Jan 10

Jan 10 Freelance Series: Tips for How to Freelance in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Culture + Lifestyle, Creativity

After years of writing for a variety of magazines and digital publications and finishing my Master’s Degree, I set out as a freelance creative writer and photographer in 2016.

Over the years, the two most frequent questions I get are:
“How did you move abroad?” and “What are your tips for freelancing?”

I’ll be honest — freelancing plus living abroad are two aspects of my life that can feel like a wild ride (sometimes simultaneously). Luckily, with some patience and learning from my steps along the way, I eventually found my balance. Remember, anytime you start something new, there’s going to be a period of growth via trial and error. So, if freelancing is your goal, don’t give up. Make a plan, dive in, take on new challenges, and give it your best shot.

I hope my tips for freelancing in Amsterdam will help inform and inspire you!

Why did you start freelancing?
Funny enough, I’ve actually never had a ‘normal’ job contract. And this wasn’t necessarily my intention back in the day, but now, it feels like the right path for me! I always knew I wanted to use my creative skills in writing and photographer as part of my career goals.

These days, freelancing seems to be kind of glamorized. And I’m not sure that this is a good thing. Perhaps it’s a sign of our gig economy generation, or maybe it’s simply a facet of the creative and travel industries. Either way, like many other Millennials trying to survive multiple economic recessions, I eventually turned my multi-hyphenate creative skills into a freelance career.

How did you start freelancing in Amsterdam?
My Amsterdam gap year started out as an au pair and eventually led to an internship and then my first job as a contributing writer for Time Out Magazine. From there, I continued building my network and gained additional experience as a writer and editor for various magazines and websites catering to an international audience in the Netherlands. Honestly, for years, I was hesitant to take the plunge into freelancing… until I realized that my handful of part-time writing jobs were essentially my first rooster of clients.

After a few more years in Amsterdam, gaining experience as a writer, editor, and photographer for various magazines and digital platforms, I had a solid client base (aka multiple part-time jobs). Then, I completed my Master’s in Persuasive Communication, and my journey officially began! Soon after, I expanded my wheelhouse to work as a branding and advertising creative. Check out my portfolio for more!

What are the challenges of creative freelancing in Amsterdam?
Building your freelance career is equally exciting and challenging.
On one hand, you get to do what you love and bring stories to life for everyone to enjoy! I’ll never get over the thrill of seeing my own by-line on an article or flipping through a magazine to see my photos in print! But, on the other hand, you have to be 100% self-reliant. Your own talents and creativity become your business. That’ can add pressure to creativity and actually set you backward at times. I’ve definitely grown a more buisness-savvy mindset. Navigating my career as a freelance creative has been an ever-evolving journey, and I’m constantly learning more! I’m so grateful for those who offered guidance and advised me.

Now, with six years of experience, I feel confident enough to share some of my own tips, too! Questions? Feel free to get in touch.

TIPS FOR NEW FREELANCERS IN AMSTERDAM

Discover your WHY and build from there.
What drives you to do what you do?
What niche are you serving for your (potential) clients?
How will launching on your own serve your future path?
Where do your natural skills meet your passion?
Weight pros and cons.
Consider how this opportunity actually benefits YOU.
Make sure this step is the right one for your career path.
Many brands push new employees into freelancing because it benefits their bottom line (aka they don’t have to pay freelancers benefits because we cover our own costs).
Start with a side hustle and grow from there set goals along the way.
Real talk— in order to find work, you’ll need experience. You’re unlikely to get hired with an empty portfolio.
Before leaving your current job and plunging into the unknown, make the most of what you’re doing right now. Set goals and gain experience while building your portfolio, client list, and putting savings aside. There’s a reason why we say, ‘slow and steady wins the race.”
Save, save, save.
Reality check—you’re going to have to make enough to survive during slow seasons. Some of the best advice I received when starting out was to set aside enough savings to cover all my bills for at least 3 months. This way, you can stay afloat if/when a project falls through, you get sick, or a global pandemic shuts everything down.
Create a business plan.
It doesn’t have to be super detailed but you’ll need to set a budget and savings goal.
Give yourself a realistic idea of what you’re getting into and how much work needs to be done to cover the bottom line. Remember to estimate how much money you’ll need after expenses because you need to thrive, not only survive!
Register your business at the KvK
To legally freelance in Amsterdam, you’ll need to register your business with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce or the Kamer van Koophandle. Their website has a lot of helpful information and all the nitty-gritty details and Important Steps for Freelancers in the Netherlands. Do your research before you get started! I can’t emphasize that enough.
Stay connected and build a strong network.
Half of my “job” as a freelancer involves hustling up new projects and maintaining client relations. In order to do that effectively, I network a lot and am always in a flow of working on projects and hunting for the next, new thing. This was definitely an aspect that took some time to adjust to.
Know your strengths and weaknesses. Outsource where you need to.
Working for myself means that I wear ALL of the hats. Not only am I the writer and creative director for my clients, I am also the content producer, the recruiter, the marketing manager, and more for myself. Creative thinking is my specialty, but math is not. I outsource financial stuff to an accountant and business manager.
Step away from the screen and get active IRL.
If you work in the creative industry, it’s essential to stay curious and social. Make an effort to network and connect with your community by attending various events, talks, and (digital) conferences in your field. There’s so much to learn when connecting with others, tap into it!
Learn more about personal finance.
As a freelancer, you’re responsible for all business and personal costs. While the amount on your invoice might look impressive initially, that money evaporates quickly once you chip away at taxes (ouch!), insurance, pension, and business expenses. The leftover funds are yours to spend on personal bills, fun stuff, and investments.
Be nice to yourself.
Every career path is a personal evolution. Try not to compare yourself to others. Hype yourself up just like you’d hype up your bestie. You got this!