In recent years, the construction sector has been the fastest-growing sector for independent entrepreneurs. In 2018, there was a growth of over 7%, and the following year saw a growth of 5.3%, according to the senior sector analysts.

At the same time, there is a shortage of construction workers, a gap that self-employed entrepreneurs are currently diving into. After the crisis of 2008, many construction workers lost their jobs, but now they have the job of sorting them out as self-employed people.

The Netherlands is now widely regarded as one of the healthiest economies in Europe, according to recent surveys despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Amsterdam is now perhaps the most popular European city for establishing a new company, as well as large corporations keen to set up regional headquarters serving the entire European area means that the construction industry has been transformed into one of the most extensively developed parts of the Netherlands' economy. It is also a welcoming country for international investors in the construction sector in other regions of the country.

At ICS, we have registration agents who can provide up-to-date information and advice on all you need to know to establish a construction company.

The Civil Code - The Environmental Licensing Law

The Construction Law regulations fall under the remit of the Netherlands' Civil Code, although there is also additional legislation with which construction companies are required to comply. One of the most relevant is the Environmental Licensing Law. This sets out the rules for a construction company in the Netherlands to comply with on building sites. The law encompasses the following:

The actual building of the property;
Any exemptions for the area planning;
Demolition of current sites;
Building on green spaces.

Dutch law is complex so contact ICS to help you navigate your way through the Environmental Licensing Law and the registration process of your construction company.

Registering your construction company in the Netherlands

You will need to register your company with the Dutch Companies Registrar. You might need to apply for certain licenses which will permit you to carry out construction works. For large construction projects this is highly recommended. For independent contractors, most construction workers do not need a license but simply a safety certificate. This is a 1-day course proving you understand safety at the construction site.

Organisations and businesses in the Dutch construction sector can apply for the all-in-one license for material features which may include:

The construction license;
The environmental license;
The exemption for zone planning;
The nature conservation permit;
The renovation license.

You should be aware that extra licenses and permits may be required depending on the nature of the work involved.

Contractors and independent workers generally do not need to apply for any licenses.

For help in establishing a company in the construction sector, please feel free to contact our ICS representatives in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands offers different type of foundations, the ANBI foundation is the foundation (Dutch: Stichting) most commonly used for non profit organisations. ANBI stands for: 'Algemeen Nut beogende instelling', an entity serving a general purpose.  Non profit organisations are also referred to as 'NGO' or Non Governmental Organisation.

What is an ANBI?

ANBI stands for algemeen nut beogende instelling, in English a charitable institution. But in The Netherlands not every charitable institution can call its self an ANBI. An institution can only be an ANBI if it is almost entirely committed to the public benefit (algemeen nut). Associations (such as sports, personnel, singing, harmony or drama associations) and hobby clubs are usually not ANBI.

The tax-inspector grants the ANBI-status to a charity if it applies for that status and the charity meets these requirements.

 Why an ANBI?

An ANBI fiscal advantages compared to charitable institution that does not possess that status. An ANBI has tax benefits, such as:

• An ANBI does not pay any inheritance tax or gift tax for inheritances and gifts that the institution uses for the public interest.
• If an ANBI makes donations in the public interest, the recipient does not have to pay gift tax.
• Donors of an ANBI may deduct their donations from income or corporation tax.
• In order to be eligible for the deduction of periodic gifts, the donor and the ANBI must record the gift in an agreement.
• An ANBI is eligible for a refund of energy tax.
• Volunteers who work for an ANBI make a donation to an ANBI under certain conditions.
• An extra donation deduction applies to donors of cultural ANBIs.

In short an ANBI is exempted from inheritance and gift taxes. Donors may deduct their donations to an ANBI from income or corporation tax. In order for an institution to get the status as an ANBI it needs to meet a number of conditions.

What conditions must an ANBI meet in general?

In order to be designated as an ANBI, the institution must meet all of the following conditions:

• The institution must be fully focused on the public benefit. This must be apparent from, among other things, the statutory objective and the intended activities.
• The institution must serve the public interest with almost all of its activities. This is the 90% requirement.
• The institution is not for profit with all of its activities that serve the public interest.
• The institution and the people directly involved with the institution meet the integrity requirements.
• No natural or legal person may dispose of the institution's assets as if they were its own assets. Directors and policymakers may not have a majority of control over the assets of the institution.
• The institution may not hold more capital than is reasonably necessary for the work of the institution. Therefore, equity must be limited.
• The remuneration for policymakers is limited to an expense allowances or attendance fees.
• The institution has an up-to-date policy plan.
• The institution has a reasonable ratio between management costs and expenditure.
• Money that remains after the institution has closed down is spent on an ANBI, or on a foreign institution that focuses for at least 90% on the public benefit.
• The institution complies with the administrative obligations.
• The institution publishes specific data on its own or joint website.

What conditions must an ANBI meet? in detail

• 90% requirement: In order to be designated as an ANBI, an institution must meet the 90% requirement. In addition, the activities that pursue the objective of the institution must serve a general interest almost entirely. An ANBI must spend at least 90% of its expenses usefully in general. In some cases, generally useful activities that did not cost money can also be included in this 90% test.
• No profit motive: An ANBI may not make a profit with all of its activities that serve the public interest. An ANBI must make a profit from commercial fundraising activities. The condition is that the profits benefit the main activities of the ANBI.
• Integrity requirements: An institution can only be an ANBI if the institution and the people directly involved with it meet the integrity requirements. If the tax inspector has reason to doubt the integrity of an institution or a person involved in it, he can ask for a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG). If the VOG is not submitted, the institution will not receive the ANBI status or it will be withdrawn. The tax inspector no longer sees an institution as a public benefit institution if a director, a manager, or a person who determines the image of the institution has been convicted of a crime and:
• the crime was committed in the capacity of the person concerned
• the conviction took place less than 4 years ago
• the offense constitutes a serious breach of the legal order

A face-determining person is a person who is seen as a representative of the ANBI. He or she does not need to have legal ties to the institution, such as employment. Think, for example, of an ambassador of an institution.

