About the UBO register

  • Background
  • Edited 1 October 2024
  • 1 min

In the Netherlands, most organisations must list their UBOs in the UBO register. Ultimate Beneficial Owners, or UBOs for short, are the people who ultimately own, or control, an organisation. The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK has set up the UBO register to keep track of the UBOs of Dutch organisations, but why was the register created?

UBO register

The register is a product of European rules and regulations that require every EU member state to have a UBO register. The UBO register is linked to the Business Register, a Dutch Key Register (Digital Overheid website, in Dutch) managed by KVK.

The UBO register helps prevent fraud and money laundering. It allows financial institutions, among others, to check who the UBOs of an organisation are. Otherwise, they may not enter into a contract with that organisation, for example. The government uses the UBO register to track down crime. Think of the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service using information from the register to discover tax fraud. This only works if there is always accurate and up-to-date information about an organisation's UBOs in the register.

KVK and the UBO register

KVK manages the UBO register and checks whether an organisation provides all data for UBO registration. KVK does not determine who an organisation's UBOs are. The organisation making the UBO report must ensure that the information in it is correct and complete. And that that declaration is with KVK on time.

Who is allowed to view UBOs?

Not everyone is allowed to view UBO data. Are you yourself UBO of an organisation? Then you only see your own data. Are you authorised to sign for an organisation? Then you will see information about the UBOs of that organisation. Someone with authority to sign can officially register, amend and deregister an organisation in the Business Register. Some organisations, such as the Netherlands Tax Administration, can view all UBOs in the register.

Changes to the law

Access to the UBO register may change due to changes in law. Follow changes to current laws and regulations (in Dutch).

A legislative proposal is currently pending that will expand access to UBO registers. Read more about this proposed legislative change (in Dutch).