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KVK Appointment Checklist: What to Prepare and Bring

Prepare before KVK, bring the right documents to your appointment, then arrange the follow-up. Your appointment confirmation tells you exactly what to bring for your route.

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Before KVK

  • Confirm your residence and work rights allow self-employment (check the IND for your situation).
  • Choose your legal structure: eenmanszaak, VOF or BV.
  • Pick a business name and check for trade name and trademark conflicts.
  • Arrange a valid Dutch business address for the register.
  • Write a clear description of your activities so SBI codes can be assigned correctly.
  • Gather valid identification and, if applicable, proof of address or a partnership agreement.
  • For a BV: contact a Dutch notary, since incorporation runs through them.

Still choosing a structure? Compare the options in choose between a BV and sole trader/ZZP.

During registration and your KVK appointment

  • Complete KVK's online registration form for your structure.
  • Book the appointment where one is required, and note what to bring.
  • Bring valid ID to the identity check.
  • Pay the one-time KVK registration fee.
  • Check your registration details before confirming — corrections later cost time.
  • Decide whether your address and phone number should be publicly visible in the register.

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, check KVK documents for non-EU residents before you book, and see how KVK company registration works for the full procedure.

After KVK registration

  • Save your KVK number and your extract (uittreksel).
  • Wait for the Belastingdienst letter with your BTW-id and VAT number, and note your first VAT deadline.
  • Open a business bank account and keep business money separate.
  • Set up bookkeeping or hire an accountant.
  • Create invoice templates with all mandatory Dutch invoice details.
  • Arrange liability insurance and, for self-employed people, income protection.
  • Set up your website, email and basic contract templates.

The admin side is covered in our Dutch VAT and bookkeeping guide, and the wider sequence in the step-by-step guide to starting a business in the Netherlands.

Get this checklist personalised

Our free roadmap asks a few questions about your nationality, residence status, activity and plans, then generates a checklist that only contains the steps that apply to you — with the official sources next to each step.

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Common questions

Do I have to register with KVK?

If you offer goods or services in the Netherlands on a structural basis, you generally must register in the Dutch Business Register at KVK before you start invoicing. KVK publishes the exact conditions.

Is there a KVK registration fee?

Yes, KVK charges a one-time registration fee. The current amount is published on the KVK website.

Does KVK registration give me a VAT number?

KVK passes your details to the Belastingdienst, which assesses your VAT position and sends your BTW-id and VAT number where applicable.

Can StartDutchBusiness.nl register my business for me?

No. We are an independent guidance platform, not KVK and not a registration intermediary. We help you prepare and understand the steps; you complete the official registration yourself.

More answers are in our FAQ, and the full sequence is in register a company in the Netherlands.

Official sources

Always confirm current rules and steps directly with the official Dutch authorities.

This page is general guidance only and is not legal, tax, accounting or immigration advice. StartDutchBusiness.nl is an independent guidance platform — not an official government website, not KVK, not the Belastingdienst, not the IND, and not a registration intermediary. For decisions that depend on your personal situation, check the official sources above or speak with a qualified advisor. See our disclaimer.