The Netherlands has one of the most accessible business environments in Europe, with 95% of Europe’s major markets close to Dutch hubs. There’s a clear path to incorporation, a well-documented tax system, and no requirement for a Dutch partner or local shareholder to start. Non-EU founders can incorporate a besloten vennootschap (BV), or a private limited company, with just €0.01 in starting capital and a civil law notary.

Below, we’ll discuss how to start your own business in the Netherlands, the payments infrastructure you’ll need to operate in the Dutch market, and the specific mistakes to avoid.

What’s in this article?

• What’s the process for starting a company in the Netherlands?
  
• How do you choose the right structure when starting a company in the Netherlands?
  
• What payments infrastructure do you need to start your own business in the Netherlands?
  
• What are the tax and compliance obligations for a company in the Netherlands?
  
• What are the common pitfalls when starting a company in the Netherlands?
  
• How Stripe Payments can help
  

What’s the process for starting a company in the Netherlands?

Before you touch a registration form, you need to meet a few requirements. First, you’ll need a Dutch address to use as your registered office. While PO boxes don’t qualify, virtual office addresses can if they’re accessible during business hours and able to receive official correspondence.

If you’re a non-EU national who plans to live in the Netherlands, you’ll need a valid residence permit that allows you to run a business. If you don’t intend to live and work in the country, you can skip the permit.

Here’s how the process works.

Choose your legal structure

The legal structure determines your tax exposure, your liability, and how you pay yourself. It also dictates your registration path: a sole proprietorship or general partnership requires you to register directly at an office of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (“Kamer van Koophandel” in Dutch, or KVK), whereas a BV requires a notary.

Work with a Dutch notary

If you’re forming a BV, a civil law notary must draft the deed of incorporation. This can be done in person or over a secure video call if you’re abroad.

The notarial deed includes four key components:

• Company name: A unique name that isn’t too similar to existing registered names

• Registered address: Your verified Dutch business location

• Share structure: An outline of who owns what and at what nominal value

• Stated purpose: A broad description of what the company does (typically including a catchall clause to avoid future amendments)

Register with the KVK

You’ll pay the KVK a one-time registration fee of €85.15 as of 2026 and receive a KVK number for your files. The exact notary process depends on your business structure:

• For BVs, the notary files the deed and registers the company on your behalf. They must also register ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs)—people who own or control more than 25% of the company.

• Sole traders or general partnerships register themselves directly at a KVK office.

Receive your registration numbers

Once your business is registered, you’ll be issued three necessary identification numbers:

• KVK number: Your eight-digit registration number. It goes on every invoice and official filing.

• RSIN number: Your tax identification number with the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), which is issued automatically alongside your KVK number.

• BTW number: Your VAT identification number, which is issued separately.

While the first two are issued immediately after registration, the BTW number can take a few weeks to arrive. Plan accordingly if customers need VAT-compliant invoices from day one.

Open a business bank account

You’ll need your KVK number to open a business account. If you’ve incorporated a BV, you’ll need a copy of the notarial deed.

Obtain sector-specific licenses

Financial services, healthcare, and certain professional services mandate additional permits. These requirements, along with your chosen structure, determine your timeline. Sole proprietors can typically begin operations in a day or two, while BVs often take multiple weeks from the initial decision to become a functional business.

How do you choose the right structure when starting a company in the Netherlands?

Founders usually choose between two structures: a sole proprietorship (“eenmanszaak” in Dutch) or BV.

As a sole proprietor, the setup is simple. There’s no notary, no minimum capital, and no deed. You register directly with the KVK and you’re done. It’s the fastest way to become a legally operating business in the Netherlands, but you assume full liability. If the company owes money, you personally owe that money. You’re also taxed as an individual so income tax rates apply: up to 49.5% at the top bracket (for income above €78,426). There are some self-employment deductions available.

BVs require a Dutch notary to draft and file the articles of association. Notary costs typically run from €400–€1,000 for a standard incorporation. The old €18,000 minimum share capital requirement was abolished in 2012 so you can incorporate with just €0.01, although €1 is standard practice. Unlike a sole proprietorship, the BV is a separate legal entity. That means your personal assets are generally protected from business debts and corporate income tax applies. As a director, you’re required to pay yourself a minimum “customary salary,” which is subject to income tax. Profits above that can be distributed as dividends at a lower rate.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to a trade-off between simplicity and risk. If you’re a low-overhead service provider with minimal liability, a sole proprietorship is the most efficient starting point. But once you earn about €100,000–€150,000 in annual profit, or if your business model involves substantial financial risk and hiring, the BV becomes the superior choice for both asset protection and tax optimization.

