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.

Holding Structures

How the Dutch structure with a holding and an operating company works, and how much tax you can save with it.

BV vs. Sole Trader

When does a BV become more tax-efficient than a sole trader? Find the exact profit threshold.

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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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.

Selling into the EU

87 guides · Start with the overview →

The EU customs reform of 2026: what replaced the €150 exemption

Since 1 July 2026, customs duty is due on every distance-sale parcel, also on goods worth €150 or less. Before that, these…

Bulk import or direct shipping: the numbers after July 2026

Most Asian sellers send each order as a separate parcel from Shenzhen or Hong Kong. Until July 2026, these parcels were free of…

Article 23 License Netherlands: Import VAT Deferment for Non-EU Companies

With an Article 23 licence, your company reports the import VAT in its Dutch VAT return and deducts it in the same return. The…

Using a Dutch fiscal representative: general or limited

If you keep stock in the Netherlands, you have Dutch VAT duties, even when your company is in Hong Kong, Singapore or Texas. A…

Setting up a Dutch BV from Hong Kong

A Hong Kong Ltd that owns a Dutch subsidiary is a structure Chinese traders have used for decades. Marketplaces accept the Dutch…

Branch or subsidiary: which Dutch presence works

With both options, your business gets a Dutch registration number and can trade across the EU. The difference is who bears the…

Substance requirements for a Dutch BV

If your Dutch entity exists only on paper, you soon have problems. Banks decline it, treaty benefits can be challenged, and the…

The EORI number: your customs identity in the EU

Customs uses the EORI number to identify who is importing, before it clears any container. Link the number to the right entity…

The EU responsible person requirement for product safety

Under EU product safety rules, almost every physical consumer product must have a responsible person in the EU. Asian sellers…

Extended producer responsibility in the Netherlands

Extended producer responsibility applies country by country, with separate rules in each country. Sellers pay less attention to…

Dutch VAT registration and the EU VAT return (OSS)

A seller who ships across Europe used to need a VAT registration in every country. Today, one Dutch VAT number and the EU VAT…

Structuring a Dutch operation under an Asian parent

A single Dutch company is enough to run a European operation. With a holding company above it, you can keep accumulated profit…

Selling on Amazon and Bol.com from outside the EU

Before you can sell on a marketplace, you must pass its compliance checks. The law places obligations on marketplaces, so they…

Warehousing in the Netherlands, and storing goods before duty

Where you store your stock affects your delivery promise and your working capital. With the right authorisation, it also affects…

European Subsidiary for a Singapore Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Singapore and Hong Kong parents use the same Dutch setup for Europe. The differences are in the tax treaty and in how documents…

Bringing staff to the Netherlands

Many groups send a manager from Hong Kong to lead the European operation. Decisions are then taken in the Netherlands, and the…

Importing into the Netherlands as an EU company

A company established in Denmark, Germany or Italy already has an EU VAT number and an EORI number. If it imports a container…

Calculating import duty and VAT in the Netherlands

Two charges apply to every container that crosses the Dutch border. Customs duty is a cost. Import VAT is a matter of cash flow…

The reverse charge in Dutch VAT: the three situations

Three VAT rules use the same idea. The customer accounts for the VAT, and the supplier issues a clear invoice. What your invoice…

Proving the zero rate on intra-community supplies

Businesses apply the zero rate to EU supplies millions of times each quarter. Tax authorities check it one consignment at a time…

European Subsidiary for a South African Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A South African exporter can use a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European…

South African Wine and Agri into the EU via Rotterdam

South African exporters of wine, citrus, table grapes and avocados can sell into the EU through a Dutch entity in Rotterdam. For…

European Subsidiary for a UAE Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A UAE company can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

UAE Re-Export Trade with a Dutch Holding on Top

A UAE trading company can add a Dutch trading BV for its EU sales, with a Dutch holding company on top. In the UAE, traders buy…

European Subsidiary for a Turkish Manufacturer: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Turkish manufacturer can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European…

Turkey’s EU Trade: Agent, Distributor or Own Dutch Entity

Turkish exporters can sell in the EU through an agent, a distributor or their own Dutch entity. In the past, most of them used…

European Subsidiary for a Moroccan Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Moroccan exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Moroccan Automotive and Textiles: Supplying the EU from Inside

Moroccan automotive and textile companies can supply EU buyers through a Dutch entity. From Tangier Med, suppliers deliver to…

