What is the KVK?
The KVK is the Dutch national business register, comparable to Companies House in the UK. Registering places your business in the official trade register (Handelsregister), gives you a KVK number, and notifies the Tax Authority automatically so your VAT details follow by themselves.
Step 1: Prepare your details
Decide on your business activity, your trade name (handelsnaam) and your legal form: sole trader, partnership or BV. For a sole trader you also pick an SBI code — a number that describes what your business does. Keep your address and a valid ID at hand.
Step 2: Book the appointment online
You register through the KVK website and book an in-person appointment at a KVK office. Filling in the digital form in advance speeds up the meeting.
Step 3: Attend the appointment
Bring a valid passport or ID card. The KVK officer checks your form, confirms your details and completes the registration. The one-off fee in 2026 is €85.15, paid by card.
Step 4: Receive your KVK number
Your KVK number arrives on the spot. It goes on your invoices, your website and your contracts. Your business is now officially registered.
Step 5: Your VAT details follow
The KVK passes your information to the Belastingdienst, the Dutch tax authority. Within roughly two weeks your VAT number and btw-id arrive by post.
What about a BV?
For a BV — the Dutch private limited company — the route runs through the notary. The civil-law notary (notaris) incorporates the company first and handles the KVK registration for you as part of that deed; the registration reaches the KVK through the notary’s desk.
Wondering about the price tag first? The fee and what it covers: KVK registration fee 2026.
Registering a BV instead of a sole proprietorship
The steps above cover the registration itself. Founders who want limited liability and the holding advantages register a BV instead — the KVK registration then runs through the notary as part of the incorporation. What that route looks like from abroad, including timelines, is covered in Dutch BV incorporation.
Two steps further
Further along the same line: Becoming a Sole Trader (ZZP) in the Netherlands and Writing a Business Plan in the Netherlands.
Every document, who supplies it, and how long it takes
| Document or step | Who arranges it | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Deed of incorporation (BV) | The civil-law notary | Day 1–5, once your file is complete |
| KVK registration — the entry in the Dutch trade register | The notary files it for a BV; a sole trader files in person | Same day as the deed; the KVK number arrives within 1–3 working days |
| Registration fee | Paid once to the KVK | €85,15, one time |
| UBO registration — the register of ultimate beneficial owners | Filed together with the KVK entry | Processed with the registration |
| VAT identification number (btw-id) | The Dutch Tax Administration, automatically after registration | By post, typically within two weeks |
| EORI number for customs, when you import or export | Follows your VAT registration; activated with Customs | Days once the VAT number is live |
KVK number, VAT ID and EORI: what arrives when
Three numbers carry your business. The KVK number identifies you in the trade register and appears on invoices and contracts from day one. The VAT ID (btw-id) follows by post and unlocks invoicing with VAT and the quarterly return. The EORI number is the customs identity for importing and exporting goods; it builds on your VAT registration. Plan in that order and every next step clicks into place.
The route at a glance: steps, timing and cost in 2026
| Step | What happens | Timing | Cost 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | Choose legal form, business name and SBI activity code | 1 day | €0 |
| 2. Identify | Valid passport or ID; foreign founders add proof of address issued within the last month | — | €0 |
| 3. Register | KVK appointment (sole trader) or notarial deed plus KVK filing (BV) | Same day – 2 weeks | €85.15 one-time KVK fee |
| 4. Tax numbers | The KVK passes your file to the Belastingdienst; VAT ID follows automatically | Within 2 weeks | €0 |
For founders abroad, the full BV route runs remotely: identification by video or power of attorney, the deed passed digitally and the KVK registration included in the notarial flow.