Who is allowed to register your business?

Depending on which legal structure you register, one or more owners must visit the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK to finalise the registration. Below you can see who needs to visit the KVK for each legal form.

Eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship)

The owner must come in person and bring a valid ID.

Vof or maatschap (general or professional partnership)

All partners must come in person and bring a valid ID.

Commanditaire vennootschap (limited partnership, cv)

All partners must come in person and bring a valid ID, apart from a silent/limited partner.

Besloten vennootschap or naamloze vennootschap (private or public limited company, bv or nv)

All directors can do the registration. As a general rule, the notary establishing the legal entity will usually do the registration.

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.

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 directors must come in person and bring a valid ID.

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.

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.

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

Make an appointment to register with KVK.