• Control over the assets: A number of guidelines are attached to the management and spending of the assets of an ANBI. For example, a natural or legal person may not dispose of the institution's assets as if they were its own assets. Directors and policymakers may not have a majority of control over the assets of the institution. It is also not allowed for one of the board members to have a casting vote or veto. For example, if a board or policy-determining body consists of 3 persons with the same voting rights, then it satisfies the condition. It is recommended to record these subjects in the statutes of the institution.
• Limited equity: An ANBI may not hold more capital than is necessary for the activities of the institution. This is called the 'spending criterion'. An ANBI may, however, hold assets if there is:
• assets received as a bequest (through an inheritance) or a gift

The condition is that the deceased or donor has determined that the donated or bequeathed capital must be maintained, or that it has been determined that only the return from that capital is used to pursue the purpose of the ANBI. This is also referred to as 'stem power'. Often the donor or deceased stipulates in a will that the estate must retain its value due to inflation by means of an annual adjustment. The ANBI must take this into account when spending the available returns.

• capital arising from the purpose of the ANBI: For example, it concerns a nature reserve or place of worship to be maintained by an ANBI.

• capital that is needed as a means to realize the purpose of the ANBI

For example, the business premises or the wn storage facility for relief supplies.

• a reasonable capital necessary to ensure the continuity of the work
• Remuneration policy makers: The policymakers of an ANBI (for example members of the supervisory board) may only receive compensation for expenses incurred. Policymakers may also receive attendance fees that are not excessive. An example of attendance fees is a fee for preparing and attending meetings.
• Ratio between management costs and expenditure: The management costs of the ANBI must be in reasonable proportion to the expenditure. What is 'reasonable' depends (among other things) on the nature of the ANBI. For example, an institution that raises funds often has different costs than an institution that manages assets. Management costs are costs for the management of the institution, such as costs associated with conducting administrative management (eg costs for an accountant).
• Liquidation: It must be clear from the statutes of an ANBI that money that remains after the ANBI has been dissolved (positive liquidation balance) is fully spent on an ANBI. If the articles of association state that the positive liquidation balance will be spent 'as much as possible' on an ANBI or a foreign institution that focuses for at least 90% on the public benefit, the tax inspector will reject the application.
• Administrative obligations for an ANBI: An ANBI is obliged to keep an administration. This administration must at least show:
• which amounts have been paid per policymaker for expense allowances, attendance fees and other payments. This enables the tax inspector to assess whether the members of the policy-making body (such as members of the supervisory board) do not receive excessive expense allowances or attendance fees.
• what costs the institution has incurred: Consider, for example, the management costs of the institution. This allows us to assess whether there is a reasonable relationship between costs and expenditure.
• the nature and size of the institution's income and assets: In this way the tax inspector can assess the spending of the ANBI on the spending criterion.
• what the expenditures and expenditures of the institution are: In this way the tax inspector can assess the spending of the ANBI on the spending criterion.
• Policy plan: An ANBI must have an up-to-date policy plan. This plan provides insight into the way in which the ANBI wants to achieve its objective. The plan may be a multi-year policy plan, but it must in any case provide insight into the coming year.

It is mostly advised to publish the policy plan on the website of the ANBI. In this way one informs sympathizers and donors and one immediately complies with the publication obligation that applies to ANBIs. Publishing the policy plan is not mandatory. One does need to highlight a number of information from the policy plan on the website.

 Transparency of an ANBI via the internet

An ANBI is obliged to publish data on its own website, or on a joint website. Since January 1, 2021, large ANBIs are obliged to use standard forms for the publication of the data. Large ANBIs are:

• ANBIs that actively raise money or goods from third parties (fundraising institutions) and whose total income in the relevant financial year exceeds € 50,000.
• Non-fundraising ANBIs if the total expenses in the relevant financial year exceed € 100,000

If the  institution not a large ANBI, then one can use the standard form, but there is no obligation to do so. Usage of the standard form can be an easy way out.

If one chooses not use the form, the following information must published:

• the name of the institution
• the RSIN (Legal Entities and Partnerships Information Number) or the tax number
• the contact details of the institution
• a clear description of the objective of the ANBI
• the main points of the policy plan
• the function of the directors: such as: 'chairman', 'treasurer' and 'secretary'.
• the names of the directors
• the remuneration policy
• Publish the remuneration policy for the statutory board and the policymakers.
• an up-to-date report of the activities performed
• a financial statement must be published on the website. This has to be done within 6 months after the end of the financial year. The statement covers a balance, a statement of income and expenses and an explanation

Content of a policy plan of your ANBI?

The backbone of your ANBI is its policy plan. An ANBI is obliged to have a policy plan. One is also obliged to include and explain the following information in the policy plan:

• the institution's objective and activities to be performed
• the method of acquiring income
• the management and use of the institution's assets

The institution's objective and work to be performed:

Describe in the policy plan as specifically as possible what the institution wants to achieve, in the form of a clear objective.

In addition, indicate how you will implement the objective, such as which activities the institution carries out and will carry out in order to achieve the stated objective. An example could be providing emergency aid during disasters or establishing schools in developing countries.

Is your institution committed to the interests of a specific target group? Describe this target group as clearly as possible.

The method of acquiring income
Describe in the policy plan how your ANBI will raise income.

The management and use of the institution's assets
Finally, describe in the policy plan how the assets are managed. This differs per institution. Explain not only the management of the assets, but also the use of the collected funds and goods. If money is reserved for spending in future years, this must be explained in the policy plan.

Optional data

In addition to processing the aforementioned data, a policy plan is free of form. You are free to include further information in the policy plan that will increase your transparency towards sympathizers and donors, such as:

• the name the RSIN or tax number
• the postal or business address
• a phone number or email address
• possibly the number of the Chamber of Commerce
• possibly the details of the bank account
• board composition and the names of the directors and policymakers
• an overview of income, expenditure and assets your ANBI can add a forecast for the coming years.
• the remuneration policy for the board or the policymakers

