Step-by-step plan: Starting a food truck business
With a food truck, you can sell food at many places, such as a market or a festival. There are rules you must follow, including those about food safety. In some cases, you will need a permit. Find out what you need to consider when you start a food truck business.
If you are from outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you may need to apply for a residence permit before you come to the Netherlands and start your food truck business. Or, if you plan to come here for a short period, you may need a short-stay visa. Find out which permits you need using our interactive guide Moving to the Netherlands as an entrepreneur.
You have to register your food truck in the KVK Business Register. KVK will pass on your details to the Netherlands Tax Administration (Belastingdienst).
Which permits you need may vary from one municipality to another. Each place of business has different rules, because each municipality decides for itself which regulations apply. So, contact the municipality where you will park your food truck to find out exactly what permits you need.
Permits and licences that you may have to deal with are:
In the Netherlands, if you want to trade from a stall or a van, on or along a public road or public space, you need a market trader's licence (standplaatsvergunning). You can obtain this licence from the municipal authorities.
Do you want to park you foodtruck on the market and sell your food? Then you need a market permit from the municipality.
Are you taking part in a street fair or an annual fair? If the organiser already has a licence from the municipality, you usually do not need to apply for your own licence. Check this with the event organiser.
Do you play music to your customers? Then you need permission from the creators. You arrange this by applying for a licence from Buma/Stemra and paying a fee.
Are you operating your food truck at a festival? Then the festival organisers are responsible for applying for the licence. If you have any questions, please contact BumaStemra and Sena.
If you sell alcohol at a fixed site you will need a licence from the municipality. In the Netherlands, you may only serve alcohol to young people aged 18 or over.You may not serve alcohol to youths under the age of 18 or to them through persons who are aged 18 years or older (proxy sales). You must ask young people for proof of identity to check their age.
You pay excise duty on the alcoholic drinks you sell, such as beer or wine.
Do you want to temporarily serve alcohol at an event? For example, a festival or street fair. You must apply for a dispensation from the Licensing and Catering Act (Alcoholwet).
Apply for your licence on time
The application process for a licence may take up to 8-12 weeks. So, always make sure that you apply ahead of time.
You must register with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA, in Dutch) when you work with foodstuffs and sell them. You need eHerkenning to register.
Do you process meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or vegetable sprouts? You need a special recognition and registration for making, using, or selling foodstuffs.
If you sell food and drinks, you must ensure that your food does not make your customers ill. You must work according to an approved hygiene code. A hygiene code sets out how you monitor food safety and hygiene. The NVWA checks if you are working safely and hygienically.
By working according to an approved hygiene code you meet the HACCP requirements for food safety. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points. You can draw up your own hygiene code. NVWA inspectors will review this plan when they come to inspect your premises. But it is easier to work with an approved hygiene code from your sector organisation. For example, you can order an approved HACCP code in English from the Dutch sector organisation for the hospitality industry, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN).
As well as permits and food safety regulations, there are other rules you must follow:
There are rules you must follow for the use of plastic cups and food packaging.
Different rules may apply to an open event (such as a street fair) than to a closed event (such as a concert or sporting event in a stadium).
Check the rules for using disposable plastic.
Since 12 August 2026, stricter packaging rules have been in force. Read more on the KVK website about the new packaging rules and how to prepare for them.
Are you operating your food truck in an inner city and does your food truck run on petrol, diesel or LPG? Check whether your vehicle is still allowed to enter certain inner cities. This depends on the emission class of your food truck. Do the license plate check (in Dutch) and find out if your food truck is allowed to enter a zero emission zone.
Once you have completed your registration, KVK will automatically pass on your details to the Netherlands Tax Administration. If the Tax Administration classifies you as VAT-registered business, you must submit a VAT return. You will receive a VAT tax number and your VAT identification number (VAT ID). You will charge VAT to your customers and may deduct the VAT on your business expenses.
Read more about:
Income tax return
You must also file an income tax return. If the Tax Administration classifies you as an entrepreneur for income tax purposes, you may claim business deductions and use tax schemes. This allows you to deduct amounts from your profit or turnover, thereby reducing your tax liability.
For most parts of the Entrepreneur’s Allowance (ondernemersaftrek), you must meet certain conditions. For example, you must work on your food truck for at least 1,225 hours each year. Read more about:
You are required to keep records of your income and expenses. Make sure that you meet the requirements for business records. For example, how much tax you need to pay or how much VAT you may reclaim.
Read more about how to keep business records.
You cannot view this video due to your cookie settings. Would you like to watch?or Watch this video on YouTubeHow cookies are used on Business.gov.nl.Starting your own business is not without risks. Insure your food truck and inventory. The risk of fire in a food truck is relatively high. Food trucks are also vulnerable to burglary or storm damage. A third-party liability insurance (WA-verzekering in Dutch) for your foodtruck is mandatory. Learn what risks you can insure your business for.
In the near future, you may have to take out disability insurance (AOV). It is not yet clear when this change in law will come into force.
Are you taking on staff for the first time? Immediately register as an employer with the Netherlands Tax Administration. Also report to KVK. Agree on the terms of employment with your staff and lay them down in an employment agreement.
Check what you need to arrange if you hire staff for the first time.