How to incorporate a Dutch B.V.: step by step

Dutch term: B.V. oprichten stap voor stap | Legal basis: Book 2 BW

Incorporating a Dutch B.V. follows these steps: (1) prepare KYC documentation (passport/ID, UBO declaration, proof of address for all founders and directors); (2) choose the company name and verify availability with the Chamber of Commerce; (3) draft the articles of association (statuten) with the civil-law notary; (4) execute the notarial deed of incorporation at the notary's office (can be done by power of attorney if the founder cannot attend in person); (5) the notary registers the B.V. with the Dutch Trade Register at the Chamber of Commerce (KvK); (6) obtain the KvK registration number and VAT number; (7) open a Dutch bank account in the B.V.'s name; (8) appoint directors and adopt initial shareholder and board resolutions.

There is no minimum capital requirement since the 2012 flex-B.V. reform. A single shareholder and a single director suffice, and both can be non-Dutch and non-resident. The main timeline variable is the KYC process: once the notary has all documentation, the notarial deed and Chamber of Commerce registration are typically completed within 5 to 10 working days. Total cost (notary fees, Chamber of Commerce registration) is typically in the range of a few thousand euro.

Why it matters for international businesses

For international groups establishing Dutch operations, MAAK Advocaten coordinates the incorporation process with the civil-law notary and handles the corporate documentation (shareholders agreement, board resolutions, powers of attorney) in parallel.