The tax side
For Dutch tax, an investment-linked wrapper is transparent. The policyholder's claim is taxed in box 3 at its value, in the same way as the portfolio inside it. Under this system of deemed returns, you lose most of the tax deferral you had elsewhere. An old policy can still fall under an older (grandfathered) regime, so check this before you change anything. If you buy a new wrapper only for Dutch tax reasons, you rarely earn back its fees.
The estate planning side
Planning for the next generation? See how to set up a family office in the Netherlands.
For succession planning, a wrapper can still be useful. With a beneficiary clause, heirs receive the capital quickly, outside the probate process. Cross-border families use policies to give each heir an equal share across different countries. Heirs can also use the payout at death to pay the inheritance tax when the estate has little cash. This is useful for heirs who must continue a family business under the business succession relief (BOR). See the succession rules.
See the Dutch holding structure for what you save with a holding above the operating company, and what it involves each year. To keep both companies in good standing, see corporate secretarial services in the Netherlands.
Your company registers one business address at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK). You choose that address and sign the contract yourself. See what the law asks of a business address in the Netherlands.
What to keep and what to skip
Usually keep two things: an old policy with grandfathered treatment, and life cover for the inheritance tax. Usually skip a new wrapper that is sold as a Dutch tax plan. For tax planning, you have better options: timing box 2 income from the holding, a STAK for succession and a yearly calendar for gifts. See box 3 planning and estate planning across borders. For a family that has just arrived, one review session is usually enough to decide which policies to keep and which to end.