(FAQ) ANBI Stichting

• What is the difference between an ANBI foundation and a regular foundation?
  The difference between an ANBI foundation and a regular foundation is the ANBI status. The ANBI status is an extra step that needs to be performed after forming the ANBI. The ANBI also has certain tax exemptions, but also certain restrictions that a regular foundation does not have.
• What are the benefits of an ANBI foundation?
  Donators to the foundation may receive tax exemptions for their donations. The ANBI foundation also has certain tax exemptions that stimulates the charitable aspect. There is no tax to pay on donations received, there is also no tax to pay on founders donating to the foundation.
• Can an ANBI foundation make profits?
  Yes it can, as long as the profits are used to fund it's main charitable cause.
• What can the ANBI spend funds on?
  In short: Anything that benefits the goal of the charitable cause. This can include fundraisers, promotions, giveaways and so forth. And all activities that are related to that.
  A foundation may involve other companies for assistance with it's services. Imagine the World Nature Fund hires an event planner company to plan a fundraiser, or a digital marketing company to fix their website.
• What are the restrictions of an ANBI foundation?
  In short: For obtaining the NGO status, the founders declare that the goal should not be to make the board members wealthy, or for board members to receive disproportionate amounts.
• May an ANBI foundation compensate board members?
  Yes, but there are limits to board member compensation. For preparing and filing a meeting, a board member can receive a maximum of €356. For larger NGO's there are different criteria.
• May an ANBI Foundation compensate it's staff and volunteers?
  Yes, volunteers may receive up to €170 per month or €1900 per year tax free.Above this amount the foundation would need to pay the salary through a payroll accountant and pay the employer taxes. The employee in this case has to include this in his income tax filings.
• Can an ANBI foundation pay out cost declarations to it's members?
  Yes, any declared costs (which has to be substantiated in the accounting with a proper document), may be paid out to members. There are no limits on such declarations. Of course the relevancy to the organisation and it's activities should be clear.

Registering a company in the Netherlands

Registering a company in the Netherlands is now more convenient than ever. The exact amount of time it takes to form a company abroad also depends on the country you want to establish your company in. Most entrepreneurs don’t even consider registering a Netherlands company, but they might be missing out on new opportunities. And having a company incorporation agent to assist you will definitely make the step easier. But with so many countries in the world, where will it be best for your firm?

Did you know, for example, that there are huge differences in tax rates in most European countries? There are also some countries that offer quite extensive tax deduction possibilities and the Netherlands is one of those countries.

If you are looking for a stable, competitive, international and prospering environment; then Holland is definitely the place to start your new company. With many well-developed sectors to choose from, a pool of bilingual (Dutch and English), specialized employees and many business opportunities nationally as well as internationally, you are ready to go once your business is set up. And we can take care of this whole process for you in just a few business days. How? Read on for tips and information about company registration Netherlands.

You can learn a lot from the Dutch

The Dutch are very successful in many different sectors. Due to constant innovation and the will to propel themselves forward in various business areas, you can count on some healthy competition and interesting investment opportunities. Especially the creative sector, the health industry, logistics sector, the agricultural sector and e-commerce have been high on the world’s list of most advanced sectors.

Holland keeps being ranked amongst the top 5 most competitive and stable countries for business registration, so rest assured your Dutch business will attract all the possible opportunities to grow and become prosperous.

Characteristics of the Netherlands as a business opportunity

• Next to innovative sectors and a multitude of different business options, Holland has much more to offer. Some highlights:
• When you form a company in the Netherlands, you are also joining the European Union. This might prove to be beneficial for various reasons; currently a lot of Brits might have a good shot of continuing their business by opening a branch office in the Netherlands to stay within the borders of the EU
• Being in the EU, you profit form the European Single Market. This means you can freely export and import goods and services in the entire zone
• The Dutch workforce is highly skilled and mostly bilingual, making it very easy for you to find the best employees for your business
• The Dutch are one of the largest economies in the world, whilst being one of the smallest countries at the same time. You will have access to a highly developed and huge worldwide infrastructure, with the port of Rotterdam and Schiphol airport at your disposal
• The total costs for registering a company in the Netherlands are very low compared to other (neighboring) countries
• The Netherlands has a large amount of skilled and knowledgeable freelancers, which you can easily hire via various freelance initiatives or platforms

The various business types in the Netherlands

Once you know if you need a permit and which one, you can research your options further by exploring all the various business types in the Netherlands. There is a large amount of legal entities to choose from, depending on the size of your business and your specific plans. You can choose from unincorporated and incorporated business structures. If you choose an unincorporated structure, you need to keep in mind that you will personally be held accountable for any debts your company makes. This is why most entrepreneurs choose an incorporated business structure; in order to limit the amount of personal risk. Nonetheless, we have summarized all business types so you can do some research before picking a certain legal entity.

1. Types of unincorporated business structures:

2. Types of incorporated business structures:

Dutch incorporated business structures types explained

As you can see in the summary above, there are a total of 5 different incorporated business structures. We will not elaborate further on the unincorporated company structures, as we have seen from experience that most foreign investors and start-ups tend towards choosing a Dutch BV or another incorporated structure due to the limited personal liability involved. This is by far the safest option to choose, though you can read some detailed information about four other legal entities below as well.

The Dutch BV: The Dutch version of a private limited company is the most chosen business type by foreign entrepreneurs. In the past, you needed 18.000 euro to even register a Dutch BV. Nowadays the criteria are more forgiving, since you only need 1 euro to form a Dutch ‘flex-BV’. By lowering the minimum share capital necessary to start a Dutch BV, the country opened up many possibilities for smaller firms and businesses. If you start a Dutch BV, you can have corporate shareholders and directors. Please keep in mind that all corporate shareholders need to be verified during the process of the registering company Netherlands. They also need to have the appropriate authority to sign the deed of formation. It is also an idea to register a branch office as a Dutch BV, especially for companies that are experiencing difficulties in their native country. For instance Brexit weighs heavily on many English corporations and businesses. As such, many English businesses have already opened a branch office in the Netherlands.

The Dutch NV: Next to a private limited company, you can also choose to register a public liability company in the Netherlands. The Dutch NV is most suitable for large corporations and businesses, although you need to take into account that you will need a minimum share capital of 45.000 euro in order to start an NV. A Dutch NV also has a board of directors, who can be appointed during the annual meeting of shareholders.

The Dutch Foundation: You can also choose to start a Dutch foundation, which you can use as a holding or commercial entity or for family funds. Foundations can own shares as well as real estate in the Netherlands, plus you are allowed to obtain profits too. Under very strict and severe conditions, you can be exempt from taxes whilst owning a Dutch foundation. If you would like to know more about the possibilities, we can always provide you with general advice. 

The Dutch General partnership: If you want to start a company with colleagues or other entrepreneurs, a general partnership might be an option for you. This business type is specifically for partners who use a single company name to obtain a common goal. This business type, however, comes with private liability like all unincorporated business types. So if you want to stay safe personally, a BV might prove to be a much better choice. 

The Dutch Professional Partnership: The last option is the so-called professional partnership. This is a business type specifically for self-employed professionals or freelancers, like consultants, accountants, therapists and comparable professions. In this case you will also be privately held accountable if you make any debts with the business. So the only three business types that are exempt from personal liability are a Dutch BV, NV and foundation.

The step-by-step process of company registration Netherlands

Once you have chosen your preferred business type, it’s basically time to start taking action towards company registration in the Netherlands. The good news is that you don’t have to come all the way to the Netherlands to register your company: this is now also possible remotely. Some other necessary actions like opening a bank account can also be done from afar. The whole process can be done in little more than five business days. Of course, this is only achievable if we have all the required information and documentation. So please be very precise with the application forms and important documents like your business plan. The steps of the process of company registration in the Netherlands are as follows:

Practical information: required permits

If you are enthusiastic about the Netherlands, there are some details you will need to take care of first. Having all documentation ready is a necessity and this might include certain permits, depending on where you currently live. If you are an EU citizen, you can start a company immediately. As a non-EU citizen, you need a permit according to Dutch immigration law.

1. The start-up permit:

If you are interested in registering a business in the Netherlands and you are currently living outside of the EU zone, you will need a start-up permit. If you want to get this permit, your business and business idea need to contribute something to the Netherlands. This means providing proof that your business will be able to sustain itself, as well as showing that you are in a stable financial situation yourself. Also, you will need to find yourself a facilitator who will help you with various issues regarding the promotion and well-being of your business.

2. The self-employed permit:

Another permit is the self-employed permit. This is intended for people who want to move here with an already existing business or want to become self-employed in the Netherlands. If you want to acquire this permit, you will need to prove that your company will benefit the Dutch business market somehow. A good business plan as well as references and financial prospects from clients and investors will generally do well. You will need to get a certain amount of points before you are granted this permit. The point system does not apply, however, to both the United States as well as Japan.

How to apply for a permit?

As you will need to meet several criteria and conditions to obtain these permits, there is an agency in the Netherlands that will judge your application. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) will score your business and determine whether you will be granted a permit. The scoring is subjected to certain factors, like your own experience and your goals for this specific company. The main goal is to achieve a win-win situation; so both the Dutch and your company can benefit from registering a company in Netherlands.

Intercompany Solutions

You will also receive a corporate extract, a VAT number and all other information that you will need. If you need further assistance at this point, for example to open a corresponding bank account or find a good accountant to take care of financial matters, we can help you with many other things. An accountant is necessary for your tax filings and also the annual statement of your BV, which needs to be published every year. Once this is all sorted, you are ready to go and can start doing business in the Netherlands. 

All local companies performing customs-related operations in Holland and other members of the EU must have a unique EORI number. If you need further information about the EORI registration procedure or other accounting matters, our Dutch specialists are ready to assist you.

Dutch format of the EORI number

The Dutch EORI number consists of:

•  country code: the Netherlands is designated with NL;
• a unique number or code: the company’s fiscal number; in case this number is shorter than 9 digits, e.g. 7 or 8 digits, the EORI number will begin with “0” or “00”, respectively; Dutch EORI numbers always follow the format NL + nine digits.

Assignment of EORI numbers in Holland

Only legal entities can have EORI numbers. Therefore branches of international companies cannot register for individual Dutch EORI numbers and have to use the ones issued to the respective head offices.

EORI numbers are assigned by the MS where companies are resident. In Holland businesses holding excise tax licenses are also assigned EORI numbers. The purpose is to avoid using more than one ID number for companies dealing with the Customs.

Applying for a Dutch EORI number

Businesses established in Holland have two ways of obtaining EORI numbers:

• for Dutch companies holding fiscal numbers no official EORI application is required, since the EORI number is derived from the tax number; all Dutch businesses that have performed customs-related operations in the country before the beginning of July, 2009, were issued EORI numbers.
• businesses intending to apply officially can fill in the EORI application template and choose whether to have the number publicly available on the EU EORI website.

Dutch companies willing to obtain EORI numbers do not have to submit any additional documents. The local Customs can access the necessary information.

Businesses established in countries outside the EU can file EORI applications in a Member State where they perform activities. The issued number will be valid in the entire EU.

Businesses active in third countries are asked to submit a Trade Registry document issued no more than six months ago. The EU has established a common database containing the EORI numbers accessible by the customs in all Member States.

For more information on starting a Dutch company, see this page. If you need further details regarding the registration for an EORI number, feel free to call our accounting company in Holland.

How to incorporate a Dutch BV: a step to step guide

If you want to jumpstart your business, perhaps you should think to incorporate a Dutch BV. Not only will moving to the Netherlands provide you with a lot of interesting business opportunities; but you can also benefit from lower tax rates and a whole new area with millions of new potential customers. If you want to make a smart decision then a country based in the EU is your best option. The EU gives you the opportunity to benefit from the single market, meaning that all goods and services can be exchanged freely within the borders of the European Union. One of the most stable and competitive member states of the EU is the Netherlands. This small country has proven its worth throughout the centuries: from the infamous 17^th ‘golden’ century until today, this country stayed ahead of many others in business as well as other entrepreneurial achievements. Read on for more information about the Netherlands, why registering a business in Holland is a wise decision and why incorporating a Dutch BV will immensely aid you in attaining your business goals.

Why register a company abroad?

One of the main reasons for starting a foreign business is the adventure of it all. You will not only get the chance to tap into a completely new market, but you can benefit from several different opportunities too. For instance; tax rates and regulations might be much less severe than in your native country. Next to that, countries like the Netherlands are famous for their positive economic climate and stability. It’s pretty obvious that your business can only profit from such benefits. Some entrepreneurs shy away from taking such chances, because they wrongly believe it’s difficult and far-fetched to be able to register a business in another country. The truth is quite the contrary: opening a Dutch BV is a very straightforward and quick process, that does not even require you to be in the Netherlands physically. If you want to expand your business or are simply looking for opportunities abroad, starting a Dutch BV will provide you with ample amounts of options and opportunities.

Looking for a good tax rate?

When entrepreneurs want to start a business, one of the first things they consider is the lowest possible tax rate. After all; no one really likes to give away their hard-earned cash to the local government. In the Netherlands you are in luck, as you can find one of the most competitive tax rates in the entire EU. 

There is actually more good news: from 2022 the corporate income tax rates will be further reduced to 15% for all profits that do not exceed 395.000 euro and 25,8% taxes for all profits above 395.000 euro. Which inevitably makes Holland a very interesting tax jurisdiction for many investors and entrepreneurs.

