Wider access to the EU
The EU-New Zealand free trade agreement is in force, and its measures are being phased in. Under the agreement, most goods are free of import duty, and companies have access to services and public procurement. For agricultural products, the agreed quotas apply. For founders, access to the market is therefore arranged. You can set up your company in the EU, usually within one week once all documents are complete. See the formation process.
The Dutch BV as your EU base
The Dutch BV gives access to the whole EU from one address. It handles VAT for goods and digital sales (the system and the SaaS chapter). It uses article 23 where product ships (the deferment rule). It also signs enterprise contracts under EU law, with the data question already answered: that page. The time zone gap also keeps the local operation real from day one, the same pattern used in the Australian chapter: that approach.
Does your company want its European entity in the Netherlands? See setting up a Dutch subsidiary for the steps, the costs and a comparison with other countries.
Options for founders
Founders who relocate to the Netherlands can have their own BV sponsor them under the knowledge migrant scheme. The family can come too and may work. See the requirements. Founders under 31 can use the working holiday visa to test the market for a year. After that, the usual startup setup applies: a holding structure, a lower founder salary and the WBSO tax credit for development work. See the holding structure and the founder salary.