Business structures in the Netherlands: overview

Published by:
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK
Statistics Netherlands, CBS
Statistics Netherlands, CBS
Checked 30 Jun 2021
8 min read
Nederlandse versie

In the Netherlands, you have to choose a legal structure when you start a business. You cannot operate without choosing a business structure and be an entrepreneur.

You choose a business structure when you register at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). Your choice will help determine such aspects as liability and tax obligations.

Which corporate structure suits your company?

There are many possible business structures, as listed on this page. Which one suits you best depends on your circumstances. To help you choose, you can use our interactive tool for choosing a Dutch legal structure. Or you can scroll down on this page to find the most common considerations in the paragraph Tips for choosing a legal structure.

There are business structures with and without corporate (legal) personality.

Business structures without corporate (legal) personality are:

If you choose a business structure without legal personality, you will be personally liable for the debt of your company, with your private capital and belongings.

Legal structures with corporate (legal) personality are:

When you set up a legal structure with legal personality, a civil law notary has to draw up the relevant papers, including your registration at KVK, to create the legal personality. If your company is a legal personality, you will not be personally liable for the company's debts. There are some exceptions to this, for instance if grave mismanagement, recklessness, or fraud on your part has led to the debts.

If your business is a legal entity or a partnership, you receive an RSIN number when you register at KVK. This is the business equivalent of a citizen service number (BSN in Dutch).

Visual

You must determine your business structure before you can register your business at the Chamber of Commerce KVK. See step 1:

Registering your company, step 1 and 2Registering your company, step 1 and 2

Filing financial statements

Certain types of company are required to file their financial statements with KVK. The size of the company determines how the statments have to be submitted.

Putting your company on hold?

It is not possible to put your company on hold. According to KVK and the Tax Administration, having a business means having business activities. If you do not have business activities, de-register your company. When it is necessary to temporarily stop working less than 6 months on your business, for example, to study, travel, or a period of paid employment, you can keep your business registration. But if it takes longer, you should deregister. Read more about your options (see the FAQ: Can I temporarily put my business on hold?).

If your company is a legal entity, you must dissolve it before you can de-register. So long as your business is registered, your legal obligations continue. Depending on your legal structure, you have to file tax returns, keep business records, and file financial statements with KVK. You also have to honour any contracts with suppliers and customers you have entered into.

European legal structures offer you the option to work together across borders with companies from other Member States of the European Union. There are three European legal structures:

Legal entity supervision

Do you want to incorporate a private or public limited company, or amend your articles of association? Your legal entity falls under the continuous supervision of Justis, the Agency for Scrutiny, Integrity and Screening (Ministry of Justice and Security). The aim is to detect and prevent abuse. You do not require a certificate of no objection (verklaring van geen bezwaar).

The Governance and supervision Act (Wet bestuur en toezicht rechtspersonen, Wbtr) will come into effect on 1 July 2021. This act arranges that all legal entities will have the same rules with regard to governance and supervision. These rules are already in place for public limited companies (nvs) and private limited companies (bvs).

Changes in the legal structure or the collaborative venture in which your business participates will have fiscal and administrative consequences. Changes must be reported to the Netherlands Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) and KVK. You may have to re-apply for certain licences from your municipality, including, for example, the licence under the Licensing and Catering Act and operating permit.

There are quite a few considerations to be taken into account when making the choice for a legal form or business structure. The statements below can help you find out which bracket suits your situation best. Select and deselect statements to access information on several considerations you may have. Try to read all the information here; it will help you make a well-informed decision.

In the Netherlands, there are many options, but the business structures chosen most often are:

Of these four, the sole proprietorship and general partnership are not legal entities. The private limited company and the cooperative are. The difference is explained in the paragraph Types of legal structures.

Those are not legal structures, even though the terms are widely used. Freelancers/zzp'ers need to choose a business structure when they register – usually, they opt for sole proprietorship. But a private limited company is also an option. You can also opt to start a cooperative together with a group of other zzp’ers; that way, you have the protection of a legal entity, with the benefits of a sole proprietorship. Be aware that the cooperative will have to pay corporate tax over profits made.

In that case, you can register as a sole proprietor or as a private limited company. Once you have registered as a sole proprietor, you can decide to join or found a general partnership or cooperative.

In that case, you may want to start out as a sole proprietor. Be aware though, that as a sole proprietor you are personally liable for your company debts. On the upside, you will be liable for income tax but not for dividend or corporate tax. And there are tax benefits to be had: check the entrepreneurs' allowance.

In that case, a private limited company may be the choice for you. To start a private limited company, you will require the services of a notary. Be aware that as a bv you will be liable for corporate tax and Dutch dividend tax. Also, you will need to file your own income tax return over your salary. On the upside, you will not be personally liable for the company’s financial obligations.

In that case, you may consider starting out as a commercial partnership, a private limited company or a cooperative. A quick comparison will tell you what the main differences between these three are.

Private limited company (bv)Commercial partnership (vof)Cooperative / Mutual insurance society
Setting upNotarial deedNo requirements, preferably written / notarial contractNotarial deed
Capital required€0.01NoneNone
GovernanceDirectorsPartnersBoard
Other bodiesShareholders, possibly Board of CommissionersNoneBoard of members, poss. Board of Commissioners
LiabilityDirectors (in case of mismanagement or unwarranted payments to shareholders)All partners privately 100%, if partnership does not meet obligationsMembers: fully (WA), partly (BA) or not at all (UA). Directors (in case of mismanagement)
TaxesCorporate tax, income tax on directors’ salaries, dividend taxIncome tax, SME profit exemption, entrepreneurs allowance (if hours criterion is met)Corporate tax, income tax on profit payments
Social securityNo employee insurances, unless dismissal against the director’s/shareholders’ will is possibleNo employee insurancesOnly in certain cases

In that case, you might consider starting a private limited company, as this will make you eligible for lower taxes.

BV’s are often viewed as more ‘serious’ than sole proprietorships, especially abroad. So if you want to do business internationally, if you want to secure major clients, or if you want to be able to sell your business later on, a private limited company will help you realise those goals. On the other hand, starting a cooperative also lends you a professional image. So if you start out as a sole proprietor and then join forces with others, your business will profit from all the advantages of legal status, while preserving the benefits of being a sole proprietor. Also, you’ll profit from benefits that come from operating on a larger scale, such as tariffs for procurement and housing.

If you are looking for capital, and you involve private investors or banks, most likely they will want some security that their investment is a sound one. To provide this security, you either need to be able to prove that you can pay back the investors if the business goes bankrupt, or you need to start a private limited company, in order to establish a legal entity, which is more secure as a creditor than a sole proprietor (i.e., you personally). You may decide to offer your investors a share in the business, this is called equity. In that case you have shareholders, and need to start a bv. If you can procure government funding, you may not need to take money matters into account quite as much when deciding upon a business structure. But always be aware that loans have to be repaid somehow, and be realistic about your ability as a private person to do so.

Not what you are looking for?

If you need personal advice, contact KVK. They can talk you through the options.

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Statistics: businesses by legal form

Number of business structures with and without corporate (legal) personality.

Questions relating to this article?

Please contact the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK