Who is allowed to register your business?

  • 4 August 2016
  • Edited 10 September 2025
  • 4 min

The type of legal structure determines who is responsible for registering with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK. Sometimes you do it yourself, sometimes a civil-law notary does it for you. It is not always necessary to visit a KVK office to complete the registration.

Eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship)

As the owner, you register your eenmanszaak yourself. Login with DigiD and complete the registration form. Then make an appointment to visit a KVK office to complete the registration. Bring a valid proof of identity and, if necessary, other documents. 

Do you want to transfer or take over an eenmanszaak? Read what to do in your situation. 

VOF (general partnership)

Partners are persons and organisations

A partner who is a natural person joining the VOF can register the partnership. Login with DigiD and complete the registration form. Then make an appointment to visit a KVK office to complete the registration. All partners who are natural persons must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity, and any other required documents. 

Partners are organisations

All partners can register the VOF. Download and complete the forms. Then send them to KVK by post, together with the necessary supporting documents. You do not need to make an appointment to visit KVK.

Do you want to take over or continue a VOF? Read what you need to do in your situation.

Maatschap (professional partnership)

Partners are persons and organisations

A partner who is a natural person joining the maatschap can register the partnership. Login with DigiD and complete the registration form. Then make an appointment to visit a KVK office to complete the registration. All partners who are natural persons must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity, and any other required documents. 

Partners are organisations

All partners can register the maatschap. Download and complete the forms. Then send them to KVK by post, together with the necessary supporting documents. You do not need to make an appointment to visit KVK.

Do you want to take over or continue a maatschap? Read what you need to do in your situation.

CV (limited partnership)

 

Managing partners are persons or organisations

A managing partner who is a natural person joing the CV can register the partnership. Login with DigiD and complete the registration form. Then make an appointment to visit a KVK office to complete the registration. All managing partners must come in person and bring a valid proof of identity, Silent and limited partners do not need to come to KVK. 

Partners are organisations

All managing partners can register the CV. Download and complete the forms. Then send them to KVK by post, together with the necessary supporting documents. You do not need to make an appointment to visit KVK.

Do you want to take over or continue a CV? Read what you need to do in your situation.

BV or NV (private or public limited company)

A civil-law notary sets up a BV or NV for you. Usually, the notary also takes care of the registration in the Business Register and the UBO register. This means you do not have to visit KVK.

Stichting (foundation)

A civil-law notary sets up the stichting for you. Usually, the notary also takes care of the registration in the Business Register and the UBO register. This means you do not have to visit KVK.

Vereniging van eigenaren (Owners' association, VvE)

After a civil-law notary has set up the VvE, you can choose how to register the VvE in the Business Register. If the civil-law notary does this, you do not have to do anything yourself. If you want to do the registration yourself, you send the documents to KVK by post. You do not have to visit KVK.

Vereniging met volledige rechtsbevoegdheid (association with full legal capacity)

A civil-law notary sets up an association with full legal capacity for you. Usually, the notary also takes care of the registration in the Business Register and the UBO register. This means you do not have to visit KVK.

Vereniging met beperkte rechtsbevoegdheid (association with limited legal capacity)

You do not have to register a vereniging met beperkte rechtsbevoegdheid (association with limited legal capacity). But it is wise as registration means you limit the private liability of the board members. A board member can register the vereniging. Read how this works for a vreniging  with or without commercial activities.

Vereniging met onderneming (association with commercial activities)

Download the forms and fill them in. Then make an appointment online at a KVK office to finalise your registration.

Vereniging zonder onderneming (association without commercial activities)

Download the forms and fill them in. Then send them to KVK by post, together with the necessary supporting documents. You do not need to make an appointment to visit KVK.

Cooperative and Onderlinge Waarborgmaatschappij (mutual insurance association)

A civil-law notary sets up the cooperative or mutual insurance society for you. Usually, the notary also takes care of the registration in the Business Register and the UBO register. This means you do not have to visit KVK.

European legal structure

A civil-law notary sets up the European legal structure for you. Usually, the notary also takes care of the registration in the Business Register and the UBO register. This means you do not have to visit KVK.

Foreign legal entity or company

The registration may be done by:

  • the company director.
  • the managing director or authorised representative of the Dutch establishment. They temselves must also register with the Business Register. To register an authorised representative, a Dutch proxy form is required, bearing the original signatures of the Dutch directors.
  • A Dutch civil-law notary.

Does the civil-law notary not take care of the registration? Then download and complete the forms. You can send the forms by post or visit KVK to finalise the registration. 

KVK registration forms in English

All KVK registration forms are also available in English. When filling in an English-language form, the information is automatically transcribed to the Dutch-language form. And that is the form you need to sign and send in or bring to your appointment.

Please note that you must fill in any text fields in Dutch. 

To find out which registration form to use, go to the forms page.

FAQs on registration

To register a new enterprise or organisation, you must pay a registration fee. If you want to purchase a certified KVK Extract from the Business Register when you register, you can do this directly. 

We use 3 criteria to determine whether you have a business:

  1. You supply goods and/or services. Or you are preparing to do so. For example, you have already started buying products.
  2. You demand more than symbolic payment for this. Or a (commercial) price or hourly rate that makes you money. Think of making a profit or cutting costs. So it is not a hobby that only costs money and does not make a profit.
  3. You regularly provide goods and services to people other than just your family or friends.

Do you meet these 3 entrepreneurial criteria? Then you can register your business at KVK.

There are also 4 additional questions that say something about entrepreneurship and help you decide if registration is necessary.

Additional questions

  1. Do you invest money and/or time to start or grow your company?
  2. Do you work in your own business on a regular basis, as opposed to a one-off assignment? You should also register large one-off activities, such as Christmas tree sales.
  3. Will you be working for more than 1 client? If you have a single client over a longer period of time, it is more likely that you are in salaried employment.
  4. Do you decide when and how you do your work? Even if you get hired by a client. Does that apply to you too?

Are you in doubt? Check out the examples on how to deal with these 3 criteria and 4 questions.

When you come to a KVK office to register a business, you need to bring valid proof of identity.

You may also need to bring

  • a copy of the rental or lease contract, signed by both parties, if your visiting address is not the same as your residential address, or
  • a declaration of consent (only use this for a residential address and if it is signed by the owner or resident)
  • your VOF, CV, or maatschap contract, if you have made one
  • a franchise contract, if you are starting a franchise business

UBOs

Check if your organisation also needs to register UBOs. Do you? Find out who are the UBOs with these preparation documents and read what you need to bring:

KVK Business Register Extract

You can order a certified KVK Business Register Extract directly after you have registered.

No, when you have  a hobby we assume that you earn little or no income from it. Or that you spend a lot of time on your hobby but earn very little from it. According to the Commercial Register Act (Handelsregisterwet), this is not a business and you do not meet the criteria to be an entrepreneur. So, you are not required to register. However, if you do earn some money from your hobby, you usually have to report this income to the Belastingdienst (Netherlands Tax Administration). 

Click the 'Report a change' button. Enter your business name or KVK number. Click on Functionarissen ('Officers') and follow the steps.

To identify yourself in person or not?

You do not always have to come in person to identify yourself at a KVK office. On our website and the forms, you can read when personal identification is or is not necessary.

Do you have to identify yourself? Then make an appointment online. You can register at any KVK office in the Netherlands. 

Register and deregister at the same time

Does the director or partner who will be deregistered also sign for the registration of the new director or partner? Then give the deregistration form to the new director or partner when they come to register at a KVK office.

This will prevent the registration and deregistration from crossing paths, possibly making registration impossible at that time. Only a director or partner who is still registered may sign for the registration of a new director or partner.

Check whether the change affects the UBO registration

Via the online UBO report, determine whether the new director or partner will also become a UBO of your organisation and immediately register the new UBO or submit a change.

Consequences for (financial) institutions

A change of officials may have consequences for, for instance, permits of the municipality, financing, insurance, pension fund, or bank account of the company. Check the website of the relevant (financial) institution for which steps you must follow when changing officials.

Each company takeover or transfer is different. If your situation is not listed here, please contact us, so we can help you. 

FAQs on DigiD

DigiD is required to confirm your identity. In this way, we ensure that only authorised persons have access to data from an organisation.

Apply for DigiD via www.digid.nl. You need your citizen server number (BSN) to apply.

Do you live outside the Netherlands and do not have a DigiD? Check which situation applies to you.

  • You have Dutch nationality. You can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.
  • You do not have Dutch nationality. Follow these steps to apply for a DigiD:
    • First register with the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI).
    • After registration with the RNI, you will immediately receive a citizen service number (BSN).
    • With this BSN you can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.

At Help & Contact you will find all frequently asked questions about DigiD.

FAQs about civil-law notaries

You can find a civil-law notary on notaris.nl (in Dutch)

More information on civil-law notaries in the Netherlands. 

To incorporate a new business or organisation you will pay between €500 and €1,500 depending on the civil-law notary you use.