Registration: what does KVK do with information about businesses?

The Business Register

All legal entities and businesses in the Netherlands are registered in the Business Register. The information in the register is constantly being updated. The Business Register is important for businesses and governmental bodies. It is linked to several European registers. Other registers are linked to the Business Register so you do not have to enter your details repeatedly.  

Financial statements

Under Dutch law, all BVs, NVs, cooperatives, and mutual insurance associations are required to file their financial  statements with KVK for every financial year. This information must be publicly available to everybody who is interested. 

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)

An LEI is a unique code for tracking transactions on financial markets. This makes the financial markets more transparent and secure. An LEI is required for all legal entities engaging in buying and selling on the stock exchange. You can apply to KVK for an LEI. 

The UBO Register

UBO stands for Ultimate Beneficial Owner. Someone who is the owner of or makes the financial decisions in a company. Since 27 September 2020, many organisations must register their UBOs in the UBO Register. The register helps prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Banks and other financial institutions use the register to find out who a company’s UBOs are.

UBO trusts register 

A trust is a foreign legal structure in which people set out arrangements together for the proper keeping and use of money or property for another person. People or organisations that have a trust must set out who ultimately benefits from the money or property in the trust. They must register these ultimate beneficial owners in the UBO trusts register.  

Preventing fraud, crime, and the financing of terrorism is the main aim of UBO trust registers. For example, the police can more easily investigate potential illegal activity. KVK manages this register on behalf of the ministries of Finance and Justice & Security.

Director disqualification register

The director disqualification register lists the names of people who may not act as directors for businesses for a certain period. They have been issued with a criminal or civil law director disqualification. KVK removes these people from the Business Register and does not register them as directors for a new or existing legal entity for the duration of the disqualification. KVK receives information about director disqualifications from the court.