BV Oprichten

Notary Costs for Dutch BV in 2026

Updated: 10 August 2026 Netherlands 2026 English

The notary fee is the largest single cost in setting up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company). Online notary services have dramatically reduced this cost over the past 5 years, but traditional notaries still serve complex structures. Here is what you actually pay in 2026.

Short answer

Every Dutch BV is born at the notary — the notarial deed is the legal core of the incorporation. Online notaries charge roughly €400–€700 for a single BV and a notary office €1,200–€3,000; a holding structure (two companies in one session) runs around €800–€1,400 online and €2,400–€6,000 at an office. That fee covers the deed, the articles of association and the KVK registration the notary files for you. From abroad, identification runs by video call or power of attorney, so the whole incorporation completes with you staying where you are.

Complete guide Incorporating a BV: Step-by-Step Guide 2026 (From Idea to KVK) →

What does a Dutch notary do for a BV?

A Dutch civil-law notary (notaris) drafts and executes the incorporation deed (akte van oprichting). This document creates the legal entity, defines the share structure and articles of association, and registers the founders. The notarised deed is what brings a BV into existence.

Online notary fees in 2026

Standard single BV: €400–700. Holding plus operating BV runs on the same digital route at €800–1,400 for both deeds together. The process is fully digital with video signing, eIDAS identification for non-residents, and 3–7 working day turnaround.

Traditional notary fees

Standard single BV: €1,200–3,000. Holding plus operating BV: €2,400–6,000. Complex structures (multiple share classes, drag-along rights, foreign founders) are priced per dossier. Includes consultation, customised statutes and personal signing.

What is included in the price

Both online and traditional notaries include: drafting the deed, ID verification, deed execution, KVK registration, official copies. Excluded: legal advice on tax structures, shareholder agreements, employment contracts, advanced corporate documents.

After the deed: what the year looks like

The notarial fee is a one-off; the company then carries a recurring base of bookkeeping, annual accounts, tax returns, the Chamber of Commerce filing and the registered address. What a Dutch BV costs to run each year sets out every line and what drives it, so the full picture is visible before you commit to the structure.

Terms on this page

BV (besloten vennootschap): The Dutch private limited company: a legal entity with registered shares and limited liability, so the shareholder’s private assets stay separate from business debts. Incorporation runs through a notarial deed; capital starts from €0.01.
Notarial deed: The document executed by a Dutch civil-law notary that brings the BV into existence, containing its articles of association. Execution works in person or remotely with a power of attorney and video identification.
Power of attorney: The written authorisation that lets someone sign the notarial deed on the founder’s behalf. For remote incorporation the signature is legalised; from abroad an apostille is usually added.
Apostille: The certificate under the Hague Apostille Convention that makes an official document from one member state legally valid in another, replacing the heavier embassy legalisation chain. In the US, the Secretary of State issues it.

All terms in the glossary →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are online notaries legally valid? +

Yes, fully. Since 2021, video-based notarial deeds are explicitly recognised by Dutch law. The deed is identical to one signed in person.

Do I need to be in the Netherlands to sign? +

For online services eIDAS identification works from anywhere in the EU, so travel stays optional. For non-EU founders, a single in-person trip is usually required. Traditional notaries always require physical presence (or a power of attorney).

Can I choose any notary in the Netherlands? +

Yes. Notaries are licensed nationally; you can choose any of the ~3,000 Dutch notaries. Online platforms typically work with a panel of certified notaries.

Sources Belastingdienst · KVK · wetten.overheid.nl Last updated: 10 August 2026