Explosive increase in from-home bakers & cooks, but 9 in 10 don't know food safety rules
Cooking shows and food content on TikTok are inspiring more and more Netherlands residents to start up a small catering business from their homes. The number of home caterers has grown significantly in recent years. But 9 out of 10 of these new entrepreneurs don’t know the rules for selling food, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce reported. They are launching a joint campaign to address this.
“We’re seeing an enthusiastic and growing group of home cooks and home bakers. You can start small, from home, without major investments. Consumers are also increasingly appreciating local, homemade, and artisanal food,” said Chamber of Commerce advisor Gerdine Annaars. “But some of these home caterers are unknowingly running risks due to a lack of essential knowledge.”
Among other things, anyone who prepares, processes, or sells food is required to adhere to the HACCP food safety plan - a hygiene code with rules for safe food handling. Bakers, caterers, and other food-related entrepreneurs must also register with the NVWA.
On Tuesday, the NVWA and Chamber of Commerce published a video explaining these rules and the necessity of adhering to them. “Violations can lead to food safety risks, potential customer illnesses, and reputational damage,” the Chamber of Commerce warned. “Warnings and fines may also be issued.”
According to the Chamber of Commerce, the number of homecooks with a part-time business selling their food has grown from 4,322 in January 2022 to 8,053 in January 2025. The number of fully self-employed individuals also increased significantly. At the beginning of 2022, 11,008 fully independent, home-based catering businesses were registered with the Chamber of Commerce. By January 2026, that number had risen to 16,839.
