Minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs): “Consumers must be able to buy with confidence, based on the right information. It should not matter whether this sale is online, at the door, by phone, or in a physical store. Protecting consumers is, in my view, the beginning of a well-functioning economy. Therefore, the cabinet is further tackling misleading practices. It is unacceptable that consumers are still pressured at the door or by phone to take, for example, a new energy contract. It is wise to be able to think longer about such matters. With a legislative amendment and a bill, the cabinet makes this possible.”

In particular, vulnerable consumers such as the elderly often feel pressured by sellers over the phone (telemarketing) and at the door or on the street (canvassing). A general or sectoral national ban on telemarketing or canvassing is not allowed under European rules regarding the free movement of services.

In sales at the door and on the street, consumers are legally granted extra time (3 working days) to think about a sales proposal. This allows the consumer to calmly read the sellers information about the product or service and compare it with other offers before the agreement can be concluded. The internet consultation for the cooling-off period bill for canvassing is scheduled for the summer of 2025.

If the consumer decides to conclude the agreement, the existing legal reflection period of 14 days will also apply. During this period, they can cancel an agreement without stating a reason.

Due to the legal rules for telemarketing, companies or organizations may only approach Dutch consumers by phone from 2021 if they have explicitly given permission or are (or have been) customers. Unsolicited calls based on an existing or former customer relationship will also be prohibited from July 1, 2026. The House of Representatives has made a number of exceptions for charities (ideological and charitable purposes), publishers of newspapers, weeklies, and magazines, and lotteries that contribute to good causes.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is also committed to EU policy that aims to ensure that consumers can cancel subscriptions online as easily as they can take them out. The European Commission has concluded that it is sometimes made unnecessarily difficult for consumers to cancel a subscription. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is focusing on addressing this through the EU Digital Fairness Act, which is expected in the course of 2026.