authority and control: what “hybrid” often hides

A core test is whether there is an authority relationship: must the contractor be directed, work fixed hours, show up at a fixed location — when that is not needed to deliver the result?

“Hybrid” job posts are often not neutral. They signal: two mandatory office days because the organisation is used to that — not because the project requires it.

ZZP2ZZP does not allow hybrid listings

Jobs on ZZP2ZZP may be:

• Remote — outcome-based work with meetings only where needed.
• On-site — only with a documented business need explained in the description.

Hybrid is not an option.

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