COREDO > Corporate Services > Company Formation > Company Formation in the Netherlands

Company Formation in the Netherlands

Why Register a Company in the Netherlands

The Dutch BV is one of the most sought-after corporate forms in Europe. The Netherlands is in the EU and the eurozone, so your company gets direct access to the single market and the SEPA payment infrastructure. Legislation is stable, the tax treaty network is extensive, and directors and shareholders face no nationality or residency restrictions.

COREDO has worked since 2016 and handles turnkey registration — from document preparation to the KVK number. No travel to the Netherlands is needed: identity is verified by video call, documents are signed electronically.

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Cost of the service
from EUR 2,500

Types of Companies in the Netherlands

Foreign entrepreneurs can register a business in the Netherlands in one of the following legal forms.

BV (Besloten Vennootschap) — private limited liability company.

The most popular business form in the Netherlands. A single founder — an individual or a company — is enough to set one up. The minimum share capital is EUR 0.01; you set the actual amount yourself to suit your business. A BV is incorporated only through a civil law notary and is an excellent fit for SMEs and international holding structures.

NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) — public limited company.

The form for large enterprises that need substantial capital and issue shares. An NV’s minimum starting capital is EUR 45,000, and it is also incorporated through a notary.

VOF (Vennootschap onder Firma) — general partnership.

Formed by two or more partners under a single trade name. Partners are personally liable for the partnership’s debts. A VOF is registered directly with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), without a notary.

Eenmanszaak — sole proprietorship.

The simplest business form in the Netherlands. The owner registers it with KVK themselves, without a notary, and is personally liable for business debts. Most freelancers register in this form.

Stichting — foundation.

A non-profit form for social, cultural or charitable purposes. A foundation is established through a notary and is a legal entity. It may make a profit if the profit goes to its statutory objectives.

Branch of a foreign company.

A foreign company can open a branch in the Netherlands. No separate legal entity is needed, but the branch is entered in the KVK Trade Register and operates on behalf of the parent company.

For holding structures, the Netherlands offers the participation exemption and an extensive network of tax treaties — more on this in the tax section.

Company Registration Procedure

Dutch companies are registered by the Chamber of Commerce — KVK (Kamer van Koophandel). A BV or NV can only be incorporated through a civil law notary. COREDO runs the entire process remotely, with no travel to the Netherlands: the founders’ identities are verified by video call and documents are signed electronically. The procedure has five stages.

Document preparation.

You provide the documents on our checklist, and COREDO carries out a standard customer due diligence (KYC/AML) check. COREDO specialists then prepare the complete set of documents for the notary and KVK registration.

01

Notarial deed.

The deed of incorporation, together with the company’s articles of association, is drawn up and executed by a Dutch civil law notary — the notary’s fee is already included in COREDO’s price. There is no need to visit the notary: we arrange the entire process remotely.

02

Registration with KVK.

The company is entered in the Trade Register of the Kamer van Koophandel and receives its KVK registration number. The government fee for entry in the Trade Register (EUR 85.15 in 2026) is paid by the client separately, on top of COREDO’s price.

03

VAT number.

Within 10 working days of registration, the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) informs the company whether it is liable for VAT and, if so, assigns a VAT number (BTW-ID). Should your business need a separate VAT registration application, COREDO will prepare and file it for EUR 700 + VAT.

04

Post-registration support.

COREDO hands over the complete set of corporate documents and, if you choose, provides a registered office address and takes care of your company’s accounting or compliance package. Assistance with opening a corporate bank account is an additional service.

After registration, the company keeps accounting records and files financial statements. If your business belongs to one of the groups covered by the anti-money laundering act (Wwft — Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme), the company also meets its requirements. Certain types of activity require licences or permits from the relevant regulators.

05

Required Documents

To register a BV, you will need:

a valid passport or identity card for each shareholder and director;

proof of residential address not older than 3 months;

three company name options in order of priority;

a description of the planned business activity and expected turnover;

details of the share capital and the distribution of shares;

information on the ultimate beneficial owners (UBO — Ultimate Beneficial Owner);

if a shareholder is a company: its incorporation documents, an ownership structure chart and details of its beneficial owners.

The deed of incorporation and the articles of association are prepared by the notary, and COREDO provides a Dutch address for registration as a separate service. COREDO specialists confirm the exact list during onboarding, tailored to your structure. Documents from countries outside the EU often need an apostille or consular legalisation, and foreign documents a certified translation by a sworn translator.

Registration Timelines

Registering a BV with COREDO support takes approximately 4 weeks from receipt of all required documents. This covers drafting the incorporation documents, notarisation and KVK registration with the registration number. Corporate bank account opening takes an additional 3–4 weeks from submission of the complete KYC package to the bank. A sole proprietorship (Eenmanszaak) or a VOF is registered faster: with complete documents, the KVK number is issued at the appointment at the KVK office.

Cost of Services

Company formation in the Netherlands (BV, Besloten Vennootschap) with COREDO costs EUR 2,500 + VAT if the sole shareholder and director is an individual, and EUR 3,300 + VAT if the shareholder is a company. The price includes:

Company Formation in the Netherlands

from EUR 2,500 + VAT

fully remote incorporation of the BV, with identification by video call and electronic signing of documents;
the Dutch notary’s fee for the deed of incorporation;
registration of the company with KVK;
preparation and handover of the complete set of corporate documents.

