Netherlands at a glance
Netherlands is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Netherlands
- BV (Besloten Vennootschap) The private limited company and default choice for founders. Only EUR 0.01 minimum capital, limited liability, incorporated through a Dutch civil-law notary.
- NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) The public limited company for larger businesses or freely transferable / listed shares. Requires EUR 45,000 of issued capital.
| Corporate tax | Corporate income tax is 19% on the first EUR 200,000 of profit and 25.8% above that, unchanged for 2025 and 2026. A 9% effective innovation-box rate applies to qualifying R&D income. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT (BTW) is 21%, with a reduced 9% on essentials and 0% for exports and intra-EU supplies. A small-business scheme (KOR) can exempt turnover up to EUR 20,000. |
| Minimum share capital | Minimum capital for a BV is EUR 0.01, since the former EUR 18,000 minimum was abolished on 1 October 2012. An NV requires EUR 45,000. |
| Setup time | Typically about 1 to 2 weeks for non-resident founders once KYC is complete. The notary drafts the deed in a few days, the KVK Business Register entry is often done within 1 to 3 business days, and the VAT number arrives by post within about two weeks. |
| Remote setup | Yes. A BV can be incorporated fully online via a digital notarial deed over a secure audio-video connection, so no physical visit is required. Agents also handle non-resident incorporation by power of attorney. |
| Director / residency | No residency or nationality requirement: a foreign individual or entity can be director of a BV, and at least one director is required. A local director is sometimes added for tax substance but is not mandatory. |
| Banking options | Dutch banks (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, SNS) offer full accounts but onboarding is slow (2 to 8 weeks) and often expects a Dutch presence. Fintechs (bunq, Wise, Revolut) onboard non-residents within days. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Incorporation goes through a Dutch civil-law notary. The Netherlands is a leading EU holding jurisdiction thanks to its participation exemption, broad tax-treaty network and the 9% innovation box, while expat staff can use the 30% ruling. Director-major shareholders must pay a customary market salary.
How to register a company in Netherlands
The process is straightforward and, in Netherlands, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the BV (limited); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Yes. A BV can be incorporated fully online via a digital notarial deed over a secure audio-video connection, so no physical visit is required. Agents also handle non-resident incorporation by power of attorney.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 1-2 weeks.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. Dutch banks (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, SNS) offer full accounts but onboarding is slow (2 to 8 weeks) and often expects a Dutch presence. Fintechs (bunq, Wise, Revolut) onboard non-residents within days.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your Dutch company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Netherlands, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Netherlands
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Dutch company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Netherlands up front, so there are no surprises.
Netherlands and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Dutch company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Netherlands against other countries, see company formation in Europe.