What payments infrastructure do you need to start your own business in the Netherlands?

Getting paid in the Netherlands means supporting iDEAL | Wero. This is the dominant payment method for Dutch online transactions, and it’s transitioning to the pan-European digital wallet Wero starting in 2026.

Here are the other payment methods you should support:

• Card payments: Visa and Mastercard are highly preferred by international customers, as well as Dutch customers for certain transaction types.

• SEPA Direct Debit: Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Direct Debit is standard for recurring billing across the Netherlands and the broader euro area.

• SEPA Credit Transfer: This is common for B2B transactions. Dutch and other EU businesses routinely pay invoices by bank transfer rather than card.

Stripe supports all of these methods from a single integration, which matters because building separate integrations for each takes a lot of time and labor.

What are the tax and compliance obligations for a company in the Netherlands?

The Dutch tax system has many moving parts that run on different schedules. Missing a filing deadline triggers automatic fines, and the Belastingdienst doesn’t send reminders.

Here are the main obligations.

VAT (BTW)

The standard rate is 21%, with a reduced rate of 9% for specific categories such as food, books, medicines, and some services. You file quarterly in the majority of cases, or monthly if your liability is high. If your annual turnover is below €20,000, you might qualify for the small business scheme (“kleineondernemersregeling” in Dutch, or KOR), which lets you opt out of VAT administration entirely.

Corporate income tax

Corporate income tax applies to BVs at 19% on profits up to €200,000 and at 25.8% on anything above that. It’s filed annually and due five months after your financial year ends unless you’ve requested an extension.

Payroll tax

If you pay yourself or employ anyone, you’ll withhold income tax and social contributions at source. This requires a separate registration with the Belastingdienst as an employer.

Annual accounts

BVs must file annual accounts with the KVK. Small companies can file abbreviated accounts rather than full ones as long as they fall under two of these three thresholds: €15 million turnover, €7.5 million balance sheet total, or fewer than 50 employees.

Tax treaties

The Netherlands has tax treaties with more than 100 countries. If your structure involves payments (e.g., dividends, royalties, interest) between a Dutch entity and a parent or subsidiary abroad, those treaties might affect applicable tax rates. In that case, you should seek specific guidance.

What are the common pitfalls when starting a company in the Netherlands?

Some of the most common mistakes aren’t readily apparent until much later, after your business is already operational. But they’re usually avoidable with preparation at the outset.

Here are some potential issues.

Picking the wrong legal structure too early

Converting a sole proprietorship to a BV later involves a formal conversion process, notary costs, and potential tax consequences on transferred assets. It’s possible, but it’s friction you’d rather avoid.

Underestimating the minimum customary salary

BV directors who minimize their salaries to reduce income tax exposure might face scrutiny from the Belastingdienst. The tax authority can assess what a customary salary should be for your role and sector. And if yours is deemed too low, it’ll adjust it retroactively with interest.

BTW registration delays

If you’re launching with time-sensitive contracts or customers who need VAT-compliant invoices immediately, a six-week wait for your BTW number can cause problems. Register your BV several weeks before you plan to start trading.

Missing the 30% ruling window

If you’re relocating from abroad and qualify for the 30% ruling (a tax facility that lets qualifying expat employees receive up to 30% of their salaries tax-free for a maximum of five years), then you have four months from your start date to apply.

Falling behind on bookkeeping

Dutch tax law requires you to retain records for at least seven years (10 years for real estate). Quarterly BTW returns require clean transaction records from day one. Lag in the first year compounds quickly, and Dutch accountants charge by the hour to help you catch up.

How Stripe Payments can help

Stripe Payments provides a unified, global payment solution that helps any business—from scaling startups to global enterprises—accept payments online, in person, and around the world.

Stripe Payments can help you:

• Optimize your checkout experience: Create a frictionless customer experience and save thousands of engineering hours with prebuilt payment UIs, access to 125+ payment methods, and Link, a wallet built by Stripe.

• Expand to new markets faster: Reach customers worldwide and reduce the complexity and cost of multicurrency management with cross-border payment options, available in 195 countries across 135+ currencies.

• Unify payments in person and online: Build a unified commerce experience across online and in-person channels to personalize interactions, reward loyalty, and grow revenue.

• Improve payment performance: Increase revenue with a range of customizable, easy-to-configure payment tools, including no-code fraud protection and advanced capabilities to improve authorization rates.

• Move faster with a flexible, reliable platform for growth: Build on a platform designed to scale with you, with 99.999% historical uptime and industry-leading reliability.

Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments, or get started today.