Banking & Practical

Anti-Money-Laundering Checks (Wwft): What Advisers Must Ask You

Updated: 19 August 2026 Holdwise editorial team Wwft AML Gatekeepers

Advisers must ask about your identity, the owners of your company and the source of your money. The notary, the bank, the tax adviser and the accountant all work under the Dutch gatekeeper law (Wwft). Under this law, they must know the client, understand where the money comes from and monitor the relationship. If you know what they have to ask, the checks take far less time. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

Their duties under the law

They have three duties under the law. The first is client research before the relationship starts. They verify your identity, trace the ultimate beneficial owners and record the purpose of the work. The second is risk-based depth. They check simple cases briefly. They check complex ownership charts and higher-risk profiles in more depth, such as foreign structures, politically exposed persons or unusual payments. The third is ongoing monitoring. They must report unusual transactions to the national reporting office. Their licence depends on doing this properly, so serious advisers ask a lot of questions.

What you will be asked

Every time, you are asked for the same things. These are the identification of each director and UBO, the ownership chart and a description of the activities. Depending on the amounts, they also ask where the money came from. See the UBO file and how to prepare your source of funds. Gatekeepers also check the registers and must report any difference they find. See who sees the UBO register. Every question has a legal basis. If a question seems to go beyond it, you can ask about it.

You can set up the company by power of attorney, from any country. This usually happens within one week once all documents are complete. See setting up a BV in the Netherlands from abroad.

How to prepare

Prepare one file and hand it over before anyone asks. With this file, you answer ninety percent of the questions in advance. Onboarding at the notary, at the bank and with your adviser then takes only a few days. See the notary procedure from abroad and the options for a bank account. We use the same framework for our own intake, in writing and in a fixed order. See the practical questions page.

Free advice

Want our team to have a look?

We help entrepreneurs and international companies with their company in the Netherlands and Europe. Tell us where you stand or what you are planning. You get free advice on your next step.

Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my adviser ask where the money comes from? Is that suspicion? +

This is a standard question, separate from any suspicion. Under the law, they must ask this question in proportion to the amounts, and they must record your answer. An adviser who asks properly also helps you if the authorities ever check your file.

Is my information shared when checked under the Wwft? +

Only unusual transactions are reported. The institution keeps its client research confidential. It reports a transaction to the national reporting office only if the transaction is unusual under the legal criteria. Confidentiality and the reporting duty are both laid down in law.

When was this last checked? +

Reviewed 19 August 2026. The gatekeeper rules are up to date and European harmonisation continues.

Sources Belastingdienst · KVK · wetten.overheid.nl Last updated: 19 August 2026