Creators

Amsterdam vs Berlin for creators: scene, burden and the exit

Updated: 6 October 2026 Holdwise editorial team

Berlin has a strong creative scene, and rents are lower than in other western capitals. Once you earn serious money, Germany costs you more. It has high taxes, more paperwork and one of the strictest exit taxes in Europe. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

Advantages of Berlin

Rent and studio space cost clearly less than in Amsterdam. You get more space per euro than in any comparable capital.
A large creative scene in music, art and video, close to the German-language market (the EU's largest).
Germany's tax treaty with the United States also has a 0% rate on royalties, the same as the Dutch treaty.

Advantages of Amsterdam

Ongoing tax: German top rates plus trade tax on companies add up to more than the Dutch corporate tax of 19% or 25.8%. The Netherlands also has the expat ruling for newcomers. Germany has hardly anything comparable.
The German exit tax: if you leave Germany with a substantial shareholding, you pay tax on the paper gain when you leave. In practice, this is far stricter than the Dutch protective assessment. The Dutch tax is deferred, interest free, as long as you keep the shares. See the exit rules for the Dutch version.
Administration: Dutch government bodies give a lot of information in English, but most of their forms and letters are in Dutch. German paperwork is in German, which costs an international creator time every week.
Banking and payments: Amsterdam has many banks and payment companies, and they process international creator income faster. See banking in Amsterdam for creators.

A lower customary salary is allowed if comparable work pays less, or for up to three years while a new BV is still unable to pay the full salary. With this alone, you save money. You can also borrow up to €500,000 from your own BV (besloten vennootschap, a Dutch private limited company). The lower salary is what saves tax. At €36,000 in place of €58,000, you keep about €7,100 a year more. After a later dividend, about €2,800 of that remains. The loan gives you access to money, but your tax stays the same. Calculate it with your own figures.

The main factors

Creators whose audience is German-speaking, or who work on a tight budget, do well in Berlin, since the market is close by. International-audience creators with growing profit, and any chance of a future relocation, pay a higher cost in Germany each year, both while they stay and if they leave. Residence still decides what counts: the rule.

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Berlin cheaper than Amsterdam for creators? +

Yes. Rent and studio space cost clearly less than in Amsterdam. Berlin is attractive as long as your budget counts for more than your structure.

What is the German exit tax problem? +

If you leave Germany with a substantial shareholding, you pay tax on the paper gain when you leave. The Dutch version is a protective assessment. It is deferred and interest free, and you only pay on a later sale or distribution.

Which city suits a German-speaking creator? +

Usually Berlin, because the EU's largest language market is close by. Amsterdam becomes more attractive with international income, retained profit and plans to relocate later.