My client won't pay my invoice — what are my options as a ZZP'er?

Short conclusion. Under current Dutch law, as a ZZP'er (zzp'er / ondernemer in de inkomstenbelasting) you have a layered set of remedies: an extrajudicial reminder (ingebrekestelling), statutory interest (wettelijke rente) under art. 6:119a BW, minimum extrajudicial collection costs of € 40 under art. 6:96(4) BW, the option to seize assets conservatorily (conservatoir beslag), and finally a court claim — for most unpaid invoices a simple, low-cost claim at the kantonrechter up to € 40,000 (art. 93 Rv in conjunction with art. 254 Rv). Your invoice is in principle enforceable for 5 years after the agreed payment date (art. 3:307 BW).

1. The starting point: your contract with the client

If you performed work, you typically have an overeenkomst van opdracht under artikel 7:400 BW. That gives you an enforceable contractual claim to your fee, regardless of whether it is called an invoice, a declaration of hours, or a freelance agreement. The contract (and/or your general terms) determines the payment term. If no term was agreed, the statutory default applies: at least 30 days after the invoice date, under artikel 6:119a(2) BW (read together with art. 6:83(c) BW).

The fact that you are a ZZP'er (you work on the basis of an overeenkomst van opdracht rather than an arbeidsovereenkomst) does not weaken your claim — it just means the protection of employment law (e.g. ontslagbescherming, transitievergoeding) does not apply. The payment claim itself is protected the same way as for any business.

2. Step-by-step: what you can do

flowchart TD
    A[Factuur gestuurd,<br/>betaaltermijn verstreken] --> B[Stap 1: Schriftelijke<br/>ingebrekestelling sturen<br/>art. 6:82 BW]
    B --> C{Reactie<br/>binnen 14 dagen?}
    C -- Ja, betaald --> Z[Klaar]
    C -- Nee --> D[Stap 2: Wettelijke rente<br/>+ buitengerechtelijke<br/>incassokosten vorderen<br/>art. 6:96 / 6:119a BW]
    D --> E{Bedrijf<br/>in financiële<br/>problemen?}
    E -- Ja --> F[Stap 3: Conservatoir<br/>beslag laten leggen<br/>art. 700 Rv]
    E -- Nee --> G[Stap 4: Ingebrekestelling<br/>opnieuw + laatste termijn]
    F --> H[Stap 5: Dagvaarding /<br/>verzoekschrift bij<br/>kantonrechter]
    G --> H
    H --> I[Vonnis] --> J[Tenuitvoerlegging<br/>via deurwaarder]

Step 1 — A clear written reminder (ingebrekestelling)

Before you can charge interest or collection costs, your client must be formally "in verzuim". That requires a written reminder setting a reasonable final deadline (typically 14 days), per artikel 6:82 lid 1 BW. Under artikel 6:81 BW, the client is in verzuim only once the payment is opeisbaar, the reminder has been sent, and the deadline has passed.

This reminder is also the gateway to (i) statutory interest and (ii) the right to charge extrajudical collection costs. Send it by post (or e-mail if your contract allows it) and keep proof of delivery.

Step 2 — Statutory interest

Once the client is in verzuim, you can charge the wettelijke rente on the overdue amount. For B2B contracts (the typical ZZP situation), this is governed by artikel 6:119a BW. If your contract is with a Dutch public body (e.g. a municipality), artikel 6:119b BW applies.

The rate is set twice a year by ministerial decree under artikel 6:120 lid 2 BW, equal to the ECB's main refinancing rate + 8 percentage points. The exact percentage for the current half-year is published in the Staatscourant (search "wettelijke rente handelstransacties" + the relevant half-year); check the figure that applies to your overdue period. A higher contractually agreed rate remains valid once you are in verzuim (art. 6:119 lid 3 BW).

Step 3 — Extrajudicial collection costs

Under artikel 6:96 lid 2 sub c BW, reasonable costs to obtain payment out of court ("buitengerechtelijke incassokosten") are recoverable damages. In a B2B handelsovereenkomst a fixed minimum of € 40 is always due once the agreed or statutory payment date has passed, without any further warning (art. 6:96 lid 4 BW).

The percentages themselves are set out in the Besluit vergoeding voor buitengerechtelijke incassokosten (referred to in art. 6:96 lid 5 BW). For a B2B debtor they are commonly used as:

Always verify the latest percentages in the current Besluit and note that the maximum is in principle the highest combination the table yields; higher amounts can be awarded only if they were actually incurred and are reasonable.

Step 4 — Conservatoir beslag (freezing the debtor's assets)

If you fear the client is going to disappear, run up debts elsewhere, or transfer assets, you can apply to the voorzieningenrechter of the rechtbank for conservatoir beslag on assets (bank accounts, stock, real estate, etc.), under art. 700 Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (Rv). You will usually have to offer security (borgtocht) for any damages if the claim later proves unfounded.

Step 5 — Going to court: kantonrechter

For most unpaid invoices by ZZP'ers, the cheapest route is a claim at the kantonrechter (the "subdistrict court"). Claims up to € 40,000 fall under the absolute jurisdiction of the kantonrechter; the procedure is simplified, written and lower-cost (art. 93 Rv in conjunction with art. 254 Rv).

Two procedural options exist:

• Verzoekschriftprocedure (no oral hearing, just written exchange) — available for undisputed invoice claims up to € 40,000. The kantonrechter can issue a so-called kantonvonnis in geringe zaken; if the debtor does not lodge verzet within four weeks, the judgment becomes enforceable.
• Dagvaardingsprocedure — used when the debtor disputes the claim or when you want a regular hearing.

The court will, on top of the principal and statutory interest, typically award the extrajudicial collection costs from Step 3.

Step 6 — Enforcement

Once you have a final judgment (or an undisputed kantonvonnis), the gerechtsdeurwaarder can enforce it: bankgirobeslag, loonbeslag, beslag op roerende zaken, and — if necessary — forced sale of immovable property (art. 430 et seq. Rv). A kantonvonnis without verzet is even directly enforceable under art. 430 Rv.

3. Time bar: how long do you have?

Your invoice is a contractual claim to deliver money, falling under artikel 3:307 lid 1 BW: it verjaart after 5 years starting the day after the invoice became opeisbaar (the day after the agreed payment date, or the day after the 30-day default under art. 6:119a BW). Compare also the catch-all period of 20 years in artikel 3:306 BW.

Each formal demand, payment reminder, or court action that acknowledges the claim can stuit (interrupt) the limitation; a new 5-year term then begins.

4. Main exceptions and special situations

5. Practical checklist for the ZZP'er

1. Send a clear, written ingebrekestelling setting a final deadline of (usually) 14 days.
2. After the deadline passes, invoice the wettelijke rente for the relevant half-year and the buitengerechtelijke incassokosten (minimum € 40, plus the percentage tranche over the principal).
3. If you fear insolvency, apply for conservatoir beslag before the payment date.
4. Otherwise, after a second reminder, file the claim with the kantonrechter (verzoekschriftprocedure for undisputed claims).
5. Keep in mind the 5-year limitation period of art. 3:307 BW; send a stuitingsbrief if necessary.

Disclaimer. This page gives general legal information about the rules in the Netherlands as of 2025, not legal advice for your specific situation. Court procedures, exact percentages and the current wettelijke rente change over time; consult a jurist or gerechtsdeurwaarder before starting legal proceedings.