The various business types in the Netherlands:

One of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when starting a business overseas is the type of legal entity you prefer. This mainly depends on your specific business goals and ambitions, such as the size of your company, the amount of profit you assume to be generating in the future and the amount of personal liability you feel comfortable with. In our experience an incorporated business structure works best, since you limit your personal liability this way. This means that any business loans or debts will never be recovered by depleting your personal assets. In the summary below you can find a brief description of every available Dutch business type.

1. Unincorporated business structures:

2. Incorporated business structures:

Why incorporate a Dutch BV?

There are several benefits to incorporating a Dutch BV. And we do not just mean the benefits of having a Dutch business, but the fact that a Dutch BV offers many opportunities and gives you plenty amount of freedom in deciding how you want to structure your business. One of the main benefits is, of course, the limited liability. Not a single shareholder carries any personal liability for debts the company made.

 Also there is the lowered minimum share capital since the introduction of the Flex-BV. Before this date, everyone needed a minimum of 18.000 euros just to be able to incorporate a Dutch BV. Nowadays this amount is lowered to a single euro. This means that solid start-ups and innovative entrepreneurs with little savings can also get their chance to do business on a professional level. Next to these two obvious benefits, you also have access to many subsidies if your idea is interesting enough. Furthermore, with a Dutch BV you can benefit from several reduced tax rates regarding the withholding of taxes on royalties, interest and dividends. There is also a minimum taxation of gains coming from share sales in the country of establishment.

The Dutch BV holding structure in a nutshell

If you want to start a Dutch BV, you might want to consider a holding structure. This is not only a very logical and secure way to incorporate your business, but it also is cost-effective in the long run. A holding is nothing more than a legal entity that can only hold assets. This means that a holding company does not carry any risks nor liabilities associated with the general activities and operations of its subsidiaries. A subsidiary, in turn, is a legal entity that is involved in trade or services. As such, with a subsidiary you can perform all your normal business activities. The subsidiary will indeed be liable for its operations, but the overarching holding will not be. Thus, suppliers and creditors may file claims against the subsidiary but not against the holding. This greatly limits the risks for your core business, as the holding will always be safe from such liabilities. The Dutch BV holding structure has some main characteristics:

Some good reasons to choose a Dutch BV holding structure

There are a few main reasons for entrepreneurs choosing to incorporate a Dutch BV holding structure. The first one is the obvious avoidance of various risks. With a BV holding structure you do not have any personal liability, plus the capital of the active company can be protected. Assets such as profits and pension provisions are safe from any business risks. There is a second large benefit, namely several possible tax advantages. There are structures in place that aid you in profiting from having a Dutch BV. One of these opportunities is the participation exemption, which allows the owner of any Dutch BV to sell their company and transfer profits to the holding BV without paying any taxes over the profit itself. If you are interested in all the benefits that come with incorporating a Dutch BV holding structure, never hesitate to contact us for advice. There are a few surefire reasons that make a Dutch BV holding structure the perfect fit for your company, if:

How to incorporate a Dutch BV?

After you have chosen a specific business type, it’s time to start the procedure that will actually establish your business. This basically entails of filling out the necessary paperwork, providing us with correct information and waiting two days. You do not even need to come to the Netherlands, like we previously mentioned. For a clear overview of the steps involved we have summarized these for you:

How long does it take to incorporate a Dutch BV?

• We have created an overview of the time it takes to finish the aforementioned steps from A to Z:
• Preparing, signing and sending the necessary documentation: max. 5 hours
• Verification and authentication of all received documents: max. 2 business days
• Drafting the notary documents for company incorporation, registering the company in the Dutch company registrar and obtaining the company registration number, obtaining the tax identification number, opening of a Dutch bank account: max. 1 day
• Registering the company for VAT: max. 2 weeks

What are the costs of starting a business in Netherlands?

We would love to provide you with a fixed price for the incorporation of a Dutch BV, but the reality is that every single business requires a personal approach. It depends on different factors such as the business type, certain permits needed and the amount of time in which you can provide us with all necessary documents. There are a few general fees however, that you can take into consideration:

• The preparation of all documents
• The fee for registering a Dutch company at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce
• The fee for registration at the Dutch tax authorities
• Incorporation fees that cover the formation of the company and extra services like opening a bank account
• The fees for assistance with obtaining the VAT number and (optional) EORI number

If you would like a personal quote, please contact us at any given moment. We are always happy to discuss your business ideals and give you a chance to implement them in the Netherlands.

Update: 8 September, 2021

What do the regulation mean for the practical onboarding process?

Wallet custodians and virtual currency trading companies need to identify their clients and manage the risk of money laundering by monitoring and reporting suspicious transactions.

The client identification process will be comparable to what some regulated Western crypto exchanges currently already ask from their clients, a copy of passport, a passport selfie, a proof of address, some declarations or proof as to the source of your income, and to declare what type of transactions you will have and for what reason. Depending on the limits you want to unlock. A practical guideline for this can be crafted.

Some exchanges solve this by using new digital onboarding solutions to be able to quickly accept the clients. Clients can be identified by a live video conference in which the passport is checked by a compliance employee and compared to the person holding it. And so the identify of the client is confirmed. For higher limits of trade, additional documents may be requested.

1. What if I open a crypto company that is not a trading or exchange firm?
   If you do not trade, exchange crypto for (fiat) money or hold customer funds, you are likely not regulated.
2. What is the timeline of a registration with the Dutch Central bank if I want to start an exchange or crypto broker in The Netherlands?
   We cannot predict the processing time by the government body. But generally the whole process can take between 6 and 12 months.
3. If I have a company like Shapeshift or a Decentralized exchange, do I need to be regulated? 
   Currently there is no requirement for regulation if you only trade virtual currencies for virtual currencies. (Dutch Central Bank Link)
4. Do you have experience with these requests?
   Because Intercompany Solutions specializes in corporate law, we collaborate with a specialized law firm for the crypto license applications. Our firm can assist with all matters up to the point of application, such as: incorporation of the firm, advise on the documentation and assistance with the compliance and accounting requirements.

How can Intercompany Solutions assist your crypto company?

We have years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and we have advised and assisted (large) foreign crypto firms in setting up a cryptocurrency company in the Netherlands. We can assist you with all practical procedures and regulatory information to make your crypto business in the Netherlands successful.

