Do you intend to start a bus/coach or taxi company in the Netherlands as a general partnership (vennootschap onder firma, VOF)? You need a declaration of collective transport. General partnerships must have this declaration to apply for a permit to operate a taxi service or a licence to offer bus or coach services.
With this declaration, you confirm that the partners run the bus/coach or taxi company at their joint expense and risk.
How to apply as a general partnership?
When you apply for a business permit to operate a taxi service or a community licence for bus or coach services, you need to send in a completed Declaration of collective transport form (pdf, in Dutch) from Kiwa Register with your application.
Mutual liability criteria
A general partnership must meet the mutual liability criteria (gezamenlijkheidscriterium) to ensure that each partner has the same risk and reward in the partnership. Kiwa Register will evaluate your application on:
- the equal distribution of profit
- the equal distribution of costs (such as insurance or temporary replacements due to illness)
- 3rd party liability