HomepageRegistration in the Trade Register
If you set up a business in the Netherlands, you must have it included in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, KvK). Registration is possible anywhere from one week before the start of your business to one week after the start.
When you start up a one-man business (eenmanszaak), general partnership (vof), limited partnership (cv) or a partnership (maatschap), you must go in person to the office of the Chamber of Commerce for the area where your business is located. When you set up a legal entity, such as a private limited company (bv) or a foundation (stichting), the civil-law notary will arrange for the legal entity to be included in the Trade Register. You will receive an invoice from the Chamber of Commerce to pay the annual contribution.
Please note: Undisclosed partnerships with a business must still register in the Trade Register by 16 May 2011.
Chamber of Commerce number
You will be issued a Chamber of Commerce number after registering in the Trade Register. All legal entities and alliances will also be given a Rechtspersonen en Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatienummer (RSIN; Legal Person and Alliance Information Number). If your business consists of more than one site, each site will be given a unique site number that consists of 12 digits.
Registration with the Tax and Customs Administration
If you enter your business in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce, the latter will pass on your details to the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst), obviating the need to register separately.
Reporting changes
If any of the following changes take place in your business, you must notify the Chamber of Commerce in your region within one week:
- Change of address;
- Corporate data change;
- Change of official or director;
- Registration, change or deregistration of business location;
- Change or addition of trade name.
Cessation of business
If your business ceases trading, you must deregister from the Trade Register. You should use form 14 (for a sole trader) or form 17a (for other legal forms). You can send or hand in the form together with a copy of your identity document to/at the office of the Chamber of Commerce in your region. The Chamber of Commerce will pass on your deregistration to the Tax and Customs Administration.
Consultation of the Trade Register
You can consult the Trade Register to find information about registered businesses, foundations and associations. Information from the Trade Register can be requested from the Chamber of Commerce by phone on 0900 123 4567 (€0.70 per minute). If you require a digital certified extract of your company’s information, you are entitled to request one copy free of charge each year from the Chamber of Commerce. You must pay for any additional extracts required.
Non mailing indicator
All information about your company listed in the Trade Register is publicly available. By activating the non-mailing indicator, you indicate that other companies may not use your company’s information for marketing purposes.
Foreign company registration
Foreign companies that do business in the Netherlands can also sometimes register in the Dutch Trade Register. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for this.
