Since January 2026, the Dutch Tax Administration will begin penalizing disguised employment, leading to widespread panic across various sectors as clients terminate contracts or demand employees switch to permanent positions. This crackdown, aimed at protecting vulnerable self-employed individuals, has resulted in a significant drop in the number of freelancers, with 62,000 fewer self-employed individuals in 2025 compared to previous years of growth. The healthcare sector is particularly affected, with a 7% decrease in active self-employed professionals in the second quarter of 2025, causing job losses and disruptions in care services. Young freelancers, especially those under 27, are disproportionately impacted, with many considering retraining due to job insecurity and the loss of flexibility. While some sectors like creative industries have seen minimal impact on numbers, individual freelancers are experiencing increased caution from clients and a shift towards project-based work with defined end dates.