How it works
The KVK is the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. Its main task is the trade register (Handelsregister), the public list of all companies, associations and foundations in the Netherlands. Anyone can look up who is behind a company, who may sign for it and where it is established.
The notary registers a BV right after the deed of incorporation. The KVK issues the KVK number (8 digits) and the RSIN (9 digits). The KVK passes the registration to the tax authority. The tax authority then issues the VAT number and, when the company has staff, the payroll tax number.
The KVK charges a one-time fee for the registration. Changes such as a new director, a new address or a change of activities are also filed with the KVK, free of charge. The KVK also keeps the register of ultimate beneficial owners (UBO register). It contains the natural persons who own or control a company at the top of the ownership chain.
A foreign company that sets up a branch in the Netherlands also registers that branch with the KVK. It uses documents from its home register for this. Most foreign founders choose a BV, because a BV has its own liability and its own tax status.
Example
The notary signs the deed for a new BV on Tuesday. On Wednesday the BV has a KVK number and an RSIN. The extract from the trade register is available online. The bank asks for that extract to open the account. The tax authority sends the VAT number within a few weeks.
The figures
Every rate for 2026 is listed in Netherlands tax rates 2026, and the figures for 2027 are in Netherlands tax rates 2027.
Questions people ask
Is the KVK extract public?
Yes. Anyone can buy an extract for a few euros. It contains the company name, address, directors, activities and the registration date. Since 2022, the KVK shields the home addresses of directors.
Does a BV need a Dutch address?
Yes. The BV needs a Dutch address for the trade register. You choose that address and sign the contract yourself.
Holdwise, Hoofddorp. We keep this definition in line with our Dutch and German glossaries, and the figures are those for the tax year 2026. Updated 30 September 2026.
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