Freedom is a very limited concept in the life of a freelancer. It feels expansive—making your own choices, creating your own work, deciding for yourself who you work with. But in practice, freedom consists of agreements. Deadlines. Locations. Contracts. Access passes. A client who asks, “Could you send me a copy of your insurance certificate?”

Suddenly, that simple question doesn’t seem so simple anymore.

The short answer: usually not required by law. The more honest answer: sometimes it is in practice. And the reality for many creative freelancers lies precisely between those two answers.

Because you may work alone. But your work rarely stands alone.

What does the law say?

For most self-employed professionals, business liability insurance isn’t legally required. But “not required” certainly doesn’t automatically mean “not necessary.” It just means that the government usually doesn’t require you to have this specific insurance before you’re allowed to do business. We at Oddny have strong feelings about that…

A client might see things very differently. Without liability insurance, that could mean a project falls through. That’s no small matter—you simply lose out on a project, no income, and time wasted working on the proposal. For a photographer working for a cultural institution, a stylist at an event venue, or a designer working for a corporate client, that question might simply be part of the briefing.

In 2024, the Netherlands had nearly 1.3 million self-employed professionals. That group is too broad to be covered by a single rule. An illustrator working at their kitchen table, an architect visiting construction sites, and a videographer shooting on location don’t all have the same risk profile.

When does “not mandatory” become a strict requirement?

Through clients. Large organizations want to assess risks before anyone starts work. Not because they distrust you, but because their own processes require it. Procurement, legal, compliance, facilities, production—all these departments can set requirements before you’re allowed to do your work.

Through venues. A gallery, festival, studio, shopping center, or office can set conditions for anyone coming to work there. A photographer with lights and tripods poses different risks than a visitor wearing a coat. So does a videographer with cables in a walkway.

By industry or professional group. For architects, liability is a more significant concern than for many other creative professions. This isn’t about a non-binding extra, but about professional agreements within a field.

Through collaboration. If you’re the general contractor for a creative project and hire other freelancers, a client can hold you liable if damage occurs. Precisely because you bear ultimate responsibility, it’s wise to verify that the self-employed professionals you hire have their business liability insurance in order.

This way, the obligation becomes less of a legal formality and more of a practical consideration.

Not: Is it required by law?

But: Can you even get the job without proof?

What kind of liability are we actually talking about?

Much of the confusion stems from the word “liability.” It seems like a single category, but in practice, there are several types.

General liability insurance (AVB) covers damage to other people or their property. You spill coffee on a customer’s laptop. A visitor trips over your cable. An object you placed falls over.

Professional liability insurance (BAV) covers damage resulting from an error in your professional work or advice. A flawed design, incorrect advice, or a faulty calculation can cause financial loss—without anything physically breaking.

For creative freelancers, that distinction isn’t just theory. A graphic designer who submits print files incorrectly faces a different set of risks than a photographer who damages a mirror on location. An architect who provides advice on a design bears a different level of responsibility than a stylist who uses props in a retail space.

For some creative disciplines, both are relevant.

Which creative freelancers are asked this question most often?

Not every self-employed person has to deal with insurance certificates right away. The likelihood increases when your work is physical, location-based, or involves providing advice.

Photographers and videographers often work with equipment, people, movement, and rented or borrowed locations. Even a single tripod in a narrow hallway can be enough to shift liability.

Stylists, set dressers, and creators work with other people’s belongings: clothing, furniture, objects, samples, and sets. Precisely because the work is often beautiful and temporary, the environment is sensitive.

Architects, interior designers, and designers in advisory roles make decisions that can end up costing money later if they backfire. Professional liability is more likely to come into play in these cases.

Graphic designers, UX designers, and brand designers sometimes seem “safe” because their work is digital. Yet contracts can impose requirements, especially when the work is part of larger launches, campaigns, or platforms.

So the question isn’t whether you’re creative.

The question is where your creativity comes with responsibility.

What if your client requires insurance?

First, read exactly what it says. Is the client asking for general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, a minimum coverage amount, worldwide coverage, or just proof of insurance?

If anything is unclear, ask for clarification. That’s not unprofessional—it’s actually professional. A general statement like “freelancers must be adequately insured” doesn’t specify which type of insurance is appropriate for your assignment.

Compare the assignment to your actual work. Are you providing consulting services? Are you working on-site? Do you use the client’s equipment? Do you hire others? Are you delivering a physical product or just a digital file? These questions determine whether the requirement makes sense and what coverage is appropriate.

Keep the insurance certificate with your project records. Structure isn’t bureaucracy—it’s the space you need to do better work. Being able to send an insurance certificate on time is exactly the kind of small system that eliminates friction from a project.

And if you’re unsure: have someone review the clause before you sign. Not everything in a contract fits your work or your insurance.

What if you’re just starting out and don’t face much risk yet?

Then there’s no need to worry right away.

A budding illustrator who creates their own work, doesn’t visit clients on-site, and isn’t signing major contracts yet has a different sense of urgency than a videographer who’s filming at a busy event next week. Responsibility grows along with your practice.

But that’s exactly why it’s wise to choose a moment when you can take a calm look at this. Not when a client needs proof of insurance tomorrow. Not when production is already underway. Not when your contract has already been signed.

Use your first major assignment as a signal. Or your first on-location job. Or your first collaboration in which you’re responsible for invoicing and bear ultimate responsibility.

Creative entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a leap. But usually, it’s a series of gradual shifts. You start working for larger clients. Your budgets increase. You bring others on board. Your work takes you to places where more can happen.

Your insurance doesn’t have to be bigger than your practice. It does, however, need to keep pace with your practice.

How do you prevent insurance jargon from taking over your work?

By keeping the order right.

Don’t start by asking, “What policy do I need?” Start by asking: “What am I creating? Where does it happen? Who might be affected? And what can’t be allowed to come to a standstill?”

Then you can make the translation. Insurance isn’t proof that you’re seeking risk. It’s proof that you know your work has meaning beyond your own intention. No matter how careful you are—as soon as your work enters the world, it becomes part of someone else’s space, time, and expectations.

That’s where liability lies.

Mandatory or not—the honest conclusion

For most self-employed professionals, liability insurance isn’t legally required. But clients, venues, industry standards, and collaborations can make it practically mandatory.

For creative freelancers, that’s no reason to make a decision based on fear. It’s a reason to take a serious look at your work.

How does your work impact the world? Where could a mistake have consequences beyond what you intended? In what situations does a client ask for proof before you’re allowed to start?

If you can answer those questions, you’ll get closer to the real decision. Not: “What insurance is someone trying to sell me?”

But: What kind of protection fits the responsibility my work already carries?

Start with your work. The insurance comes next.

Curious about which coverage fits your practice? Check out Oddny’s liability insurance—explained in plain language, without jargon.