European Subsidiary for an Egyptian Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

An Egyptian exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Egyptian Agri Exports via Suez: Getting Produce to EU Shelves

Egyptian growers can bring citrus, potatoes and onions to European supermarkets through a Dutch entity. They sell in the European…

European Subsidiary for an Israeli Tech Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

An Israeli tech company needs an EU entity when it signs large business contracts, processes EU data or hires staff in Europe…

Israeli Tech and Dutch Holdings: Structuring IP and the Exit

Most Israeli tech structures are built with the exit in mind from the start. A Dutch entity makes sense where the European…

European Subsidiary for a Nigerian Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Nigerian exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Nigerian Agri-Commodities into the EU: Cocoa, Sesame, Cashew

Nigerian exporters of cocoa, sesame and cashew can sell into the EU through a Dutch entity. European makers of chocolate, tahini…

European Subsidiary for a Qatari Investor: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Qatari investors often use a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as their European investment…

Qatari Investment in European Property: the Dutch Structure

Qatari investors usually hold European property through a Dutch structure. Each property is in its own company, and one Dutch…

European Subsidiary for a Saudi Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Saudi group can use a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as the main company for its European…

Saudi Exporters and the EU: Petrochemicals to Food, One Entity

Saudi exporters can sell polymers, chemicals, building materials and processed food in the EU through one Dutch entity. These are…

European Subsidiary for a Kenyan Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Kenyan exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Kenyan Tea, Coffee and Flowers: Owning the EU Side

Kenyan growers and exporters can sell their tea, coffee and flowers under their own name in Europe through a Dutch entity…

European Subsidiary for a Ghanaian Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Ghanaian exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Ghanaian Cocoa into the EU: the Operator Model

A Ghanaian cocoa exporter can become the EU operator under the EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) with its own Dutch entity. The…

European Subsidiary for a Jordanian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Jordanian company can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Jordan’s EU Trade via the Netherlands: Pharma, Chemicals, Tech

Jordanian companies in generic medicines, chemicals and IT services can trade with the EU through a Dutch entity. These three…

European Subsidiary for a Tunisian Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Tunisian exporter can set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as its European subsidiary…

Tunisian Trade into the EU: From Bulk Goods to Your Own Brand

You can sell Tunisian olive oil, dates and garments in the EU for several times the bulk price under your own brand. For this…

European Subsidiary for an Algerian Exporter: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

With a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company), an Algerian exporter has its own company inside the…

Algerian Trade into the EU: Materials and the New Food Lines

Algerian exporters of materials and food can sell in the EU through their own Dutch company. The company imports the goods, files…

European Subsidiary for a Vietnamese Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

With a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company), a Vietnamese company can use the EU-Vietnam free…

Vietnamese Furniture and Textiles into the EU: Selling Through Your Own Entity

A Vietnamese furniture or clothing factory can sell directly to European retailers through its own EU entity. Today, most…

European Subsidiary for an Indonesian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Indonesian exporters can set up a Dutch BV now, so their EU business is already running when the new trade agreement applies…

Indonesian Palm and Commodities under EUDR: Your Own EU Operator

An Indonesian exporter can file its own EUDR due diligence statements through its own EU company, such as a Dutch BV. Indonesia…

European Subsidiary for a Philippine Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

With a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, a Dutch private limited company), a Philippine company has its own European base for…

Philippine BPO and Tech Services for EU Clients: Selling Direct

A Philippine service company can sell directly to European clients through its own Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch…

European Subsidiary for a Thai Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Thai exporters with steady sales in Europe can set up a Dutch entity now. Thai goods are charged the standard EU import duties…

Thai Food and Automotive into the EU: One Entity for Both

Thai food exporters and automotive suppliers can use one Dutch entity for both businesses. Thailand exports very different goods…

European Subsidiary for a Malaysian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Malaysia supplies Europe’s electronics lines and glove boxes at world scale, trading at standard tariffs while the relaunched…

Malaysian Electronics and Rubber into the EU: the Supplier Setup

Suppliers of chips from Penang and rubber products from Malaysia can use a Dutch entity to deliver reliably to EU customers. In…

European Subsidiary for a Bangladeshi Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Bangladeshi garment exporters can use their own EU entity to earn more of the margin before their duty-free access changes…

Bangladeshi Garments and EU Compliance: Selling to EU Buyers

A Bangladeshi garment factory with its own EU entity can offer its compliance file directly to European buyers. European fashion…

