Becoming an escort in the Netherlands
Thinking about becoming an escort? This guide explains what escort work involves, the requirements you need to meet, whether to work independently or through an agency, what you can earn and how to start safely and discreetly. Honest and practical, without glamorising it.
In short
- Escort work is legal in the Netherlands. In most municipalities you must be 21 or older.
- You need a valid ID and the right to work in the Netherlands.
- If you work independently, you register with the KvK and pay tax. Some municipalities also require a licence.
- Through a licensed escort agency, the agency arranges your bookings and keeps part of your rate.
- You always decide your own boundaries, rates and clients.
What does an escort do?
An escort provides paid companionship, from a dinner or event to intimate contact. The difference with private incall is the location: as an escort you go to the client, at home or in a hotel (outcall). With private incall, the client comes to you. Many escorts do both.
To see what this looks like in practice, browse our overviews of escorts and private incall.
Is escort work legal in the Netherlands?
Yes. Sex work has been a legal profession in the Netherlands since the ban on brothels was lifted in 2000, and escort work falls under it. Municipalities do set their own rules. In most of them the minimum age is 21, and national legislation is being prepared to make 21 the standard everywhere.
In most municipalities escort agencies need a licence. Some also require independent escorts to hold one, such as Rotterdam (in Dutch). Always check what your municipality requires. The national conditions are listed on rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch).
Requirements for becoming an escort
- 21 or older. On Noirnights.nl you can only advertise from 21, and we check this for every profile.
- A valid ID.
- The right to work in the Netherlands. With EU, EEA or Swiss nationality you can start right away. Otherwise you need a residence permit that allows you to work; a tourist visa is not enough.
- Your own free choice. Nobody may force you, take your money or keep your documents.
- If you are independent: a KvK registration and, if your municipality requires one, a licence.
No experience is needed. It does help if you think in a businesslike way, set clear boundaries and are good with people.
Independent or through an escort agency?
There are two ways to work as an escort. Both have pros and cons:
| Independent | Through an escort agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Bookings and clients | You arrange everything yourself and choose your own clients. | The agency plans the bookings; you can always say no. |
| Rate | You keep the full rate. | The agency keeps a share for planning, promotion and transport. |
| Administration | You handle KvK, income tax and VAT yourself. | Often arranged through the opting-in scheme. |
| Licence | Required in some municipalities. | The agency holds the licence. |
| Safety | You arrange it yourself, for example with a check-in with someone you trust. | Often with a driver and a fixed check-in. |
| Visibility | Your own profile and your own promotion. | The agency takes care of promotion. |
Many escorts start at an agency to get to know the work and later continue independently. Also take a look at the escort agencies on Noirnights.nl.
How to recognise a reliable escort agency
- The agency holds a licence from the municipality and shows its licence number.
- Arrangements about rates, the agency's share and payouts are in writing.
- You can say no to clients and acts, without consequences.
- The agency never keeps your ID, your phone or your money.
- You are not pressured to start or sign quickly.
How to become an escort: step by step
Find out what your municipality requires
Check the minimum age and whether you need a licence as an independent escort. Your municipality's website explains this.
Choose: independent or through an agency
Do you want to keep everything in your own hands, or would you rather have an agency handle planning and promotion? Use the comparison above.
Sort out your administration
If you work independently, register with the KvK, open a business account and keep track of your income and costs. The Ondernemersplein step-by-step plan (in Dutch) lists everything.
Set your boundaries and rates
Write down in advance what you do and do not do, for how long and at what rate. Clear boundaries up front prevent discussion afterwards.
Take good photos and write your profile
Use recent photos of yourself; you may blur your face. Describe who you are and what you offer, without a phone number or other contact details.
Post your profile and start safely
Create a free account on Noirnights.nl and post your profile with a verification photo that only our team sees. We review it personally, usually within 24 hours.
What does an escort earn?
An escort has no fixed salary. What you earn depends on your hourly rate, the number of bookings, whether you work independently or through an agency and what costs you have.
You set your own hourly rate. For a realistic picture, look at what escorts in your region charge, and price an evening or a night separately. Browse the escorts on Noirnights.nl to see what others charge.
What does your rate depend on?
- Duration: an evening or a night earns more per booking, but is often cheaper per hour.
- Outcall or incall: travelling to the client takes time, which you include in your rate.
