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Company registration in Netherlands
CompyCo helps you navigate the process of setting up a company in the Netherlands by coordinating with trusted local professionals. Whether you’re registering a foreign entity or starting a new venture locally, our role is to guide you through each step and ensure you connect with the right experts.
Thanks to our network of licensed specialists in company registration, banking, and compliance, we make the setup process smoother and more efficient. With CompyCo by your side, you’ll have the insight and support needed to establish your presence in this dynamic market and focus on growing your business.
Forms Of Companies In The Netherlands
- BV “Besloten Vennootschap”—private limited company
- NV “Naamloze Vennootschap”—public limited company
- Private foundation “Stichting”
- Associations and cooperatives “Vereniging en coöperatie”
Setting up a business in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, most foreign investors opt for the limited liability company type – BV (Besloten Vennootschap).
You wont need to pay share capital prior to company registration. So this makes the process of company registration in Netherlands simple. There’s no minimum capital deposit requirement set. To set up a BV company, the requirement is min 1 shareholder and 1 director who can be non-residents. Also, foreign company can be a shareholder of Dutch company. Every company shall have Registered office address in Netherlands.
The minimum deposit required to set up an NV company in Holland is EUR 45,000. Unlike a BV, a Dutch NV may trade shares on the public Stock Exchange.
Fundamentals Of A Limited Liability Company
Corporate Tax in the Netherlands | VAT in the Netherlands |
|---|---|
2.85% standard and 19% up to 200 K EUR | 21% |
Fundamentals of limited liability company in The Netherlands
| Limited liability company | BV (besloten vennootschap) |
| Minimum Share capital | No requirement. |
| Registered office required | Yes |
| Physical office required | No |
| Min. number of Shareholders | 1 |
| Min. number of Directors | 1 |
| Local Director required | No |
| Other requirements | Social security number needs to be obtained in order to get bank account |
| Bank signatory must travel | Yes, in most cases |
| Timescale for company formation | 10 days |
| Timescale for bank account opening | 7 day |
| Timescale for obtaining VAT number | 7 days |
| Statutory audit requirements | Yes |
| Shelf companies available | Yes |
Business registration process in Netherlands
- The client is delivering due diligence documentation
- We will reserve the name
- Once the Netherlands company register has approved the name, we will prepare the company documents for your signature.
- We are drafting company documents and delivering to you via email along with instructions for signing. The signing requirements will defer depending on the country of your residence
- You will sign the documents and send it to us by post
- We will obtain bank account and register the company with the tax office
Company registration in Netherlands is a fairly straightforward process with no special requirements.
Before setting up a business in Netherlands, a search through the Chamber of Commerce Trade Registry is required to ensure the chosen company name is unique. All BV and NV company names must begin or end with BV or NV.
To begin the company setup process in the Netherlands, CompyCo will ask you to complete an application form and email it to us along with the following documentation:
Passport of all directors and shareholders (in colour, issued within the last 3 months).
Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement showing your residential address).
If a company is a shareholder, its corporate documents will also be required.
Once the company is registered with the Chamber of Commerce, the registration details are automatically forwarded to the Dutch Tax Office (Belastingdienst). Your company will then be assigned a unique VAT registration number (BTW-nummer).
Depending on your business activity, additional permits may be required. Through our trusted network, CompyCo will guide you on whether these apply to your case and how to obtain them.
Doing business in Netherlands
Setting up a wholly foreign-owned company in the Netherlands can seem like a daunting task when you are operating outside your jurisdiction. With CompyCo’s guidance and our strong network of local professionals, you can establish your Dutch company in just a few simple steps.
Through CompyCo’s wide network of licensed incorporation agents, lawyers, and accountants in the Netherlands, you’ll have the right local support to guide you through the setup process. In some cases, the entire company formation can even be managed remotely with the help of a Power of Attorney, helping you avoid travel while still meeting all requirements.
Once your company is registered, CompyCo stays in direct contact with you and connects you with reliable accountancy and ongoing business solutions so you can focus on running your operations in the Netherlands.
Bank Account Opening
With a highly sophisticated banking system and one of the world’s largest financial centers in Amsterdam, the Netherlands offers a wide range of financial solutions for foreign-owned businesses. A combination of large Dutch banks and international financial institutions allows you to choose what best fits your business needs. CompyCo helps you assess which services may be required for doing business in the Netherlands.
Before coordinating the process with the bank, we gather insight from you — including personal preferences, country of residence, business activities, and any existing bank accounts — as these factors can impact eligibility.
A business bank account is typically opened within four weeks of setting up a company in the Netherlands, provided you promptly supply the following documentation:
– Personal identification (passport or national identity card)
– Proof of company registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce
– A Dutch business address
– Permits related to employing staff or operating in the Netherlands
Learn more about opening a bank account here.
Accounting & Taxation (we offer after setting up a business in Netherlands)
The accounting and taxation obligations to take into consideration are:
- The tax year is the calendar year in the Netherlands.
- Taxable profits are investments, trading profits, and selling assets for more than their original cost.
- All Dutch businesses have to keep accounting books.
- In the Netherlands, the corporate tax for profits up to 200, 000 EUR is 16.5% and 25% for profits higher than 200 000 EUR. In 2021, the taxes will be lowered to 15-21%.
- Dutch companies are issued VAT numbers with the format of the country code NL followed by a 9-digit number which ends with a letter.
- In Holland, the current VAT rate is 21% on most goods and services. Exceptions apply.
How can you employ staff in the Netherlands?
Hiring the right employees for your new business venture is an important step to ensure success. In the Netherlands, employers are required to first look for talent within the EEA. Fortunately, the Netherlands has a large, highly skilled, and well-educated workforce that businesses can benefit from.
Dutch employment and labor laws may be challenging for foreign business owners to navigate. That’s why CompyCo coordinates HR solutions through trusted local partners to help you understand the labor market and secure the talent you need.
With extensive knowledge of Dutch labor regulations and a broad professional network, CompyCo facilitates services such as recruitment, payroll, employment agreements, company formation for non-residents, and registration as a non-resident employer. The non-resident employer option can often be a cost-effective alternative to full company registration in the Netherlands.
Beyond hiring, we also coordinate post-incorporation HR services to support workforce management. For companies requiring only one employee to work from home, CompyCo can assist in setting up the non-resident company as an employer rather than establishing a full legal entity.
Have any questions? Take a look at our HR services page for more information about our International HR services!