Insurances for self-employed professionals
As a freelancer/self-employed professional in the Netherlands it is not, unlike for employees, compulsory to have insurance for illness, invalidity or unemployment. You should make arrangements for these kind of social insurances yourself if they want to receive any benefit if you become ill or unfit for work, for example. However, benefits schemes are availabe for maternity leave and childcare.
National insurance schemes
National insurance schemes (social security) are compulsory for everyone working or living in the Netherlands. Freelancers/self-employed professionals in the Netherlands pay national insurance contributions through their income tax.
Mandatory healthcare insurance
Everyone living or working in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard healthcare insurance. Thus this also applies to the self-employed. You can choose if and which additional insurance you wish to take out.
Voluntary insurance
Do you want to receive an income if you fall ill or in case of occupational disability? You need to arrange for this yourself. You can set aside money for such instances or you can take out insurance:
- You can take out private occupational disability insurance.
- You can take out ‘individual occupational disability insurance with collective conditions’. Several sector and professional organisations offer this option, as well as interest groups or associations for the self-employed.
- You can participate in a so-called broodfonds (bread fund) for the first 2 years of disability. A broodfonds is a fund set up by self-employed entrepreneurs who put aside money each month. If one of them is ill for a longer period of time, they receive a monthly amount out of the fund.
Insurances through UWV
Former employees or benefit recipients in the Netherlands who start their own business, can take out several insurances with the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV, in Dutch). To be able to do so, they need to register within 13 weeks after their compulsory employee insurance scheme through former work or benefit has been cancelled.
Those who start a business after not having been able to work due to illness or disability for 2 years or more can apply for a voluntary occupational disability insurance (WIA) with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). Read more about occupational disability insurance (in Dutch).
Insurances for business risks
Every freelancer/self-employed professional can take out voluntary insurances against a number of business risks with an insurance company. This is not mandatory.