[Xymist]

This seems entirely sensible to me. If I was offered the choice between doubling my salary or keeping the same one but halving my days worked in a year I wouldn't consider the former for more than about half a second.

[oytis]

I am not sure about Netherlands, but in Germany there seems to be no such choice. Getting a higher salary is hard even if you are willing to work more. Freelancing is probably the only way, but freelancing contracts get cut first in the current downturn.

[apexalpha]

In the US everyone has a contract similar to what you consider freelance...