- Experience and offering: what you offer and how you present yourself affect what clients are willing to pay.
- Region: rates in the big cities differ from those in smaller towns.
Account for your costs
Costs still come off your rate: tax, travel, a separate phone, clothing and grooming, any promotion and, with an agency, the agency's share. As an independent you have no safety net for illness or your pension, so set money aside for that yourself.
Tax and administration
As an independent escort you are an entrepreneur. You register with the KvK, file an income tax return and in principle also deal with VAT. With a small turnover you may be able to use the small business scheme (KOR).
If you work through an agency, this can be done under the opting-in scheme, also known as the conditions package. You are not an employee, but the agency withholds the tax and pays it on your behalf.
Keep track of your income and costs from day one, use a business account and set money aside for tax. In doubt? Find an accountant who knows the industry.
Working safely and discreetly
- Always let someone know where you are, and agree on a fixed check-in.
- Agree on duration, rate and boundaries in advance, and get paid first.
- Use a separate phone and a working name.
- Protect your health: use condoms and get tested for STIs regularly, for example at the GGD.
- Trust your instincts. You can always refuse or end a booking.
Personally reviewed
We check every profile by hand before it goes online, also per person for an agency. Read our verification policy.
You stay in control
You choose your working name, your photos and what you share. Your number only becomes visible when a visitor clicks on it, and only our team sees your verification photo.
Help when you need it
Do you feel pressured, or do you know someone who is? Our safety page lists organisations that help in confidence.
Becoming an escort as a man, trans person or couple
You can also become an escort as a man (gigolo), as a trans person or together as a couple. Male escorts mainly work for women and couples. Demand is smaller than for female escorts, but there is a steady group of clients. The requirements are the same for everyone.
Noirnights.nl has separate overviews for men, trans and couples, so clients can find you easily.
Advertising as an escort on Noirnights.nl
Noirnights.nl is an advertising platform: you post your own profile and clients contact you directly. We do not act as an intermediary and take nothing from your rate.
- Free to create an account and profile.
- Personally reviewed, usually online within 24 hours.
- Discreet: only our team sees your verification photo.
- Insight: you see how often your profile is viewed and how often your number is requested.
- Promotions free until 1 January 2027: rise higher in the overview at no cost.
Read exactly how it works on How it works, and see the promotion rates and the house rules.
Frequently asked questions about becoming an escort
Is escort work illegal in the Netherlands?
No. Sex work, including escort work, is a legal profession in the Netherlands. Municipalities do set their own rules, such as a minimum age of 21 and sometimes a licence requirement.
How old do you have to be to become an escort?
In most municipalities 21 or older. On Noirnights.nl you can only advertise from 21 as well, and national legislation is being prepared to make 21 the minimum age everywhere.
Do I need to register with the KvK?
If you work independently, yes: you are then an entrepreneur and register with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK). If you work through an agency under the opting-in scheme, the agency pays the tax on your behalf and you usually do not need your own registration.
Do I need a licence as an escort?
In most municipalities an escort agency needs a licence. For independent escorts it differs per municipality: in Rotterdam, for example, you apply for a licence yourself. Always check what your municipality requires.
What does an escort earn per hour?
You set your own hourly rate. For a realistic picture, look at what escorts in your region charge, and price an evening or a night separately. What you keep depends on your costs, tax and, if you work through an agency, the share the agency keeps.
Can I become an escort without experience?
Yes. No experience is needed. What matters more is that you set clear boundaries, think in a businesslike way and are good with people. Many beginners start at an agency to get to know the work.
Can I do escort work as a side job?
Yes, many escorts work a few evenings a week alongside their studies or another job. Even then you declare your income to the Tax Administration and follow the rules of your municipality.
Can I work discreetly and anonymously as an escort?
Largely, yes. You work under a working name, choose which photos you show and can blur your face. On Noirnights.nl only our team sees your verification photo. Your KvK registration is a business record; ask the KvK how to shield your details.
Can men become escorts?
Yes. Male escorts (gigolos) mainly work for women and couples. Demand is smaller than for female escorts, but there is a steady group of clients. The requirements are the same.
How do I recognise a reliable escort agency?
A reliable agency holds a licence from the municipality, puts arrangements about rates and payouts in writing and respects your boundaries. Be alert if an agency pressures you, is unclear about money or wants to keep your ID.
Ready to start?
Post your profile for free. We review it personally, and you decide what you show.