Sharing Economy Regulations: Amsterdam City Supporting Home Cooks.
Top Priority of the Dutch Government — To Encourage sharing economy within a legal framework that is adaptive to new trends.
Amsterdam is home to nearly 200 different nationalities. Every expat moving to The Netherlands brings with them a piece of their culture, lifestyle, food, nutritional habits along with some specific knowledge that is endemic to their family or to the region they belong to.
When it comes to dining out, Amsterdam prides itself with gourmet delights from across the world, which are easily available in every pocket of the city, but there’s nothing quite like food from home. A meal that is prepared at home and oozes with authentic flavours and tastes. Expats and people passionate about cooking living in the city are looking at this as the perfect opportunity to start their own food business.
Opening a restaurant or an eatery in Amsterdam is no easy task as the market is heavily regulated and food business owners have to constantly struggle with high operation costs, stiff competition and low margins.
In such a tough market place how does one empower passionate cooks and professionals chefs and to start their own business based on just their passion for cooking great food?
Platforms of sharing economy are one solution and the Dutch government has shown its commitment by backing this new form of economy.
The first signs became visible in 2014 with an agreement between Airbnb and the city of Amsterdam , with a message directed at the country’s parliament in 2015, the Minister for Economic Affairs Henk Kamp showed the desire to extend this approach to all the platforms that were a part of the sharing economy,to give more room for development with appropriate regulations.
If we in the Netherlands want to be first to profit from the benefits of innovation, then we have to make room for that in our rules. — Henk Kamp
In the food industry, laws and regulations are still made based on traditional production models and sales channels. These traditional rules are inhibitors to the desire and growth of emerging food entrepreneurs. Both consumers and businesses stand to benefit from the new regulations.
The change in regulations will provide a legal framework for Cooks and Chefs working from home.
In August 2016 a “task force” created by the dutch government started working on a framework that is expected to clarify tax and hygiene requirements for cooks operating from home. Among the members of this group there are various ministers, local and fiscal authorities, ACM, DNB, KHN, NVWA and consumers associations.
With support from the Dutch government individuals with dreams in the food industry can now start working on making it a reality . As the new regulation will empower them to monetize their talent, gain financial security and secure their family’s future. This will also enable them to contribute to their neighborhood and community by spreading the knowledge of food, sharing culture and promoting a better lifestyle. This is definitely step in the direction to ensure our children and the future generations experience home made food instead something that is made in the supermarket, heated in the microwave and served in front the television
Whether you’ve just finished culinary school, or worked in the food industry for years, or just love to cook, this is the perfect opportunity to give yourself the gift of self-sustainability and Mealby gives you all the tool you need to start your independent food business in Amsterdam connecting you with your neighbours in a meaningful way.
Join our community and be the agents of change to bring home cooked and wholesome food on every table of your neighbourhood.
