Guide
Opening a company in the Netherlands: four checks
Choose a legal structure before registering. Solo founders commonly use an eenmanszaak; a BV is incorporated through a Dutch notary. These four checks cover company formation, with links to the KVK registration steps.
Last reviewed:
Your main legal structure options
You register a business in the Dutch Business Register at KVK under a chosen legal structure:
- Eenmanszaak — a sole proprietorship, the common form for freelancers and ZZP'ers. Fast to register, no separate legal entity, you are personally liable.
- VOF — a general partnership for two or more people working together, with joint personal liability.
- BV — a private limited company: a separate legal entity, set up through a Dutch notary, with more admin but limited personal liability.
To be clear: StartDutchBusiness.nl does not open or register a company for you and is not an intermediary for KVK. We help you understand and prepare the steps so your own registration goes smoothly. For the full sequence, see how to start a business in the Netherlands.
Formation, registration and incorporation: what do they mean?
These terms describe different parts of setting up a Dutch business:
- Open a company — everyday wording for getting your business legally up and running in the Netherlands. It is not a formal Dutch term.
- Register a company — the actual administrative act: entering your business in the Handelsregister (Dutch Business Register) at KVK. This is what an eenmanszaak or VOF does directly.
- Netherlands company formation — usually used by service providers for the whole package around setting up a legal entity: structure choice, notarial deed, register entry and tax registration.
- Incorporation — specifically creating a legal entity such as a BV or NV, which happens through a Dutch notary (notaris) with a deed of incorporation. An eenmanszaak is not incorporated; it is only registered.
If you plan to freelance alone, you may need KVK registration rather than incorporation. See register a company in the Netherlands and the KVK registration checklist.
Check 1: are you allowed to be self-employed here?
Confirm your residence and work rights before anything else. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals generally have free access; other nationalities usually need a permit that allows self-employment. Current conditions are published by the IND.
For US citizens considering self-employment, our DAFT preparation guide explains the route and the checks to make before registering.
Check 2: which structure actually fits?
Think about liability, whether you have partners or investors, how much admin you can carry, and how clients in your market expect to contract. Our ZZP or BV comparison walks through the trade-offs at a high level; a tax advisor can confirm the numbers for your case.
Check 3: registration comes after the formation decision
Once the structure is settled, the administrative part follows: an eenmanszaak or VOF is entered in the Dutch Business Register directly, while a BV is incorporated by a notary who normally handles the register entry. In short, you will need a Dutch business address, a business name, an activity description and identification — the full procedure, including SBI codes and the identity check, is on how KVK company registration works, and the practical preparation is in the KVK appointment checklist.
Check 4: what happens after registration
After KVK registration you receive a KVK number, and the Belastingdienst assesses your VAT position and issues your BTW-id and VAT number where applicable. Then come banking, bookkeeping, invoicing and insurance — see Dutch VAT and accounting setup for startups for that part, business support if you are already registered, or assisted services if you want to be introduced to a vetted accountant or advisor.
What StartDutchBusiness.nl can help with
We turn the official steps into a personalized, beginner-friendly checklist for your situation — your nationality and residence status, your activity, and the structure that fits. We do not register your business for you and we are not KVK, the Belastingdienst or the IND.
Explore assisted services, all guides or the FAQ.
Official sources
Always confirm current rules and steps directly with the official Dutch authorities.
- Business.gov.nl — business structures in the Netherlands overview
- Business.gov.nl — choose a legal structure
- Business.gov.nl — registration at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK)
- Business.gov.nl — register your business in the Business Register
- Business.gov.nl — starting a business in the Netherlands from abroad
- IND — residence permit for a self-employed person
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.