Can an Indonesian company or founder set up a Dutch BV?

Yes. A BV asks for one shareholder and one director; the shareholder may be an Indonesian company or individual, and the director may live anywhere. The deed is executed remotely with a power of attorney and video identification.

How are Indonesian documents legalised for the Dutch notary?

With an apostille. Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 2022, so a notaris notarisation plus apostille from the Ministry of Law is accepted directly by the Dutch notary — a matter of days rather than the former consular chain. Documents in Indonesian travel with a sworn translation into English.

Is there a tax treaty between the Netherlands and Indonesia?

Yes — the treaty of 2002, updated by protocol. Dividend withholding runs in tiers from 5% for substantial corporate holdings up to 10–15% in other cases, with interest and royalties capped by the treaty; inside the structure a Dutch holding layer moves profit upward under the participation exemption before anything crosses the border.

Why do Indonesian companies choose the Netherlands for Europe?

The Netherlands–Indonesia trade lane is one of the oldest in the world and still runs through the port of Rotterdam: commodities, food, furniture and consumer product enter Europe there, the article 23 import VAT deferment keeps 21% off cash flow at the border, and the Dutch entity opens marketplace accounts across the EU.

Mendirikan perusahaan di Belanda: Start a Dutch Business from Indonesia (2026)

The route from Indonesia

The BV comes into existence through a notarial deed, executed remotely with a power of attorney and video identification. Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 2022, so the document side is the short version: notaris notarisation plus apostille from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, accepted directly by the Dutch notary within days, with a sworn translation into English for documents in Indonesian. A corporate shareholder adds a recent company registry extract and a board resolution; the KVK registration (€85,15) files in the same flow. The complete picture with costs stands on the BV incorporation page and in the non-resident setup guide.

The treaty position

Netherlands–Indonesia tax treaty (2002, updated by protocol)	Rate
Dividend — substantial corporate holdings	from 5%
Dividend — other cases	10–15%
Interest and royalties	capped by the treaty per category

Rates verified July 2026. The tier structure rewards holding design: inside the group, a Dutch holding layer moves profit upward under the participation exemption at 0% before anything crosses the border, so the treaty rate applies once, at the moment you choose — and the qualifying tier applies where the shareholding is set up to reach it. The structure guide for Asian parents compares the single-company and holding designs.

Commodities, consumer product and the 2026 customs picture

Indonesian exporters ship what Europe buys daily — food, coffee, spices, furniture, textiles, consumer product — and the port of Rotterdam is where those goods have entered Europe for four centuries. Today that lane runs best through a Dutch entity with an article 23 import VAT deferment licence that keeps 21% off cash flow at the border, and — since 1 July 2026 — the withdrawn €150 customs exemption that makes bulk import through that entity materially cheaper than shipping individually; the customs reform guide sets out the shift. The Dutch entity also fills the responsible person role under EU product rules and opens marketplace seller accounts. The full goods route stands on the e-commerce page; the market comparison on the EU market entry hub.

BV versus PT: the numbers

Element	Dutch BV	Indonesian PT
Minimum capital	€0.01	Free choice for most sectors, per capital rules
Corporate tax 2026	19% up to €200.000, 25,8% above	22% standard CIT
Incorporation	1–3 weeks, remote with video identification	Notarial deed and OSS licensing with local process
Market position	Inside the EU single market and VAT system	Home market and ASEAN supply chain

The two entities do different jobs: the PT runs the Indonesian and ASEAN side, the BV becomes the European leg — importing through Rotterdam, invoicing EU customers and holding the euro banking relationship via the banking route for foreign owners.

The taxes you will meet

Corporate tax at 19%, VAT per quarter, monthly payroll where the company employs, and the treaty rate at distribution — every rate stands on the figures page and every deadline in running a Dutch BV. Specialists you bring to the Netherlands can qualify for the 30% ruling.

Terms on this page

BV (besloten vennootschap): The Dutch private limited company: a legal entity with registered shares and limited liability, so the shareholder’s private assets stay separate from business debts. Incorporation runs through a notarial deed; capital starts from €0.01.
Power of attorney: The written authorisation that lets someone sign the notarial deed on the founder’s behalf. For remote incorporation the signature is legalised; from abroad an apostille is usually added.
Participation exemption: The rule that fully exempts dividends and capital gains on a shareholding of five percent or more from corporate tax at the receiving company. The engine underneath every Dutch holding structure.
Corporate income tax (VPB): The profit tax of a BV, levied in two brackets over taxable profit per financial year. The current brackets and thresholds live on the figures page.
UBO: The ultimate beneficial owner: the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a company, generally from a twenty-five percent interest. Registration runs through the KVK’s UBO register.

All terms in the glossary →

This page describes the general route for 2026; what it means for your situation follows from a personal conversation.

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