Are residential addresses in the Business Register visible or not?

Residential addresses in the Dutch Business Register are not public. However, the branch or visiting address of a business is public and therefore visible to anyone. What if your company's business address is the same as your residential address? Sole proprietorships can have their business address shielded. This is also possible for other legal structures if there is a threat or probable threats. This article explains what this means for you.

Shielding residential addresses in the Business Register 

The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK shields the residential address of owners of sole proprietorships, partners of general partnerships, limited partnerships, professional partnerships, and directors of owner associations. This information is still stored in the Business Register, but the shielded residential addresses can only be viewed by authorised parties. For example, government organisations such as the Netherlands Tax Administration, or specific professional groups, such as lawyers and bailiffs. 

You can have your business address shielded if there is a threat or probable threat to yourself or an employee. Sole proprietorships can always have their business address shielded.

Are you running a business from home? Your address remains visible

Do you run a business from your home? Legally, the private address and the business address are 2 different addresses. But if your company is located at your home address, this address will remain visible. The business address is public. You can however limit its findability. 

Limit the findability of your address

1. If you want to shield your visiting address, you have to register a postal address that differs from your home and visiting address. The conditions for shielding depend on your legal structure. A disadvantage may be that when your visiting address is no longer listed on the KVK Extract, it may become more difficult to arrange some matters. For example, opening a bank account or taking out insurance. Customers and suppliers may also be less willing to do business with you. You must still meet your legal obligations, such as stating your visiting address on your invoice and on your web shop's website.
2. Set up your company at an address other than your private address, for example in a multi-company building. In many cases, this is easier said than done, because if you run your business from home, you simply cannot or do not want to establish it elsewhere. You are also bound by rules. For example, you must demonstrate that you can use an address for your company, that the company is located there, and that you can be contacted. It must also be possible to carry out the business activity at that address.
3. Choose a company name that fits your personality or that typifies your company, but do not include a reference to your own name. In this way, you prevent that when people look up your name on the internet, your company name and address details immediately appear.

Read more about the security risks that you encounter as a starting entrepreneur and how you can limit them. 

What is the purpose of the Dutch Business Register?

Most data in the Dutch Business Register is public. This way you can find out if a company officially exists, who is responsible for it, and where the company is located.

The Dutch Business Register lists all companies, legal entities and other organisations that participate in economic transactions in the Netherlands. It is a public register that is consulted millions of times every year. 

Check the Dutch Business Register to learn who you are doing business with, who can sign on behalf of the company, or if there has been a bankruptcy. KVK registers various data, such as the company name, contact details and officials. Each registration receives a unique KVK number. Together, this information contributes to legal certainty in trade.