DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

24 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Domestic cleaning agency Helpling goes bust in NL

January 13, 2023
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

The Dutch arm of Helpling, the online domestic cleaning agency, has gone bust, seven years after it set up operations in the Netherlands.

Curator Martijn Moeliker told the Parool that the company had been unable to pay its debts to its German parent, which is backed by Rocket Internet and Unilever Ventures, the household products company’s venture capital arm.

Helpling was taken to court by the FNV trade union in 2021, which argued that the cleaners who found work via the platform had the legal status of temporary employees, with rights to sick and redundancy pay.

While the union won on some points, the appeal court ruled that Helpling did not have to employ its cleaners on regular contracts and a second appeal is now pending.

FNV spokeswoman Anja Dijkman told the Parool the bankruptcy ‘proves that if a platform company keeps to the rules, it cannot exist.’

Earlier food delivery company Deliveroo pulled out of the Dutch market after judges said delivery workers should be given employment contracts.

Moeliker is looking into a potential restart, and the 10 members of staff have lost their jobs. However, the website is still operational and it is unclear if the cleaners and clients on its books are aware of the bankruptcy.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now