Asia & World

Thai Founders and Family Businesses: The European Step

Updated: 19 August 2026 Holdwise editorial team Thailand Founders Europe

Thai businesses enter Europe in two main ways. The first is the food and consumer trade that European retailers want. The second is founders who build international companies and want a base in the EU. A Dutch BV can serve both. The EU and Thailand are also negotiating a trade agreement, and under that agreement import duties may go down over time. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

Trade with Europe

Thai food and consumer products are popular in Europe. Entry follows the standard requirements: food-safety registration and labelling for each market, border checks for sensitive categories, and origin paperwork. This matters especially while the EU-Thailand trade talks aim for lower tariffs: the compliance rules. Import follows the standard Dutch approach: an article 23 licence to defer import VAT, and one VAT registration that covers the whole EU. See the article 23 licence and the OSS system.

Setting up as a founder

The notary can set up the BV remotely, usually within one week once all documents are complete. See the incorporation steps. The BV can then become a recognised sponsor and employ you as a knowledge migrant. Your family can come with you. See the visa rules. The usual startup setup applies. You set up the holding structure at the start, you follow the founder salary rules, and you prepare the complete bank file once. See the structure and the banking documents.

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.

Family business structures

Thai family groups often organise their European business in the same way as the family business at home. A holding company owns all the EU shareholdings. See how this works. If the family has several branches, it can use a foundation that owns the shares (STAK). See the STAK. A younger family member often takes the European role, after a Dutch degree and the orientation year permit. See the orientation year permit.

For a family holding that serves the next generation, see what a family office in the Netherlands does.

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

Frequently asked questions

Should a restaurant and import group use one entity or several? +

Usually several. One import BV supplies wholesalers across the EU. Each restaurant business has its own company per country. A holding company above them owns the shares. Each activity is then separate, and the family owns everything through one holding company.

What is the status of the EU-Thailand trade talks for planning purposes? +

The EU and Thailand are still negotiating, with lower import duties as the goal. Plan with today's duties and treat any future cuts as a bonus. Under the current rules, it already makes sense to set up the company and do the compliance work.

When was this last checked? +

Reviewed 19 August 2026. The rules described are the current ones. The trade talks are still ongoing.

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