We can also assist you with:
1. Formation of the company and all requirements
2. The application for the crypto license (This part is handled by a specialized Financial law partner firm).
3. Assistance in drafting a compliance and AML policy as is required for the crypto license
4. Assistance with drafting and organizing the internal documentation, business plan and registration requirements
5. Provide you with a consultation from one of our financial lawyers

Other sources:
1. Virtual currency and fifth anti money laundering directive Link 

2. Law came into effect on 10 November 2020 Link

As the Brexit date in October is closing in, more and more British entrepreneurs and companies are chosing to move their headquarters or backup subsidiaries to the Netherlands. The future is still very unclear. No one really knows how reality will look once Brexit takes effect, but the benefits of owning a company in Holland remain plentiful. So which companies are we talking about? And what exactly are the benefits of moving your company? In this article we present you with some pretty logical reasons others deemed important enough, to register a company in the Netherlands.

Intercompany Solutions CEO Bjorn Wagemakers and client Brian Mckenzie are featured by CBC News - Dutch Economy braces for the worst with Brexit,  in a visit to our notary public on 12 February 2019. 

Many multinationals have already preceded you

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) has released information that 98 companies have already settled in the Netherlands. An additional whopping 300+ companies are seriously considering doing the same. These are huge multinationals such as Discovery and Bloomberg, adding a nice variety of newly settled businesses in the Netherlands. It’s especially the financial sector, media and communications and IT and technology that have seen a substantial rise in newly established foreign companies.

Why all the sudden moves?

Obviously Brexit has a large amount of complicated consequences, especially for businesses operating within the European Union. For example; financial institutions are obligated to have European subsidiaries to do business with Europeans and European companies. This is not obligatory for most other companies, though British entrepreneurs will have to deal with both British as well as European clients. Having a subsidiary in the Netherlands will make your daily business activities a lot easier to handle.

The biggest reasons British companies are choosing Holland

The reasons for a company or company subsidiary in Holland are pretty clear. As already stated above; reason number one is definitely the fact that some companies might be lawfully obligated to do so. Other companies might go bankrupt if they don’t tend to their European clients’ needs in the same current timeframe. The connection with Europe stays firm that way, making it possible to continue their business as usual.

A second important reason is the ample amount of subsidies for new businesses and innovations currently offered by the EU. With Brexit these subsidies become unattainable, or at the very least harder to get. This might create stagnation in overall innovative concepts, or new startups. The third reason for a company to move or open a branch office in the Netherlands, is the fact that lengthy border procedures will be completely avoided.

Other reasons worth mentioning are specifically aimed at Holland being a very smart choice for your company. Holland has an extensive and well-operating infrastructure; physically as well as digitally. The different ports and airports are well within a maximum two hour driving distance. Also, there is a reason so many expats have happily chosen the Netherlands in the past. There is a large amount of bilingual personnel, the services Holland offers to foreigners are excellent and the Dutch business market is very stable and secure.

If you want to know more about the whole process of establishing a company in the Netherlands, or would like to hear more about all the benefits, feel free to contact our team anytime. We can answer all your questions and provide you with the necessary information to make a well thought-out decision.

The globally anticipated Brexit date (the 31st of October) is approaching rapidly and this is beginning to cause a lot of stress among many British investors and entrepreneurs. If you own an UK based company and have not really thought about the possible consequences of a hard Brexit, now might seriously be a good time to evaluate your options.

A lot of other organizations have already preceded you and opened a branch office in the Netherlands. Some multinationals even moved their entire headquarters to Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The main reason for this course of action is pretty simple: continued access to the European Single Market with all its profits. Because once you are out, you will no longer reap the benefits of being part of the EU and this might lead to rather large problems in continuing your normal business operations and activities.

Intercompany Solutions CEO Bjorn Wagemakers and client Brian Mckenzie are featured by CBC News - Dutch Economy braces for the worst with Brexit,  in a visit to our notary public on 12 February 2019. 

The European Single Market explained by the European Commission

“The single market refers to the EU as one territory without any internal borders or other regulatory obstacles to the free movement of goods and services. A functioning single market stimulates competition and trade, improves efficiency, raises quality, and helps cut prices. The European single market is one of the EU’s greatest achievements. It has fueled economic growth and made the everyday life of European businesses and consumers easier.”[1]

Being locked out of the European Single Market: some consequences for your business

If your UK business is currently dependent on employees and freelancers from different EU countries, you will find that you will have to deal with many arising issues. The terms of the contract between you and them will obviously change, since EU legislation will no longer be applicable in the case of a hard Brexit. This might result in both freelancers and employees looking elsewhere for a job, simply because the terms of employment will become too complicated.

Another massive issue will be traveling. As the borders will become real borders again between the UK and every EU country, this obviously means there will be a substantial rise in documents, visas, various travelling documents and several other bureaucratic consequences that will take up a lot of time. Clients will have to spend more effort in order to travel to you and vice versa.

Then there is also the fact that the import and export of goods and services will be severely influenced in a negative way, mostly because of the extra time every shipment will take. If you have an online business or web shop, sending goods to your EU clients will prove a challenge you might not even be up for. Some goods will become less available for import, which inevitably will lead to shortages and higher prices that a lot of small businesses cannot pay if they want to remain profitable.

There is a solid possibility you might lose a few clients

In other words: if you do not open a subsidiary in an EU country, you might have to consider the fact that your business might not make it by the end of next year. However dramatic this may sound, it is a very realistic vision for many small business owners and large organizations that are dependent on EU clients. It is therefore absolutely no surprise that a lot of companies have established branch offices in the Netherlands, of which some are inactive totally, basically awaiting what will happen from the 1^st of November.  In the case of a hard Brexit, these subsidiaries can be put into action immediately, so the company does not have to suffer from the exclusion from the EU.

Intercompany Solutions can inform you about all the possibilities of opening a backup subsidiary in the Netherlands. If you want to know more, please always feel free to contact us for more information or a personal quote for your business. The good news is, that establishing a company or branch office in the Netherlands can be done in just a few business days. Which means that you can be ready before the date is here, just give us a call.

[1] European Commission. (2017, 5 July). The European single market - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - European Commission. Link: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market_en

Since the referendum in 2016, Brexit has been a topic of massive controversy ever since. Will it really benefit the UK to exit the European Union? What kind of consequences will this have for both laborers as well as business owners? And what is the best strategy to stay connected to the EU, if you are an entrepreneur or business owner?

It’s specifically the last question that has kept many business owners scratch their heads, so to speak. Obviously relocation and/or the opening of extra subsidiaries in an EU country are the best way to achieve this in most cases. But relocation is not a small step you just take, it takes time, research and proper preparations. Nonetheless almost 100 companies have made this move and are the proud owners of either new headquarters in the Netherlands, or a new branch office.

