Register with the Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce is an important organisation for anyone starting a business. They control the trade registry in the Netherlands.

Nearly every business has to register in the trade registry of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) with the exception of the following:

• sole traders in the agriculture and fishing sectors
• partnerships
• liberal professions (e.g. doctors, civil notaries, artists)
• businesses relates to a public body (e.g. local government, hospital, school)

You can register your company in the trade register from one week before your start date. You will need a valid form of identification and original documentation in certain cases. For example, if you start your business in rented premises, you may be asked to show the rental contract in order to confirm the establishment address. Once you have registered, you are given a unique eight-figure registration number. You must print this number on all your outgoing post. Ask for a printout straight away to prove that you have registered. The tax authorities, bank and suppliers will regularly ask for this number.

Registered entrepreneurs pay a contribution to the Chamber of Commerce every year. The level of the contribution will mainly depend on the legal form of your business. Ask your local Chamber of Commerce for the exact amount charged in your region. Once you have registered, it is your responsibility to ensure the information is up to date and correct. Only the following are allowed to register a business or communicate changes to the register information: the owner, partner, manager or a proxy with general power of attorney.

Registration and amendments to information relating to NVs and BVs (public and private limited companies) are published in the Staatscourant at the company’s expense.

The Chamber of Commerce also provides information, advice and encouragement for regional businesses. It is worth checking with them before you begin the process of starting up. It can inform you about matters such as starting your own business, exporting, applying for licences, government subsidies, etc. It can also supply lists of addresses. Information on registered companies: 0900 - 123 4567 (€0.70/min).

You can go to the Ondernemersbalie of the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) for more help. There are five offices, in Delft, Naaldwijk, Zoetermeer and two locations in The Hague. The registration fee will be payable annually and the size of that fee will depend on the sum of capital invested in the enterprise. They will also be able to tell you whether your particular business needs to be registered with the KvK as not all do.