Who is allowed to register your business?

Eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship)

The owner must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity. Read more about registering, taking over, or transferring an eenmanszaak. 

VOF or maatschap (general or professional partnership)

All partners must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity. Read more about registering a VOF or maatschap.

CV (limited partnership)

All partners must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity, apart from a silent/limited partner. Read more about registering, taking over, or transferring a CV.

BV or NV (private or public limited company)

All directors can do the registration. As a general rule, the notary establishing the legal entity will usually do the registration. Read more about registering a BV or NV.

Stichting or vereniging (foundation or association)

All directors can do the registration. As a general rule, the notary establishing the legal entity will usually do the registration. Read more about registering a stichting or vereniging.

Stichting or vereniging 'met onderneming' (foundation or association with commercial activities)

All directors can do the registration. As a general rule, the notary establishing the legal entity will usually do the registration. New officials must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity. Read more about registering a stichting or vereniging with commercial activities.

Vereniging (association) without notarised articles of association

All directors can do the registration, either in person or in writing.

Cooperative, European Economic Interest Grouping, Societas Europaea, and mutual insurance society (Onderlinge Waarborgmaatschappij)

All directors can do the registration. As a general rule, the notary establishing the legal entity will usually do the registration. Read more about registering these legal structures.

Foreign company with business in the Netherlands

Directors and anyone nominated as an authorised representative for the company in the Netherlands may register. If they are not resident in the Netherlands, the person in charge of day-to-day management may do the registration. You can also have a notary do the registration. Read more about registering a foreign legal entity or company.

KVK registration forms

In some situations you can also use a KVK registration form in English. To find out which registration form to use, go to the forms page.

Make an appointment at KVK

Sometimes you need to make an appointment at a KVK office to complete your registration. An appointment is not always necessary; you can easily arrange many things online. Check which situations require you to visit the office. Do you need to make an appointment? This can only be done online with DigiD.