Intercompany Solutions CEO Bjorn Wagemakers and client Brian Mckenzie are featured by CBC News - Dutch Economy braces for the worst with Brexit,  in a visit to our notary public on 12 February 2019. 

The Brexit date is almost here and people need solutions

Brexit day is only weeks or months away. More and more entrepreneurs are having uneasy and restless feelings about the big deal or no-deal question. This has already led to a significant increase in companies orientating themselves on the Netherlands for a possible new base in the European market. And this number will easily become larger, since another 325 organizations and businesses are contemplating moving here in the very near future.

The increase is mostly visible in the financial sector, media and communications, IT and biotechnology.  Companies in these sectors are mostly drawn to Holland due to the excellent employment market in combination with lenient financial opportunities and permits. It’s not just UK companies that decide to settle here: a large Japanese bank like Norinchukin and the American CBOE also made the same decision.

Not every company is ready to take action just yet

Many UK companies are still a tad hesitant, because it is still very unclear how Brexit will take shape and what the exact effects will be on the business community. It might pose some risks for your company though, if you do not consider at least one branch office in an EU country before an eventual hard Brexit goes into effect. This surely might have consequences like:

• A substantial delay in all business activities due to obligatory border formalities and the necessary documentation you will need now
• You will no longer be able to take part in the free EU market, this will make much more difficult to hire freelancers or buy and sell products from and to other countries in the EU
• You can pretty much count on establishing a backlog in your services very fast due to all the new requirements and paperwork
• You are at risk losing clients from all over the EU, simply because it will be easier for them to find a competitor who is still based in the EU

Intercompany Solutions can help you avoid such consequences

The list is much longer than this, as every single business will be subjected to certain extra disadvantages linked to a specific sector. If you want to avoid such consequences, it would be wise to consider opening a branch office in Holland. Intercompany Solutions can realize this for you in just a few business days, plus you won’t even need a physical location immediately as it is also possible to establish a subsidiary or branch office. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions, we will try to assist you in every possible way we can.

Intercompany Solutions gets Brexit related requests on a almost daily basis currently, and has assisted many companies make the transition.

Since the infamous Brexit referendum the British have become more and more cautious concerning their businesses and startups. This ultimately lead to a substantial increase in foreign investments and the relocation of businesses to the most stable EU countries. The Netherlands are currently on top of the relocation list, which is not surprising at all considering the positive economic climate in our country. Just to illustrate the difference between the two neighboring countries: investments by Dutch entrepreneurs and investors in the UK have subsequently decreased 80% since that illustrious moment in 2016.

It’s all in the numbers

Investments by British business owners and investors in the Netherlands are 6 times more frequent than before 2016. The Dutch Central Statistical Office states that during 2016, the British invested around 14 billion euros in the Dutch economy. Two years later this number had grown almost exponentially to 80 billion euros. The UK was by far the largest foreign investor in Holland during 2018.

Like previously mentioned, the investments by Dutch business owners and investors in the UK decreased: in 2016 the Dutch invested around 50 billion in the UK, but in 2017 this number went down to 25 billion. In 2018 the Dutch did not invest more than 11 billion euros in the UK: that is one fifth of the original amount just a mere two years ago. In other words: even the possibility of a hard Brexit has absolutely staggering consequences on the international investment climate, which cannot be overlooked.[1]

Intercompany Solutions CEO Bjorn Wagemakers and client Brian Mckenzie are featured by CBC News - Dutch Economy braces for the worst with Brexit,  in a visit to our notary public on 12 February 2019. 

British entrepreneurs and companies are starting to become nervous about a hard Brexit

The in- and decrease of foreign investments is mainly due to a growing feeling of uncertainty amongst British business owners. It is very important for a large number of British businesses to remain present in a European country, simply because a different situation will have a very negative impact on the way the company does business. The option that a business will not be part of the European Single Market anymore is quite frightening indeed, especially with many European clients in their database.

The reason Holland attracts so many foreign investors

Holland has been known to be a very stable, innovative and beneficial climate for many types of businesses. From the pharmaceutical to IT and the eco industry and every kind of freelance business: as an entrepreneur or owner of a large corporation you can nearly always benefit from many of the resources the Netherlands has to offer.

In terms of innovation, the Netherlands have a prime position on the Global Innovation Index (GII) of 2019. This yearly compiled list by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPA) tells you exactly which country can be great for your business in terms of progressiveness and innovation. It ranks the innovative performance of 129 collaborating countries around the globe, by analyzing a special theme every year.

This year the theme was medical innovation and the potential to transform healthcare worldwide. The Netherlands were named the fourth most innovative country, with the US at number three, Sweden at number two and Switzerland grabbing the prime spot.[2] If you want to limit your risks, whatever the outcome on the 31^st of October, you would be wise to consider all your options of relocation or opening a branch office in the Netherlands. Intercompany Solutions can assist you during the whole process. Just contact us for all the information you need.

[1] Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP). (2019, 9th September). Britten investeren bijna 6 keer meer in Nederland sinds Brexit-referendum. Link: https://www.nu.nl/brexit/5989751/britten-investeren-bijna-6-keer-meer-in-nederland-sinds-brexit-referendum.html

[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPA). (2019). Global Innovation Index 2019. Link: https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/

Setting up a business means you will have to make a staggering amount of choices. This is not unusual of course, since there’s simply many options to choose from. Like the specific services you will be offering, the languages you will be working in, your business address and possible office space and the company that will make your website and PR materials. But did you also consider the country?

In what country do you want to start a business? Almost all start-ups and new entrepreneurs establish their company in their country of residence. Probably a little bit out of habit. But in a lot of cases, it might actually benefit you to browse around a bit. And consider starting a business in a different country than your own. Like the Netherlands. And you definitely won’t be the first one, as the number of foreign businesses and investments in Holland keeps growing. In this article we will tell you a bit more about the ‘why’!

Foreign companies are boosting the Dutch economy to great heights

The Netherlands has been flooded with foreign investments and entrepreneurs setting up businesses in our country for a while now. For example: the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and several regional partners involved in the ‘Invest in Holland’ network assisted in attracting around 350 different foreign investment projects worldwide in 2016 alone. All these actions total a massive amount of around 1,5 billion euros in capital investments. In turn, this created more than 10.000 new jobs.

