Starting a business in the Netherlands: a 12-step checklist
Starting a business in the Netherlands as an expat comes down to four essentials: the right to be self-employed, a BSN, a KVK registration for €85.15 (2026) and a VAT ID from the Tax Administration. No starting capital is required for a sole proprietorship, and the KVK does not check how much money you have. This checklist runs from permit to first invoice, with the Dutch-specific traps that catch newcomers.
The 12 steps to start a business in the Netherlands
- Check your right to work self-employed. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need nothing extra. Others need a residence permit that allows self-employment: the self-employed permit, the start-up permit, or the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty route for US citizens. See How to register a company in the Netherlands.
- Get a BSN by registering with your municipality (stays over 4 months) or the RNI (up to 4 months).
- Request DigiD, the digital login used for the KVK form and every tax portal.
- Test the KVK's three criteria: independent supply, a price that earns income, regular customers beyond family and friends.
- Pick a legal form. Sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) for most freelancers, vof for partners, BV for limited liability; see Sole proprietorship or BV.
- Choose a trade name and check it with the KVK name checker.
- Arrange a Dutch business address. Home, office or business centre; a PO box is not accepted. Rules in Business address for the KVK.
- Register with the KVK: online form, then an appointment with your passport, a week before or after starting (step-by-step).
- Receive your VAT ID within two weeks and decide on the small businesses scheme (KOR) if turnover stays under €20,000 a year.
- Open a business bank account. Not mandatory according to the KVK, but banks and clients expect it; bring your KVK extract.
- Arrange insurance and health cover. Dutch basic health insurance is compulsory for residents; liability and disability cover are your own choice.
- Track your hours. From 1,225 hours a year you qualify for the self-employed deduction (€1,200 in 2026) and the starter's deduction (€2,123).
What is the minimum cost of starting?
| Item | Minimum | Note |
|---|---|---|
| KVK registration | €85.15 | One-off, tax-deductible (kvk.nl, 2026) |
| Notary | €0 for a sole proprietorship or vof | Only a BV, foundation or association needs one |
| VAT ID | €0 | Issued automatically |
| Workplace | €0 from home | Coworking from €96 a month, virtual office from €73 in this catalogue |
| Residence permit (non-EU) | €423 application fee | Self-employed and start-up permits, 2026 (ind.nl) |
Can you start with no money?
Yes. The KVK registers you regardless of your bank balance, and a sole proprietorship costs only the registration fee (kvk.nl, starting without money). Service businesses built on your own skills need almost no investment. If you do need funding, the KVK lists family loans, crowdfunding, microcredit through Qredits and, for low-income starters, the municipal Bbz scheme. Work from home at first and rent a meeting room by the hour for client meetings.
Can you run the business from a rented flat?
Usually yes, and the KVK accepts a home address as the visiting address. Check three things: your tenancy agreement or owners' association must allow business use, the municipal zoning plan must permit it (a desk-based business almost always qualifies, a workshop or shop often not), and you must accept that the address appears in the public Business Register. Sole proprietors can shield the visiting address, but then need a separate public postal address that is not their home (kvk.nl, shielding your visiting address). A virtual office solves that: business address and mail handling at an office location while you work from home.
Can you freelance next to a Dutch employment contract?
Start with your contract: check the clause on side activities and any non-compete clause, and talk to your employer if the clause is unclear. After that the process is the standard one: register with the KVK once you meet the criteria, file VAT returns, and declare the profit alongside your salary. The self-employed deduction requires at least 1,225 hours a year in the business and, after your first five years, more time in the business than in employment (belastingdienst.nl, hours criterion). Highly skilled migrants should check with the IND whether their permit allows self-employed work alongside the job.
Can you start while on Dutch unemployment benefit?
The UWV starter scheme allows a 6-month start period on WW benefit: you receive 29% less benefit, have no obligation to apply for jobs and may work unlimited hours for your business. Approval is based on your business plan, and you may not take assignments from the employer who dismissed you (uwv.nl, start period). Discuss the plan with your UWV adviser before registering with the KVK.
Ready to start in Amsterdam? Compare coworking in Amsterdam for a desk beyond the kitchen table and virtual offices in Amsterdam for a registered address.