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How to start a company in Netherlands

Last checked: November 2026 · Currency: EUR

Dutch startup teams almost always use a BV (besloten vennootschap). It has no meaningful minimum capital and is set up by a civil-law notary, who also registers it with KVK and the UBO register. With documents ready, the company can exist within days, and the tax authority sends your VAT number after KVK registration.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; always check the official source.
Recommended for co-foundersChoose a BV. It costs little more than a partnership, gives limited liability, and is the standard vehicle for Dutch angel and VC investment. Each founder often holds shares through a personal holding BV.

Company types

TypeMinimum capitalLiabilityBest for
BV
Besloten vennootschap (private limited company)		€0.01 (one share is enough) LimitedCo-founder teams planning to raise investment
VOF
Vennootschap onder firma (general partnership)		None Unlimited (joint and several, personal)Testing an idea cheaply with a partner before converting to a BV
NV
Naamloze vennootschap (public limited company)		€45,000 Check the official sourceLimitedLarge companies; rarely used by early-stage startups

Registration, step by step

  1. 1
    Agree on equity, roles and vestingAgree the share split, roles, decision rules and what happens if a founder leaves. Record it in a shareholders' agreement (aandeelhoudersovereenkomst) with vesting and leaver clauses.KVK: The BV explained
  2. 2
    Decide on the structure: BV, possibly with holdingsDecide whether each founder holds shares directly or through a personal holding BV. This must be settled before the notary drafts the deed.KVK: Holding BV pros and cons
  3. 3
    Incorporate through a notaryA civil-law notary drafts and executes the deed of incorporation with the articles of association. The notary usually registers the BV in the Business Register and the UBO register for you.KVK: Registering a BV or NV
  4. 4
    Register beneficial owners (UBOs)All shareholders with more than 25% (and other controllers) are recorded as UBOs. Check the notary has filed them, and update the register whenever ownership changes.KVK: UBO details and documents
  5. 5
    Open a business bank account and pay up the sharesBanks usually ask for the articles, the shareholder register and the UBO extract. Pay the subscribed share capital into the BV's account.KVK: Opening a business account
  6. 6
    Tax registrationAfter KVK registration, the Belastingdienst (tax authority) sends the BV's VAT (btw) numbers. Register as an employer if the BV pays salaries, including founder-directors' salaries.Belastingdienst: corporate tax changes 2026
  7. 7
    Register your trademarkA Benelux trademark from BOIP covers the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Use EUIPO for the whole EU.BOIP: Register a trademark

Costs and time

ItemAmount
KVK registration fee (one-off, 2026)€85.15
Notary for BV incorporation (KVK's estimate)€500–1,500; more with holdings or custom articles
Shareholders' agreement drafted by a lawyer€1,000–3,000 Check the official source
Benelux trademark (BOIP, one class, online)€244
How long it takes: About 1–2 weeks. The notary can often execute the deed within days of receiving IDs and instructions. KVK registration follows at once, and the VAT number arrives by post 1–2 weeks later.

Taxes

TaxRateNote
Corporate income tax (vennootschapsbelasting)19% up to €200,000 taxable profit; 25.8% aboveRates unchanged from 2025. Innovation box: 9% effective rate on qualifying innovation profits
VAT (btw)21% standard; 9% reducedVAT returns are usually quarterly
Director-shareholder salary (gebruikelijk loon)Minimum deemed salary appliesFounders with 5% or more who work in the BV must normally take a market-level salary set by the Belastingdienst. Startups may take a lower salary for a few years if they can justify it. Ask an accountant Check the official source

Protect your name

TrademarkBOIP (Benelux Office for Intellectual Property) or EUIPO (whole EU)€244 for one class online (BOIP); EUIPO €850 for one class online Trademark officeTrademark basics →
PatentOctrooicentrum Nederland (part of RVO), or the European Patent Office / Unitary PatentPatent officePatent basics, and when not to bother →

Tips for co-founders

  • Decide on personal holding BVs before the notary appointment. Adding them later costs more and can trigger tax.
  • Dutch BV articles can include share transfer restrictions; ask the notary to match them to your shareholders' agreement.
  • Use certificated or depository-receipt structures (STAK) only when you start giving equity to employees, not on day one.
  • Put IP assignment from each founder to the BV in writing. Code written before incorporation does not belong to the BV automatically.
  • A VOF is cheap, but every partner is personally liable for all of its debts. Move to a BV before you take on obligations.
The co-founder agreement checklist →
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; always check the official source. Last checked: November 2026.
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How to start a company in Netherlands · Foundmates