Netherlands
The company formation process in the Netherlands is highly structured and requires the involvement of a Dutch civil-law notary. The most popular legal form is the Private Limited Company (Besloten Vennootschap or BV). The process starts with the notary drafting the official Deed of Incorporation, which contains the company’s articles of association. The notary’s role is to ensure that all legal requirements are met and that the company is properly constituted.
A key advantage of the Dutch BV is the absence of a high minimum share capital requirement; a nominal amount of just €0.01 is sufficient. The notary submits the Deed of Incorporation to the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK). The KvK then registers the company and issues a registration number. A significant benefit of this system is that the company’s details are automatically shared with the Dutch tax authorities, who then issue the company’s VAT number and corporate tax number without a separate application. Post-incorporation, you must open a corporate bank account and comply with ongoing reporting requirements.
- Choose your company type and name. The most common type is the Private Limited Company (Besloten Vennootschap or BV). Select a unique name and verify its availability with the Chamber of Commerce.
- Draft the incorporation deed. A Dutch civil-law notary must draft the official Deed of Incorporation, which includes the Articles of Association. This is a mandatory legal requirement for all BVs.
- Draft the incorporation deed. A Dutch civil-law notary must draft the official Deed of Incorporation, which includes the Articles of Association. This is a mandatory legal requirement for all BVs.
- Register with the Chamber of Commerce. The notary will submit the incorporation deed and other forms to the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK). This registration officially incorporates your company.
- Receive your VAT number. The Chamber of Commerce will automatically forward your company's details to the tax authorities, which will issue your VAT number and corporate tax number.
- Open a corporate bank account. Once the company is officially registered and has its tax numbers, you can open a corporate bank account. This is a crucial step for managing your business finances.