Knowledge Hub
Dutch Business & Tax Knowledge Base 2026
861 English guides on doing business in and from the Netherlands, written for international entrepreneurs and updated to the 2026 and 2027 figures. See how we verify this claim →
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Each guide is about one question that founders from abroad ask. Examples are what a Dutch company costs and how you register it from abroad. Other questions are about what you pay yourself, how dividend is taxed and when a holding is worth it. Start with the four main topics, or use the document check to see which papers your country requires.
BV Incorporation
Complete guide to setting up a Dutch BV: costs, timeline, notary and KVK registration.
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Holding Structures
How the Dutch structure with a holding and an operating company works, and how much tax you can save with it.
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BV vs. Sole Trader
When does a BV become more tax-efficient than a sole trader? Find the exact profit threshold.
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DGA Salary Calculator
Calculate your optimal director salary and dividend split for 2026. Live calculator with official tax rates.
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Entity Comparison
Compare all Dutch legal structures: sole trader, general partnership (VOF), BV and holding. Tax, liability and setup costs.
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FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about Dutch BV formation, corporate tax and doing business in the Netherlands.
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The complete English library has 861 guides on all areas of Dutch business, tax and legal structures, sorted by topic. If you are new, start with Doing Business in the Netherlands.
International Structures
25 guides
Dutch Tax Treaties: What They Mean for Your BV
A tax treaty is an agreement between two countries about who may tax what. If two countries both tax the same income, you pay tax…
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Treaty Benefits and Substance: Why You Need a Real Company
Today, a reduced treaty rate applies when the structure has a real business reason and the company is managed from the…
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When Your Foreign Company Becomes Taxable in the Netherlands
You can owe tax in the Netherlands even if your only company is abroad. If your foreign business has a lasting presence here…
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Your Dutch Holding and a Foreign Subsidiary: When Profit Is Tax-Free
Profit that your Dutch holding company receives from a subsidiary is generally free of Dutch corporate tax. This applies when the…
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Why International Groups Put Their Holding Company in the Netherlands
Many international groups place their holding company in the Netherlands because of four Dutch rules. A holding company owns the…
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Charging Your Own Foreign Company: How to Set the Right Price
If your Dutch company invoices your own German subsidiary, charge the price you would charge a company owned by someone else. If…
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What a Dutch Company Needs to Keep on File About Group Pricing
Under Dutch law, every company that trades with group companies must keep records of why its prices are right. Larger groups must…
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Buying a Business in the Netherlands: A Guide for International Buyers
When you buy an existing Dutch business, you get customers, revenue, staff and a track record. A new company needs years to build…
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Buying an Insolvent Business in the Netherlands: How the Doorstart Works
When a Dutch company goes bankrupt, the court appoints a bankruptcy administrator (curator). The curator prefers to sell the…
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Financing a Business Acquisition in the Netherlands: Bank, Own Money and Vendor Loan
Buyers usually pay for a Dutch acquisition from several sources, such as a bank loan, their own money and a loan from the seller…
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Due Diligence When Buying a Dutch Company: What You Check Before Signing
Before you buy a Dutch company, you check everything the seller has told you. This check is called due diligence. You check…
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Employees When Buying a Dutch Business: What Transfers Automatically
When you buy a Dutch business, the employees transfer to you automatically, with all the rights they have built up. International…
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DAFT visa Netherlands 2026: the Dutch American Friendship Treaty requirements and your Dutch company
An American can get a Dutch residence permit as a self-employed person under the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), with a…
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The Dutch BV for US Citizens as Your EU Base
American founders use the Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) in two ways: as an EU base for a US…
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Filing Annual Accounts in the Netherlands: Deadlines, Size Classes and What Happens If You Are Late
Every BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) must file annual accounts with the KVK. The final deadline is…
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The OSS Scheme: EU VAT for E-commerce Through One Dutch Return
If your cross-border sales to consumers in other EU countries are above €10,000 per year, you charge each customer's local VAT…
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Form 5471 and Your Dutch BV: What US Owners File Every Year
A US citizen files a US tax return every year, wherever they live. If you own a BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private…
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US Citizen with a Dutch BV: the Complete Annual Filing Guide
An American who owns a Dutch private limited company (BV, besloten vennootschap) files in two countries every year. The company…
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NCTI (formerly GILTI) and Your Dutch BV: How US Owners Are Taxed on Retained Profit
Americans who own a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) can pay US tax on profit that stays…
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FBAR and Your Dutch Business Account: the $10,000 Line
Many Americans abroad miss the report of foreign bank and financial accounts (FBAR). This report is separate from any tax owed…
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US Social Security and the Netherlands: Which Country You Pay
Under the totalization agreement between the United States and the Netherlands, you pay social security in one country at a time…
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US State Tax After Relocating to the Netherlands: the Trap Few People Know
Americans relocating to the Netherlands prepare for federal taxes: the treaty, the exclusion, the credits. Then they meet a bill…
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European Subsidiary for a Japanese Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps
Japanese companies have used the Netherlands as their European base for longer than most other Asian investors, and the reasons…
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Own and Manage a Dutch BV While Living Abroad
Yes. A Dutch private limited company (BV) can be fully owned and directed by someone living abroad. Under Dutch law, shareholders…
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Can You Register an LLC in Europe? What the EU Has Instead
Registering an LLC in Europe is impossible, because that legal form is absent in every EU country. Each country has its own…
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The Dutch knowledge base at /kennisbank has 495 in-depth articles in Dutch on every aspect of Dutch business and tax law.