Business Register

In the Netherlands registration in the Business Register is compulsory for every company and almost every legal entity. This means that the register is able to provide reliable answers to such questions as:

Does the company I want to do business with actually exist?

Is the person I am dealing with actually an authorised signatory?

What has happened to the company I used to do business with?

Provision of services in the Netherlands: 'cross-border' versus 'establishment'

If you are a resident from one of the countries within the European Economic Area (Europese Economische Ruimte, EER) or from Switzerland, you should be able to offer your services in the Netherlands without any legal or practical obstructions. You can do this either by establishing your company in the Netherlands or by offering your services in the Netherlands from within your own country.

No difference establishment and cross-border service

Regardless of what you choose, the rules that apply to the services provided by you are basically the same. Dutch legislation does not differentiate between foreign or Dutch service providers. The same is also true in terms of establishment versus temporary, cross-border service. In Dutch legislation, specific rules apply to the activity that you conduct. Who performs the activity or where this person comes from is considered not to be relevant.

Obviously, for certain activities or services, you must have an establishment in the Netherlands. This is true, for example, for running a cafe or setting up a childcare centre. In this case, there are differences in terms of laws and regulations and one must register their establishment in the Netherlands with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.

Please note: Should Dutch legislation distinguish between Dutch and foreign service providers for a specific activity, or between established and temporary, cross-border service, we will explicitly mention this on this website.

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10 Steps

1. Check whether you fulfil the conditions for staying in the Netherlands

Entrepreneurs who intend to stay in the Netherlands must fulfil a number of conditions. You will sometimes also require a residence permit.

2. Select a legal form

Owners of a new business must first select a legal form (e.g. one-man business or a private limited company). The legal form determines such issues as liability and tax obligations.

3. Select a trade name

In order to have your business included in the Trade Register, you will require a trade name (company name).

4. Register with the Trade Register and Tax Administration

New businesses must be registered with the Trade Register kept by the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce will pass on your details to the Tax and Customs Administration. You do not need to register separately with the Tax and Customs Administration.

5. Check whether you require certain professional qualifications

You do not require a separate qualification to establish a business in the Netherlands. However, you are only allowed to practise certain professions if you meet certain requirements.

6. Consult the zoning plan with regard to your business location

If you plan to establish your business at a particular location, this choice of location must be in line with the municipal zoning plan. If this is not the case, however, you can apply for an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects (Omgevingsvergunning) to carry out your plans. You can also ask the municipality to change the zoning plan.

7. Consider environmental regulations

If your business operations will have an impact on the environment, you must submit a notification of environmental management to your local municipality. Sometimes you must also apply for an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects (Omgevingsvergunning).

8. Consider fire safety requirements for your business premises

If you occupy a business property, you have to take measures to ensure fire safety. In most cases you must submit a notification of occupancy to your local municipality. Sometimes you must also apply for an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects (Omgevingsvergunning).

9. Create your business accounts

As you often incur expenses before the official launch of your business, make certain to create your accounts in a timely manner. In the Netherlands, you are legally obliged to maintain accounts and to retain them for seven years.

10. Check whether you need insurance

If you live in the Netherlands or earn income here, you are obliged to take out health insurance. You are also obliged to pay Dutch national insurance contributions. Additionally, there are several ways to insure your business’s assets in the event of legal liability or any other any other risk you can’t afford to cover.

You live in another country and you have income from the Netherlands

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If you live in the Netherlands, you are a resident taxpayer (only available in Dutch). Do you live abroad and do you have income in or from the Netherlands? In that case, you have non-resident taxpayer status. In both cases, you are subject to Dutch income tax and you usually have to file an income tax return in the Netherlands annually. Do you have non-resident taxpayer status? In that case, you can opt to pay income tax according to the same tax rules as when you have resident taxpayer status.