How it works
Companies own companies, but somewhere at the top there is always a person. The UBO rules make that person visible. A UBO is a natural person who holds more than 25% of the shares, the voting rights or the economic interest in a company, directly or through other companies, or who has control in another way.
A BV registers its UBOs with the KVK within a week after incorporation and updates the register when the ownership changes. The register records name, birth month and year, nationality, country of residence and the nature and size of the interest. Since November 2022 the register is closed to the general public; banks, notaries and authorities see the full record, and people with a legitimate interest can request access.
When a company has several owners and none of them passes 25%, the directors are registered as pseudo-UBOs. A foundation such as a STAK registers its board members and, where applicable, the certificate holders above the threshold.
Banks, notaries and accountants must verify the UBO before they start working for a company. A clear ownership chart with the UBO on top speeds up every onboarding, from the bank account to the VAT number.
Example
A Spanish company owns 100% of a Dutch BV. The Spanish company is owned 60% by Ms García and 40% by Mr Ruiz. Both hold more than 25% through the chain, so both are registered as UBO of the Dutch BV, with the size of their indirect interest.
The figures
All 2026 figures: Netherlands tax rates 2026 · the 2027 figures: Netherlands tax rates 2027.
Questions people ask
Is the UBO register public?
Since November 2022 only authorities and institutions with a legal duty, such as banks and notaries, see the record. People with a legitimate interest, such as journalists, can request access.
What if the company is owned by a listed company?
A company that is ultimately owned by a company listed on a regulated exchange is exempt from registering the shareholders of that listed company; the directors are registered instead.
Holdwise, Hoofddorp. Definition and explanation maintained with the Dutch and German glossaries; figures from the central rates source, year 2026. Updated 16 September 2026.
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