The Dutch flex industry has always moved. Rarely has it felt as restless as now. New legislation, consolidation, shifting power between MSPs and suppliers, and a generation of owners approaching retirement: these developments happen at the same time and reinforce each other. Yet many owners of temp agencies and secondment firms are waiting to see what happens. Can they afford to?
A market that is speeding up.
Several changes are landing at once:
- The Wtta. From 1 January 2027 every company that supplies workers needs an admission, with a €100,000 deposit per lending entity. Enforcement starts in 2028.
- Pay rules. Since the 2026 CAO, agency workers are entitled to equivalent pay (gelijkwaardige beloning): a package worth at least as much as that of comparable staff at the client.
- Freelancers. The Dutch tax authority has enforced the rules on false self-employment (Wet DBA) since 1 January 2025.
- Clients. Large hirers increasingly buy through Managed Service Providers (MSPs), with preferred supplier lists, sharp framework contracts and long payment terms.
- Volume. According to ABU figures, temp hours fell again in 2025, by 5%, while revenue stayed level. Higher rates are masking a smaller market.
For larger players this creates opportunities: they have the scale to invest in technology, compliance and broader services. For smaller agencies it gets harder. Compliance takes the same effort for 40 workers as for 4,000, software costs more per worker the fewer you have, and depending on a handful of clients makes you vulnerable.
Why standing still increases risk.
Owners waiting for the right moment risk finding it has passed. The value of a staffing business depends on market conditions and buyer sentiment. In a consolidation phase, strategic buyers and private equity pay for companies that strengthen their position; our quarterly Flex M&A Barometer (in Dutch) shows how many deals are done and who is behind them. As the best targets are taken, that appetite fades.
Meanwhile the pressures above erode the results of many smaller agencies, and results are what a buyer multiplies. Selling from strength and selling from necessity are two very different negotiations.
The timing arithmetic.
A well-prepared sale takes 6 to 9 months. Before that, preparation needs at least a year, because an improvement only counts once it shows in a full year of figures. Then add the Wtta: registration for the transitional arrangement runs from 1 November to 31 December 2026, and any buyer from 2027 onwards will ask whether your admission is in place. An owner who wants to sell in two years should start now. One who plans to sell in five years should at least know today where value is leaking.
What you can do now.
- Know your value. The free value check gives a first range in two minutes; a full business valuation shows where the value comes from.
- Check your Wtta readiness with the Wtta check (in Dutch).
- See who is buying. The Flex M&A Radar lists every Dutch staffing deal since 2024, each with a source.
- Fix what a buyer would find, starting with the points in preparing for sale.
Robbert Jan de Rooij, who was a partner in a staffing agency and sold the freelance platform ZZP365 himself, is happy to think along in a confidential call.