Glossary
Independent sex worker
Working for your own account, with no boss above you. Own rate, own clients, own limits, and arranging everything yourself.
What is an independent sex worker?
An independent sex worker offers sexual services as a self-employed person, for their own account and risk, with no boss, club or pimp above them. You set your own rates, your own clients and your own limits. In the Netherlands that is simply work. You register with the Chamber of Commerce and pay tax.
| Also called | self-employed sex worker, freelance sex worker |
| Also known as | independent escort, sole trader in the sex industry |
| As opposed to | working for a club, brothel or operator, or under a pimp |
| In the Netherlands | legal work, with registration at the Chamber of Commerce and tax on your income |
| Permit | for physical contact usually a municipal permit, online work is allowed without one |
What it means in practice
Working independently means everything sits with you. You set your rate. You choose who you meet, and you say no when you want to say no. No operator looking over your shoulder, no cut going to a club. A woman sends me a message, for example, we email a few times about what she’s looking for, and only when it feels right for both of us do we make the appointment. She keeps control, so do I. Against that stands the fact that you arrange everything yourself: your calendar, your safety, your bookkeeping. According to the government’s Ondernemersplein you register with the Chamber of Commerce and pay tax on what you earn, just like any other sole trader. For sex work with physical contact you usually also need a municipal permit.
Why people work this way
The freedom is the core. You keep control over your work, your body and your limits, and that is exactly what working for a boss takes away from you. The interest group PROUD, the union for and by sex workers, stands up for that independence, gives legal help with harassment or discrimination, and works for a safe, healthy industry. It isn’t always easy. You stand on your own, and you arrange your own safety net.
How I work myself
I’m an independent sex worker. I work alone, without an agency and without a middleman. No one in between. The woman who books me deals only with me from the first message through to the appointment, and with no one else. Your rate, your limits and your discretion sit with one person. That is exactly why many women find it comfortable. If you want to know how I work, take a look at my services or just ask me.
Sources
- Werken als zelfstandig sekswerker. Ondernemersplein, Dutch national government. Supplies that an independent sex worker registers with the Chamber of Commerce, pays tax, and for physical contact usually needs a municipal permit.
- PROUD, Dutch Union for Sexworkers. PROUD. Supplies that sex workers have their own union that stands up for their independence and for a safe, healthy industry.
Related terms
- Sex work. The broader concept that independent sex work is a form of, namely sex work without a boss.
- Discretion. With an independent worker your privacy sits with one person, not with a club full of staff.
- Deposit. How an independent worker locks in an appointment and prevents no-shows.
- Safe call. The safety call with which anyone working alone protects themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this term
What is an independent sex worker?
An independent sex worker offers sexual services as a sole trader, for their own account and risk, with no club, brothel or pimp above them. Such a person sets their own rates, clients and limits. It’s the same work whether you call it independent or freelance sex work.
Is independent sex work legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, independent sex work is simply legal work in the Netherlands. You register with the Chamber of Commerce and pay tax on your income, just like any other sole trader. For sex work with physical contact you usually also need a municipal permit; online work is allowed without one.
Who can you turn to with questions about independent sex work?
For your rights and your position as a sex worker, the interest group PROUD is the place, the union for and by sex workers. If you’re curious what it’s like as a woman to meet an independent gigolo, you can come to me, Victor. I work alone and asking a first question is free and with no obligation.
Learn more
Still have questions about independent sex work?
I'm Victor, a gigolo, and I work self-employed, without an agency or middleman. If you want to know how that works or how an appointment goes, send me a message. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing.