Company Formation & Entity Setup in Netherlands
BV and NV incorporation, KvK (Chamber of Commerce) registration, UBO filing, and post-formation compliance setup.
NetherlandsCurrency
EUR
Legal forms
BV · NV
Minimum share capital
BV: no statutory minimum · NV: €45,000
Registration body
Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, KVK), via notarial deed for a BV
Formation timeline
1–2 weeks
Corporate tax rate
19% up to €200,000 taxable profit · 25.8% above that threshold
How company formation works in Netherlands
The Netherlands applies a two-bracket corporate tax system: 19% on the first €200,000 of taxable profit, rising to 25.8% above that threshold — a structure that has remained stable into 2026 and is comparatively favourable for small and mid-sized operating subsidiaries. The BV (Besloten Vennootschap) carries no statutory minimum capital requirement, making entity formation administratively light by EU standards.
Discuss your Netherlands market-entry structureMatched to your business objective
BV
The standard vehicle for an operating subsidiary of a foreign company — the default choice for most market-entry engagements in Netherlands.
NV
Used for larger operations, more formal governance needs, or entities seeking to raise capital publicly.
Branch
Useful for testing the Netherlands market before committing to a subsidiary, or for keeping a single legal entity across borders. Creates a taxable presence — profits are generally taxed in Netherlands.
Representative office
For market research and liaison activity only — cannot sign contracts, invoice, or trade locally in most jurisdictions.
What it takes to register, and how long
Formation runs through the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, KVK), via notarial deed for a BV, typically taking 1–2 weeks.
- Annual salary threshold revision — for Highly Skilled Migrants, EU Blue Card and ICT permits, effective every 1 January
- Mandatory proof-of-payment documentation — — bank statements or batch payment records, not payslips alone — required from recognised sponsors since 2026
- Director-major shareholder (DGA) customary salary rule — — owner-directors of a BV must pay themselves a statutory minimum salary, €58,000 for 2026
- 30% ruling cap — — the expat tax allowance is capped at the WNT norm (€262,000 for 2026), with no further transitional exceptions from 2026 onward
Frequently asked questions
Talk to a Netherlands formation expert
The Dutch skilled-migrant system rewards employers who treat salary threshold compliance as a continuous obligation, not a one-time check at the visa application stage. Thresholds change annually, apply retroactively to new employment contracts even mid-permit, and are now verified against actual bank transfers — a gap between contracted and paid salary that surfaces during inspection is treated as a compliance failure, not an administrative oversight.