Products, services, and innovations

Rules and regulations for all entrepreneurs

Product safety and packaging (22 regulations)Protecting your product, idea, or innovation (6 regulations)Public tenders (2 regulations)Sales and advertising (28 regulations)VAT (7 regulations)

Admission of EU products into the Netherlands (mutual recognition)

Do you want to sell a product in the Netherlands? If a product or product type has already been admitted in another EU Member State, the Dutch government may not prohibit its sale in the Netherlands....

Advertising rules for social media (influencer marketing)

Do you advertise on social media? You must comply with advertising regulations. If you are a video maker and you have many followers (influencer) you must register. You can advertise on social in...

Advertising tax

Do you advertise in a way that is visible from the public road, for instance with billboards or illuminated signs? The municipal authority may impose advertising tax (reclamebelasting). It is...

Automatic renewal subscription

Do you close subscriptions with consumers? In the Netherlands, in general you are not allowed to automatically renew subscriptions. Automatic renewal means that the subscription continues without...

Cancellation period in case of a sale

If you sell products or services in the Netherlands, in some cases, your customer has the right to a reflection period (cooling-off period or cancellation period). During this period, they can cancel...

Cookies on your website

If your website uses cookies, you must inform your visitors. In many cases you also need your visitors' explicit consent to set cookies. What are cookies? A cookie is a file that saves internet...

Attention: amendment

Digital platforms must provide clear terms and conditions (P2B)

Do you use digital platforms (online intermediation services) to sell your product or service? Digital platforms must give you clear information, according to the Platform-to-Business Regulation (P2B...

Digital Services Act: supervision of online services

Does your company offer an intermediary online service, such as an online platform, online marketplace, or social media network? Then your service must comply with the rules of the European Digital...

Attention: amendment

Distributing advertising material

Do you want to distribute advertising material (leaflets, flyers, and samples)? Either door-to-door or in the street? There are rules you have to comply with, both on a national and a municipal level....

Door-to-door selling and street trade

Do you sell outside of a salesroom or shop? For instance door-to-door? You must keep to more rules than when selling from a shop or salesroom. You must, for instance, inform your customer clearly....

Drafting a privacy statement

Do you process personal data? Do you for instance keep, use, or share your customers’ or visitors’’ personal data because you supply goods or services? Under the privacy legislation, the General Data...

General terms and conditions

General terms and conditions state the rules that apply when you sell something, or provide a service to a customer. You do not have to use general terms and conditions, but if you use them, they...

Attention: amendment

Municipal tax on encroachments on or above public land (precario)

Do you use a plot of municipal land, for instance by: installing an outdoor terrace, billboard, scaffolding, or container on it suspending a canopy, awning, or flag above it installing cables,...

Offering credit notes or vouchers

Are you unable to deliver goods or services but did your customer already pay (in part)? And do you want to offer your customer a credit note or voucher? Then you should take into account the right to...

Attention: amendment

Online sales and purchases (web shop)

Do you sell products or services online in the Netherlands? For instance, through a web shop or online platform? You must comply with legal rules to protect your customer from the risks involved in...

Payment term, collection charges, and statutory interest

If you sell products or provide services, often a payment term is determined. If you deal with consumers, you can decide on the payment term. If you deliver to companies or governments you must comply...

Attention: amendment

Protection of personal data

Do you use or store personal data from employees, customers, or others? Then you must take extra measures to protect the data. This way you ensure the privacy of the people whose data you store. You...

Providing a guarantee

Do you sell products or digital services to consumers? You must make sure these products are of good quality. In the Netherlands, anyone buying a product is legally entitled to a sound product. This...

Attention: amendment

Purchase agreement

Do you sell products or provide services in the Netherlands? Then you conclude a purchase agreement with the buyer or consumer. This type of agreement is also known as purchase contract...

Attention: amendment

Rules for cash payments

There are rules for cash payments in the Netherlands. For example, cash payments over €10,000 are not allowed. It is also forbidden to accept counterfeit money. You cannot just refuse cash payments....

Attention: amendment

Rules for sustainability claims

Do you wish to use a sustainability claim to make known your product or service is sustainable? For instance, by stating on the packaging that you use renewable materials, or that the packaging is...

Rules for telesales

Do you offer services or products by telephone? Then you must keep to a number of rules. Cold calling is banned. Ban on cold calling Companies and organisations are not allowed to call natural...

Rules on advertising

If you advertise in the Netherlands, you must keep to the Dutch Advertising Code (Nederlandse Reclame Code, NRC). This applies to all advertising, regardless of the medium you use. The NRC describes...

Secure payment transactions

The Dutch Central Bank (DNB) is responsible for secure and reliable payment systems. DNB issues euro banknotes in a European context. Means of payment All means of payment, such as bank transfers,...

Selling from a shop

You have several obligations towards your customers when selling goods or services from a shop, exhibition stand, market stall, or van. Providing information You must inform your customers (in Dutch)...

Trading hours

In the Netherlands, shops may be open on working days and Saturdays from 06:00 to 22:00 hours. This also applies to market and street trade (itinerant trade). Your shop must be closed after 19:00...

Attention: amendment

Unfair trading practices

Do you sell goods or provide services to consumers in the Netherlands? You must act fairly. You should give your customer enough information and time to make a decision to buy a product or service....

Attention: amendment

Using a loudspeaker van or advertising vehicle

Do you want to use a loudspeaker van or advertising vehicle for advertising purposes? In many Dutch municipalities you will need permission, exemption, or a permit to do so. You apply for this to your...

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