European Subsidiary for a Korean Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Korean groups usually set up a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) to sell in the EU. They use…

Korean Tech and Brands into the EU: Operating the FTA

Korean tech companies and brands can sell in the EU through their own Dutch entity. EU retailers and manufacturers already choose…

European Subsidiary for a Pakistani Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

A Pakistani exporter with its own EU entity, such as a Dutch BV, earns the distribution margin in the EU itself. Pakistan exports…

Pakistani Textiles into the EU: Selling in Retail Programmes

Pakistani textile makers can supply European retail programmes through their own EU entity. Pakistan produces towels, bedding and…

European Subsidiary for a Sri Lankan Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Sri Lankan exporters can earn more margin when they run the EU side of the chain themselves, through their own Dutch BV. Sri…

Sri Lankan Apparel and Ceylon Tea: Adding EU Value

Sri Lankan apparel makers and tea exporters can both earn more in the EU through their own EU entity. The markets are different…

European Subsidiary for a Taiwanese Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Taiwanese suppliers usually use a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) as their base in the EU…

Taiwanese Electronics into the EU: Stock, Service and EU Rules

Taiwanese electronics makers keep their EU customers when their own EU entity provides stock, support and the right paperwork…

Asia to the EU: Comparing the Market-Entry Options

Asian exporters have four ways into Europe: export direct, appoint distributors, sell through marketplaces, or set up their own…

EVFTA Tariff Benefits, Operated Through a Dutch Entity

A Vietnamese exporter with its own Dutch entity as importer keeps the EVFTA tariff benefit inside the group. Under the EVFTA, the…

ASEAN Exporters and Article 23: the Cashflow Case for the Netherlands

With the Dutch Article 23 licence, ASEAN exporters declare the import VAT in their VAT return and deduct it in the same return…

Dutch BV vs Singapore Holding: Structuring Asia’s EU Business

Asian groups with a holding company in Singapore still need a separate Dutch entity for their business in Europe. The two…

Rotterdam or Antwerp for Asian Exporters: Choosing the Port

Both Rotterdam and Antwerp are good choices for Asian exporters. Most Asian cargo for Europe is shipped through one of these two…

Quality Inspection and Import Compliance at the EU Border

After customs clearance, your product must still meet the EU product rules before you can sell it. Between the ship and the shop…

European Subsidiary for an Indian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Indian companies scaling into Europe keep reaching the same conclusion: one EU entity works better than twenty-seven separate…

India to the EU: Options for IT Services, Pharma and Textiles

Indian IT, pharma and textile companies each sell to Europe in their own way. For each sector, the Dutch company has a different…

European Subsidiary for a Canadian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Canadian exporters already have an advantage. Under the CETA trade agreement, applied provisionally since 2017, most goods are…

European Subsidiary for a UK Company: Costs, Steps and Why the Dutch BV

Since Brexit, UK companies can get back inside the EU single market with a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private…

European Subsidiary for a Swiss Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Switzerland trades with the EU under many bilateral agreements. Swiss industrial goods have wide access to the EU market under…

European Subsidiary for an Australian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

For Australian businesses, a company inside the EU is worth having, because Europe is far away and shipping takes weeks. For now…

European Subsidiary for a Mexican Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Mexico trades with the EU under a preferential agreement, and both sides have agreed to modernise it. Mexican manufacturers and…

European Subsidiary for a Brazilian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Brazilian exporters can set up a Dutch BV now and trade in the EU on the current terms. The EU-Mercosur agreement is agreed at…

Brazil’s Agri and Commodities Into the EU: Start With Compliance

Brazil supplies Europe with coffee, soy, food products and biofuels. For these goods, the EU now requires proof of exactly where…

European Subsidiary for a Chinese Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

Chinese manufacturers supply a large part of the goods sold in Europe. To keep selling there, they now need a real EU company…

European Subsidiary for a Ukrainian Company: the Dutch BV, Costs and Steps

With a Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company), Ukrainian companies have a stable base in the EU…

The Americas to the EU: Market Entry Compared From US to Brazil

The United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil each trade with Europe on different terms. The United States trades large volumes on…

EU and Dutch Compliance Deadlines 2026 to 2027 for Your BV

A Dutch BV has recurring deadlines in 2026 and 2027 for tax, filings, packaging and the carbon border levy. Check the details…

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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.

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Knowledge on doing business in the Netherlands · based on the 2026 figures

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