The coronavirus and your company: Dutch government measures to help businesses

Financial measures

There are several economic support measures in place for businesses affected by the corona crisis.

• NOW: Employers with more than 20% turnover loss can apply for the Temporary Emergency Bridging Measure for Sustained Employment (NOW,Tijdelijke Noodmaatregel Overbrugging voor Werkbehoud) to receive compensation of their employees' wages from July - September 2021.
  
• Tozo3 and 4: Self-employed professionals can apply for Tozo, the temporary benefit to bridge the loss of income over the months October 2020 - September 2021 in the municipality where they live. Check with your municipality how to apply.
  
• TVL: The Reimbursement Fixed Costs Scheme for SMEs and self-employed professionals aims to compensate companies for fixed costs other than wage costs. You can apply for TVL once every 3 months, until 30 September 2021.
• TONK: Entrepreneurs faced with financial difficulties as a result of the corona measures. This scheme, the Temporary Support for Necessary Costs (TONK), runs through municipalities and is open until 30 September 2021. Read more about TONK.
• Subsidy for cancelled events: events organisers can reclaim the costs incurred for events organised after 1 July 2021, that had to be cancelled due to corona restrictions. See Subsidy scheme for events cancelled due to corona measures.
• R&D subsidy scheme for the mobility sector (RDM): For companies active in the automotive, aviation, or maritime industry, a subsidy is available for research and development. If your R&D investments have been strained because of the corona crisis, you may be eligible for the R&D subsidy scheme for the mobility sector.
• Travel: A credit facility or voucher bank for travel guarantee funds is being set up by ANVR sector organization, the SGR guarantee fund and the government. Through this voucher bank, the travel guarantee funds can obtain an additional loan from the government. The guarantee fund can thus provide temporary credit to a travel organization that have issued vouchers for package tours.

Credits and guarantees

• BMKB-C: From 16 March 2020 to 31 December 2021, the SME credit guarantee (BMKB) scheme is extended to help SMEs that are affected by the coronavirus secure bank guarantees and bridge financing.
• BL-C: For agricultural entrepreneurs, the equivalent of the BMKB-C is the Credit Guarantee scheme for Agriculture (BL-C).
• GO: The Business loan guarantee scheme (GO) has been extended until 31 december 2021.
  
• Microcredit: Entrepreneurs who have a loan from microcredit provider Qredits do not have to repay their loan for a period of 6 months. During this period, the interest will be reduced to 2%. The government supports Qredits with 6 million euros.
• Small Credits for Corona Guarantee Scheme (KKC): SMEs with relatively small financial needs may be eligible for a bridging loan of up to €50,000 under the Small Credits for Corona Guarantee Scheme (Klein Krediet Corona garantieregeling or KKC). This credit measure has been extended until 31 december 2021.
  
• Re-launch credit for SMEs: SMEs can apply for credit to help them get back on their feet after the corona crisis. Qredits extends credit and advice. Application is possible from 1 June.
  
• Tozo: Until 30 September 2021, self-employed professionals can apply for Tozo, a loan to bridge the loss of income in the municipality where they live. Check with your municipality how to apply.
• Tozo for entrepreneurs living abroad: If your company is in the Netherlands, but you live abroad (in the EER or Switzerland), you can apply to the municipality of Maastricht for a business loan.
  
• Growth Facility Scheme: The intended phasing out of the Growth Facility Scheme has been extended to 15 juni 2023.
• Proof-of-concept funding: Businesses that make use of the Proof-of-concept funding scheme (VFF) or the Innovation credit scheme (IK) can apply for a repayment extension. Also, no interest will be levied on the VFF.
• Export credit insurance: The government has extended the export credit insurance facility.
  
• DTIF: The Dutch Trade and Investment Fund (DTIF) has been extended to include pre-delivery advances.

Tax options for entrepreneurs

Several municipal and regional taxes have also been extended:

• Tourist tax
  
• Regional Water Authority tax
  

• Wash your hands regularly
• Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow
• Use paper tissues
• Don't shake hands

General health measures

• People must work from home, unless it is vital that you work on site.
  
• Everyone in the Netherlands who has symptoms of COVID-19 can apply for a test. If you or one of your employees starts having complaints that correspond with the coronavirus symptoms, stay at home and apply for a test. If you test positive, aid the GGD with their contact tracing.
  
• If you travel to the Netherlands from a high-risk country, you no longer have to self-isolate if you are fully vaccinated. Read the Government.nl checklist for detailed information.
  
• The government no longer advises against travel to countries with a low infection rate. Countries with code green or yellow can be travelled to for recreation. For countries with code red a negative travel advice remains in force. Travel advice can be found here.