Contractor vs Employee: Amsterdam 2026 — Net Income Calculator
See whether going independent actually pays more after tax, social security, and business overheads.
As an Employee
As a Contractor / Freelancer
Enter your rate as if you worked 52 weeks — we'll adjust for time off below.
e.g. 4 weeks off = 4
Going contractor in Amsterdam puts € 5.711 more in your pocket per year.
| Metric | Employee | Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue / Gross Salary | € 60.000 | € 80.000 |
| Unbilled Weeks Adjustment | — | € 6.154 |
| Actual Gross Income | € 60.000 | € 73.846 |
| Business Overheads | — | € 4.700 |
| Taxable Income | € 60.000 | € 69.146 |
| Social Security | € 0 | € 0 |
| Income Tax | € 21.832 | € 25.268 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 36.4% | 36.5% |
| Net Annual Income | € 38.168 | € 43.879 |
| Net Monthly Income | € 3.181 | € 3.657 |
To match your employee take-home of € 38.168/year, you need to invoice at least € 46.440/year as a contractor in Amsterdam.
That's roughly € 893/week or € 179/day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth going contractor in Amsterdam?
Yes — at a revenue of € 80.000/year, a contractor in Amsterdam takes home € 43.879/year (effective rate: 36.5%), compared to € 38.168/year as an employee (effective rate: 36.4%).
What contractor rate do I need to match my employee salary in Amsterdam?
To match an employee take-home of € 38.168/year in Amsterdam, you need to invoice at least € 46.440/year as a contractor — roughly € 893/week or € 179/day.
How this calculator works
This calculator compares the net income of a contractor (B2B / freelance) against an employee earning the same gross amount. It applies each country's corporate and personal tax rules, social security, and estimates the break-even invoicing rate a contractor needs to match an employee's take-home pay.
What's included
- Employee income tax and social security
- Contractor / B2B corporate tax and distributions
- Break-even contractor day rate
- Effective tax rate comparison
What's not included
- IR35 / deemed employment rules (UK-specific)
- VAT registration and reclaim
- Business expenses or deductions
- Employer pension contributions
Data sources: Official tax authority publications for each jurisdiction: HMRC (UK), IRS (US), Autoridade Tributária (PT), KVK/Belastingdienst (NL), IRAS (SG). Updated for 2025/26.