News item | 12-09-2025 | 09:00
The Dutch often feel under pressure by sellers. For example, to conclude an energy contract or buy a product directly at the door or on the street. That is why there is now a bill to give consumers a ‘cooling-off period’ of 3 working days at door or street sales. The seller may not conclude an agreement in this and no contact with the consumer.
In this way you can read and compare the information from the seller about the product or service with other offers, before the agreement can be concluded. Not happy after that? The already existing legal cooling -off period of 14 days after the agreement has been concluded, also continues to apply. You can still cancel this without giving a reason.
The concept bill for cooling -off period for colportage went into internet consultation today. That means that everyone can respond to the proposal until mid -October 2025.
Tackling deception to protect the consumer
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) wants to tackle deception of Dutch people. To protect consumers, but also because well -meaning entrepreneurs experience unfair competition. Almost everyone, not only vulnerable consumers such as the elderly, is sensitive to a great offer. With an offer at the door or on the street, nothing is wrong in itself. But if it is not based on the correct information whether the consumer is put under pressure to decide immediately. Certainly when it comes to complicated and more expensive things such as an energy or internet contract.
Earlier telephone sale further restricted
The unsolicited calling by companies and organizations to consumers is further limited from 1 July 2026. Also calling someone who is (has been) a customer is then no longer permitted without prior permission. The House of Representatives has made an exception for charities, lotteries that pay them and publishers of day and weekly magazines and magazines. A general or sectoral national prohibition on telemarketing, door or street sales is not permitted on the basis of European rules with regard to free movement of services.
Subscriptions online is easier to cancel
EZ is also committed to EU policy that ensures that consumers can cancel subscriptions online as easily as entering into. It is sometimes made unnecessarily difficult for consumers to cancel a subscription. EZ focuses on tackling this through the EU Digital Fairness ActIt is expected in the course of 2026.