Each additional shareholder or director costs EUR 250 + VAT per person. You pay the one-off KVK registration fee (EUR 85.15) separately, on top of COREDO’s price.

Additional services

from EUR 85 + VAT

registered office address in the Netherlands — approximately EUR 85–120 + VAT per month;
accounting services for up to 10 transactions per month — EUR 420 + VAT per month;
compliance package without bookkeeping — EUR 300 + VAT per month;
a separate VAT registration application, should you need one — EUR 700 + VAT;
EORI registration (optional) — EUR 500 + VAT;
corporate bank account opening — on request, with the fee confirmed individually; timeframe — 3–4 weeks from submission of the complete KYC package to the bank.

The final price depends on the specifics of your project — we will confirm it individually.

Tax System of the Netherlands

The corporate income tax rate (Vennootschapsbelasting) is 19% on profits up to EUR 200,000 and 25.8% above that. The standard VAT rate (BTW) is 21%. A reduced rate of 9% applies to food, medicines, books and a number of other goods.

Dividends are subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 15%. Reduced or zero rates apply under EU directives and tax treaties. For profits from innovative activities covered by an R&D declaration from RVO, the Innovation Box regime offers an effective tax rate of 9%.

Holding companies benefit from the participation exemption (deelnemingsvrijstelling): dividends from qualifying subsidiaries in which the company holds at least 5% are exempt from corporate income tax. This makes the Netherlands a convenient base for an international holding. For specialists you recruit from abroad, the employer can pay up to 30% of the salary tax-free under the 30% ruling (30%-regeling). The tax implications for your structure are worth confirming with a qualified Dutch tax adviser.

Annual Reporting and Compliance

BV and NV companies file financial statements with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) every year: the annual balance sheet, profit and loss account and explanatory notes. Medium-sized and large companies are subject to a mandatory audit by an independent auditor. Small enterprises that meet the criteria for turnover, assets and number of employees file abbreviated financial statements.

The company files its corporate income tax return with the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) annually, and its VAT (BTW) returns quarterly unless the tax authority has set a different period. Missed filing deadlines result in penalties. COREDO takes care of your company’s annual compliance in the Netherlands.

Opening a Bank Account

ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank and other major banks operate in the Netherlands, offering a full range of corporate banking services. A Dutch company uses the SEPA payment infrastructure and operates freely across the EU single market. We select the bank to suit your type of business, transaction volumes and payment geography.

COREDO’s assistance with opening a corporate bank account is an additional service. We confirm the fee individually on request, and the account opening takes 3–4 weeks from submission of the complete KYC package to the bank. Dutch banks carry out standard KYC/AML checks, so we prepare a complete and well-organised document package — it directly determines how fast the application is reviewed.

Our Experts

The COREDO team has worked since 2016 and has deep expertise in company formation across European jurisdictions.

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED of COREDO. Founded the company in 2016 and personally oversees the strategic development of the business across dozens of jurisdictions.

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. Part of the COREDO team since June 2017, responsible for legal support of corporate projects and company registration.

Alena Mach

Executive Director

Daniil Saprykin

Head of Customer Success

Annet Abdurzakova

Senior Customer Success Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner register a company in the Netherlands?

Yes. A BV shareholder can be an individual or a company from any country. If you are outside the Netherlands, the notary verifies your identity using apostilled documents. If the ownership structure changes later, KVK is notified without delay.

What is the minimum share capital for a BV in the Netherlands?

The minimum is EUR 0.01, and above that you choose the amount yourself, based on your business goals and counterparties’ expectations. A BV is a separate legal entity: its assets belong to the company itself, and shareholders are liable for its debts only up to their contribution. It is this limited liability that sets a BV apart from a sole proprietorship.

Can a bank account be opened before the BV is registered?

A bank reviews a company’s application after verifying its KVK registration. So the KYC package goes to the bank after the KVK number is issued, and the 3–4 weeks for account opening run from submission of the complete package. Many Dutch banks open accounts for non-residents remotely; some hold a video call or invite you to an in-person meeting.

What costs are there on top of COREDO's price?

The notary’s fee is already included in the price, and of the Dutch government fees for registration you pay only the one-off KVK fee separately — EUR 85.15 in 2026. KVK reviews the fee every year in line with inflation. For entrepreneurs, the fee reduces taxable profit.

When does a BV file its VAT and payroll tax returns?

The quarterly VAT return is filed and paid by the last day of the month following the quarter. If the BV has employees on its payroll, monthly or quarterly wage tax returns are added.

Is a registered office in the Netherlands required for company registration?

Yes, a company cannot be entered in the Trade Register without a Dutch address. This can be your own address in the Netherlands or a business address, such as your accountant’s office. If you have no address of your own, COREDO will provide a registered office address for approximately EUR 85–120 + VAT per month.

When must a BV file its annual accounts with KVK?

The annual accounts are adopted no later than 12 months after the end of the financial year — the exact deadline depends on the legal form. They are filed with KVK within 8 days of adoption. If the accounts cannot be adopted in time, provisional accounts are filed with KVK.

Request a Consultation

COREDO specialists handle turnkey company formation in the Netherlands — from choosing the legal form and preparing documents to obtaining the KVK number and completing tax registration. We will select the optimal corporate structure, coordinate with the notary and the bank, and help your company comply with Dutch law from day one. We have been operating since 2016 and help entrepreneurs build business structures in dozens of jurisdictions.

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