Self-employed borrowing surges 30% in 2025 amid stricter tax rules

Independent entrepreneurs in the Netherlands are taking out significantly more loans and for larger amounts this year, according to recent data from price comparison site Geld.nl. This rise coincides with stricter tax enforcement on who qualifies as a self-employed worker (zzp’er) and an increase in lenders offering personal loans specifically for this group, according to De Telegraaf.

The Datamonitor Lenen 2025 report by Geld.nl reveals that the number of accepted loans for zzp’ers increased by 30 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the average loan amount requested also surged—from 19,000 euros in 2024 to over 29,000 euros in the first six months of 2025.

Since January 1, 2025, the Dutch Tax Authority has intensified scrutiny on so-called "false self-employment." Authorities now check whether companies legitimately hire workers as zzp’ers or if those workers should have an employment contract instead. This includes random inspections of self-employed individuals themselves.

Juul Klarenbeek, loan expert at Geld.nl, attributes the increase in loan applications and amounts to two main factors: a shift in the zzp’er population and the expanded availability of loans for this group. Official CBS statistics show a decrease of 28,000 zzp’ers in the first quarter alone.

“Entrepreneurs who do meet the criteria for being self-employed tend to have higher incomes, which gives them more borrowing capacity when applying for consumer loans,” Klarenbeek explained to De Telegraaf.

Klarenbeek also highlighted that the biggest driver behind the jump in loans is that lenders have begun to offer personal loans specifically designed for entrepreneurs. “This has substantially increased the opportunities for zzp’ers to get a personal loan, which explains the higher acceptance rates we see in the data.”

Borrowing as a zzp’er differs significantly from borrowing as a salaried employee. Income for self-employed individuals is more volatile, and banks and credit providers require more assurance. This reportedly results in zzp’ers often paying higher interest rates than employees with fixed salaries. Additionally, many lenders demand that the business has been operational for several years before approving a loan.

Klarenbeek added, “Those who want to keep their money safe by saving are doubly penalized: first by inflation, then by taxation.”