Company registration · Netherlands
Company registration in the Netherlands the classic European holding
- Support
- from €2 400
- Registration time
- Participation exemption
A participation exemption that removes tax on qualifying dividends and gains, a wide treaty network and one of the strongest logistics infrastructures in Europe.
Registration
from €2 400
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packagesParticipation exemption
Qualifying dividends and gains
1-2 weeks
Incorporation via a notary
Treaty network
One of the widest in the world
Who it suitsNetherlands
Who the Netherlands suits
Working on the company structure- 01Holding companies owning international subsidiaries
- 02Groups planning dividend flows across borders
- 03Logistics, distribution and warehousing businesses
- 04Technology companies with European customers
- 05Structures preparing for an investment round or a sale
Does not suit
- You need a cheap shell: substance is expected here
- The plan avoids all reporting
- There is no budget for a notary and an accountant
- You are counting on anonymity: the registry is public
Company forms4
Which company to open
The private limited company covers holdings and operating businesses alike.
- 01Besloten Vennootschap · BV — private limited company
Holdings, trading, services, logistics.
Flexible share classes and access to the participation exemption.
Incorporation goes through a civil law notary.
- 02Naamloze Vennootschap · NV — public limited company
Large groups and listed structures.
High standing and access to public capital.
Higher capital requirement and heavier governance.
- 03Cooperatie · cooperative
Investment structures with multiple participants.
Flexible profit distribution rules.
Requires careful drafting to avoid tax surprises.
- 04Branch · branch of a foreign company
An existing group entering the European market.
No new legal entity is required.
The parent company carries the liability.
Packagesfrom €2 400
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on substance and on VAT.
01 · 2-3 weeks
Company
from $3 600
A holding or an entity for contracts
- Structure design and preparation of the notarial deed
- Incorporation through a civil law notary
- Registration in the commercial register
- Registered address for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
02 · 5-10 weeks
Company, VAT and account
from $6 400
An operating business with EU settlements
- Everything in the Company package
- VAT registration and customs numbers where needed
- Bank or payment institution profile and submission
- Accounting set-up and a reporting schedule
- Support with correspondence with the tax authority
03 · from 8 weeks
Holding with substance
by project
Dividend flows and treaty relief
- Everything in the Company, VAT and account package
- Resident directors and an office in the country
- Substance file for treaty purposes
- Advance agreement with the tax authority where available
- Bookkeeping, annual accounts and the tax return
Notary fees, registry fees and director costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesNetherlands
Taxes in the Netherlands
A two-band corporate rate combined with a strong holding regime.
Taxes in the Netherlands
Netherlands
- Participation exemption
- Qualifying dividends and gains
- from $3 600
- BRIDGES fee
- 1-2 weeks
- Incorporation via a notary
- Treaty network
- One of the widest in the world
- Corporate income tax
- A lower rate applies to the first band of profit and a higher rate above it.
- Participation exemption
- Dividends and capital gains from qualifying participations are exempt from corporate tax.
- Withholding tax on dividends
- Applies as standard, with relief available under treaties and EU rules; a conditional withholding tax targets payments to low-tax jurisdictions.
- VAT
- The standard rate is 21%, with reduced rates for certain supplies.
- Import deferment
- A deferment arrangement allows import VAT to be accounted for rather than paid at the border.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Annual accounts
- Corporate tax return
- VAT returns
- Registered address
- Director fees
- Substance file
- Payroll filings
- Bank compliance
Notary fees, registry fees and director costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Dutch banks are strict on compliance and expect a genuine connection to the country.
- 01What the bank looks at
The structure of ownership, the business model, the source of capital and the presence in the country.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, beneficiary profiles, contracts and evidence of the source of funds.
- 03Where the account is opened
With Dutch banks where there is substance, otherwise with European payment institutions.
- 04What we do
We prepare the file, choose the institution and run the submission through to the result.
A holding company with no office and no local director will struggle with a Dutch bank. We plan the substance and the account together.
Stages2-3 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Holdings, flows, exemption, substance, banking.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Compliance and notary preparation
Verification, collection of the set, drafting the deed.
1-2 weeks - 04Incorporation
Execution of the deed and entry in the commercial register.
3-7 days - 05VAT and customs numbers
Registration where the model requires it.
2-6 weeks - 06Account and launch
Bank file, submission and account opening.
The institution sets the timing
Result: The outcome is a Dutch company with a defensible holding position: full documents, substance where required, an account and accounting in place.
ComparisonNetherlands
Netherlands or Luxembourg
| Netherlands | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Holding regime | participation exemption | participation exemption |
| Funds | present but narrower | the leading European fund centre |
| Corporate tax | a two-band rate on profit | corporate tax plus municipal business tax and a surcharge |
| Incorporation time | 1-2 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Upkeep cost | medium | high |
| Substance | expected for treaty benefits | expected and closely monitored |
| Who it suits better | holdings with operations and logistics | funds and large investment structures |
The Netherlands is more practical for a holding that also trades. Luxembourg is the natural home for funds.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the participation exemption?+
A regime under which dividends and capital gains from qualifying participations are exempt from Dutch corporate tax.
What is the corporate tax rate?+
A lower rate applies to the first band of profit and a higher rate above it.
How long does incorporation take?+
One to two weeks, since the company is formed by notarial deed.
Do I need a Dutch director?+
Not formally, but treaty relief and banking both work far better with genuine local management.
Is withholding tax charged on dividends?+
Yes as standard, with relief under treaties and EU rules; a conditional withholding tax applies to payments to low-tax jurisdictions.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
Dutch banks expect substance. Without it the practical route is a European payment institution.
Is an audit mandatory?+
Only above the statutory size thresholds.
Is the registry public?+
Yes, the commercial register is public and shows directors and shareholders.
Is the Netherlands good for logistics?+
Yes, the import deferment arrangement and the port infrastructure are among the main reasons companies choose it.
Can I use the company purely as a holding?+
Yes, but a purely formal holding risks losing treaty benefits. Substance is planned in advance.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Address, accounting, annual accounts, the tax return and, where used, director fees. We set it out three years ahead.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
- A company in LuxembourgThe alternative for funds and large investment structures.
- Corporate accountsHow an account is opened and what the bank checks.
- BulgariaRegistration: 3-10 days · from €1 100
- CzechiaRegistration: 5-14 days · from €1 300
- HungaryRegistration: 3-7 days · from €1 400
Company registration
Want a company in the Netherlands?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
