Why do verenigingen and stichtingen need to register UBOs?

  • Q and A
  • Edited 18 July 2025
  • 1 min
  • Secure business

Stopping fraud, crime and paying for terrorism: these are the main aims of the UBO register. For example, are you treasurer for the local gardening club? Or are you on the board of the local football club? Then you might not immediately think of registering UBOs. Yet all stichtingen (foundations) and many verenigingen (associations) have to register their UBOs.

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UBO is an abbreviation for Ultimate Beneficial Owner. This is someone who is the ultimate owner of an organisation or who has the power to make the final decisions in an organisation. Think of members of the board or people who own more than 25% of the shares.

Preventing fraud, crime, and terrorism

All European countries must have a UBO register. The KVK maintains this register in the Netherlands. The UBO data makes it clear who makes the decisions in an organisation. This information also helps to determine who benefits most from certain actions or choices. This makes it easier for the police to investigate whether things are happening that are not permitted by law. Think of fraud, crime, and the financing of terrorism.

Who is required to register?

All stichtingen and verenigingen must register UBOs. Even small verenigingen with hardly any money. There are 2 exceptions to this. These verenigingen do not have to register UBOs:

Avoid a fine

Do you not register the UBOs for your vereniging or stichting when you should do so? Then you risk a fine of up to €22,500. The Bureau Economische Handhaving (BEH, in Dutch) checks the registrations and imposes any fines. BEH is part of the Netherlands Tax Administration.

Registering UBOs

Prepare well so you can register the UBOs in one go. You register UBOs with a UBO report. If you are the authorised signatory of a vereniging or stichting, you can see who are already registered as UBOs. Authorised signatory means that you are officially authorised to make registrations, changes and deregistrations in the Business Register for the vereniging or stichting. Check out these examples of UBO's for a foundation or association. 

Reporting changes

Does the board or statutes of your vereniging or stichting change? Report these changes to KVK within 1 week. Process the changes for your vereniging or stichting in the KVK Business Register first, and then the UBO register.

One last tip: check your details in the Business Register regularly, and update them if necessary.

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