Ready to dive into the pressing issues in the Dutch Cultural Sector?
You’ve come to the right place!

But first:

• I'm not claiming to have all the answers, but with nearly a decade of experience under my belt, I'm here to shed light on the system's many flaws.
• Within my own work at Counter/Narratives, Culturally*Services and here at Kreashon Konstante I try to adress power dynamics and offer new ways of working.
• I know that I always stand on the legacies of the ones that did this work before me and are also doing the work simultaneously. I am not the first, nor the last (for now).
• I haven’t always been a freelancer in the cultural sector. I’ve also worked in ‘loondienst’ (with a contract).
• I view life and thus write from what some might call an intersectional lens (S/O Dr. Crenshaw) - I just call it Reality for Many.
• I acknowledge my privilege in being able to write this piece while sipping a €4 matcha in a cafe.

And also:

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been elected as an Ambassador for Platform ACCT—an institute that supports artists and creatives. This organization champions better working conditions, fair pay, and sustainable careers in the cultural sector. Through resources, research, and networking, it connects creatives to policymakers, ensuring the Dutch cultural scene thrives.For more details, you can visit their website at Platform ACCT.

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With that out of the way, let’s get into it.

Entering the Dutch cultural sector was a stark wake-up call. After finishing my studies in 2015, coming from Aruba, I found myself without a network. While interning at SKVR in Rotterdam, I quickly noticed how difficult it was for creatives to secure hours and assignments. Even more shocking was the lack of roles—across the city—that allowed artists to focus on their craft while also providing a stable financial foundation.

It became clear that lobbying and networking were essential skills—but what happens to those who aren’t naturally good at it? Do they simply miss out?

Network, Community, and Quality: The Hidden Struggles in the Dutch Cultural Sector

The financial stability of creatives in the Netherlands is alarmingly fragile. Without a network or institutional support, many fall into what can only be described as a form of poverty. Institutional backing is essential. We need institutions and individuals who understand the unique challenges that creatives face. This is why Diversity and Inclusion efforts alone often fall short. If institutions don’t evolve to reflect the country’s creative landscape, they become stagnant, creating a hollow system that only serves a chosen few. Don’t get me wrong, quality work should be rewarded with financial recognition and praise. However, it becomes problematic when the definition of “quality” is determined by a select few or outdated policy guidelines. Some creatives find community, but without access to institutional funding, the cycle of struggle continues.

I was fortunate that people from Concrete Blossom (formerly Studio Narrative) took me under their wing and helped me connect with institutional funding. They gave me the capacity to grow as a professional in the cultural sector, something not all creatives have access to. Concrete Blossom continues to do groundbreaking work in the Dutch cultural scene to this day.

What became increasingly obvious was that resilience is what keeps many of us afloat. We hustle and grind, but this resilience is often coerced—if we stop, we risk not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from. And it’s not due to a lack of effort. Oversimplifying this narrative is dangerous. It’s a  bitter taste when people in (financially) secure institutional positions praise freelancers for their resilience, as if it's a choice. Or when they casually say, “We’ll pay you at the end of the month” after the work is already done. This wasn’t just an issue during COVID-19—it’s a daily reality for many communities, even beyond the cultural sector, who are forced to find financial and social support outside the status quo.

Over time, the deep imbalance in these systems becomes glaringly obvious. One such imbalance is in how institutions handle payment...

The Harsh Reality of Freelancing: 30-Day Payment Delays and Living Without a Financial Buffer

In the Western world, we typically operate in weekly or monthly cycles—rent, bills, and subscriptions all rely on these timelines to keep our freelance practice afloat. However, many institutions enforce a 30-day payment window for freelancers, while bills still need to be paid. This creates an immensely stressful and systemic problem. I have some ideas that could improve this—more on that later.

I often hear the phrase, “That’s just how it is for freelancers,” which I find to be an uninformed view. Many freelancers don’t choose this path willingly. I plan to dive into this more after I’ve conducted more quantitative research.

In conclusion, there is a massive disconnect between freelance creatives and the institutions that could financially support them. The way the sector operates systematically coerces many freelancers—especially those without financial or social support—into unjust power dynamics. The current disbalance is outdated.

My matcha is finished after writing this blog and It's time to let this piece rest - before we delve deeper the next time.

That being said.

Some other topics I’ll be discussing in the future:

• Financial payment systems in the sector
• Power dynamics in institutions (from a freelancer’s perspective)
• Experiences during the lockdown (due to COVID-19),
• Historical legacies of these outdated systems
• Raising Prices as a Freelancer
• Working with Institutions as grassroot organisations
• Administrative burnout many creatives experience when navigating subsidy schemes.

Thank you for coming along the ride.

Saludos,

Gyonne

P.S if you have any (similar or different) experiences you want to share - hit me up:
hi@gyonne.com or Whatsapp: +31648582344

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Being the ambassador for Platform ACCT 'Oog voor Impuls' meant that I would be openly talking more about these underlying, in my opinion, imbalanced power dynamics. Platforms like Platform ACCT could be the social and financial backdrop for many freelancers. So go on and check out their website on how they can help you.