In 2017, 1,7 billion was invested. In 2018, large multinationals such as Timerland, Giant and DAZN created almost 10.000 additional jobs in the Netherlands as well. All companies combined contributed around 2,85 billion euros to our national economy. All in all, we can safely say that foreign investments and businesses in the Netherlands have a very positive influence on our economy and thus, investing in the Netherlands is surely a safe way to grow your business quite rapidly.
Brexit caused many relocations of foreign companies’ offices

One of the biggest reasons for moving is Brexit.

Many business owners would rather be safe than sorry, and thus decided to pro-actively move some branch-offices or even their headquarters to the Netherlands. The Invest in Holland network brought more than 40 companies to the Netherlands in the year 2018. This was a direct result of Brexit and lead to the creation of almost 2.000 new jobs, next to around 291 million euros in investments. In 2019 large multinationals such as Discovery and Bloomberg have announced their wish to invest in the Netherlands due to Brexit.

Most of these companies are British in origin, but the lost also includes American and Asian organizations. These organizations are basically reconsidering many options, in order to minimize possible uncertainties and threats when Brexit finally follows through. These companies have origins in many sectors, such as the financial sector, media and advertising, life sciences & health and logistics.

So why do so many business owners choose the Netherlands?
There are obviously some good reasons for considering our rather small country for relocation. Because the companies that already made the move are not just small players; many huge well-known organizations have already established new headquarters in Holland. More than 6.300 foreign companies have established more than 8.000 different operations in the Netherlands.

Among the international companies are North American companies like Abbott Laboratories, Boeing, Bombardier, Cisco Systems, Dow, Eastman Chemical, Heinz, Medtronic, NCR Corporation and Reebok. European companies such as Bosch, Danone, Siemens and RWE are also included. A large number of Asian and Middle-Eastern companies is also represented by companies such as Astellas, BenQ, Daewoo, Fujifilm, Giant, Hitachi, Huawei, ICBC, LG Electronics, SABIC, Samsung, Saudi Aramco, Tata Consultancy Services, Teijin and Yakult.

The most prominent reasons for relocating a business to the Netherlands are listed below:
Fantastic location, educational system and business opportunities
The Netherlands is located on a prime position, with both Schiphol as well as the port of Rotterdam as main points in an already rich infrastructure. Next to that; Holland is home to an excellent ICT-infrastructure and perfect network coverage. An internationally oriented workforce with most people speaking at least two languages, and many fantastic and high quality (international and national) schools to choose from.

The standard of living is considered to be exceptionally high, with Amsterdam as capital offering you everything in terms of culture and activities. But also other beautiful cities like Rotterdam, the Hague and Utrecht. The cities are considered to be very safe and you will have many possibilities to expand your network with many shared working spaces all over town.

Stable government and fair legal system.

The Netherlands is considered to be a very stable and vibrant parliamentary democracy, recognized worldwide for its transparency, fairness and effectiveness. The political system is characterized by plurality and consensus-building, resulting in coalition governments that truly represent the voice of the people. The legal system is also considered to be fair and transparent and well equipped to deal with business, trade, taxation and patent issues.

There are specialized courts for dealing with criminal and administrative issues, as well as with tax law, planning law, environmental law and trade and commerce. There is a rich variety of world-class law firms – both home grown and large international ones – that can provide assistance with tax law, mergers and acquisitions, and European law. The Hague is the seat of the European Patent Office.

Low taxes compared to other European countries
The corporate income tax rate in the Netherlands is very low for European standards: 16.5% for profits up to 200.000 euros and 25% for profits more than this amount. In the next years, the government will reduce the minimum and maximum tax rates even further (15% lower rate and 21% higher rate in 2021).

The CIT rates will be gradually reduced. The standard rate will be reduced in steps from 25% to 22.55% in 2020 and to 20.5% in 2021. The lower rate has decreased from 20% to 19% in 2019, to 16.5% in 2020, and to 15% in 2021. Foreign investors can also profit from some beneficial tax exemptions, like a 30% tax break for hiring highly qualified employees.

Safe and developed financial system
The Netherlands also boasts a stable financial system and climate, with a large array of strong Dutch banks such as ING Group, ABN AMRO and the Rabobank. There are also many private equity investors, venture capital funds, as well as fund managers available for the picking.

Intercompany Solutions: your partner for a business in the Netherlands
You can always contact us for more information and assistance if you are considering opening a branch office in the Netherlands, or maybe a whole new business. We have a wide variety of services at your disposal to help you in any way we can.

The whole process can be concluded in just a few business days, offering you the chance to start doing business immediately. Interested in the possibilities? Contact us for more information.

The way we do business has changed significantly during the past few decades. Where there were once only physical stores, you can now shop for almost every imaginable trinket online. Artists have also started to offer their skills on the web, via websites, social media or international platforms like Etsy. One interesting development that clearly stands out, is that design is just as important as functionality nowadays.

One of the best examples to illustrate this is the smartphone we all use on a daily basis. Next to being chock-full of options that were once all separate devices (think in the likes of roadmaps, telephones, buzzers, the post office and gaming consoles), a modern day telephone also needs to be thin, sleek and slim. So it’s no wonder at all there are more and more companies that focus on both aspects.

The Netherlands is an excellent country for pioneering entrepreneurs

If you are active within one of these two areas, it might be extremely beneficial for you to open a branch office in the Netherlands or even move your company here: the Netherlands are at the forefront of innovation and design. The World Intellectual Property Organization awarded Holland with the 4^th place worldwide in terms of innovative ideas and concepts, only preceded by Sweden, the US and Switzerland. You will have an ample amount of interesting sectors to choose from, highly accredited technical and art educational institutions like the TU Delft and the KABK and a vast array of pioneering freelancers to assist you with growing your business.

Design and services make up around 75% of the Dutch GDP

Designing services and technology both hold a strong position in relation to the Dutch GDP. Design can be subdivided in several different sectors like product development, strategic design, graphic design and comparable subjects. All of these together create a yearly turnover of around 200 million euro, whilst export products add up to 5 billion euro. Every year this sector grows a few %, also due to some interesting foreign startups and investments.

Opportunities in the Netherlands for your design or tech company

You will find a lot of tech opportunities in Holland, in the form of interesting international cooperations between professionals, freelancers and students. From universities like TU Delft and Universiteit Wageningen, both known for their innovative and excellent programs, concepts and graduates. You will find a lot of pilot projects aimed at the innovation of tech products, medical products and supplies but also experimental and completely new services and products.

The design sector is just as popular and flourishing. Especially cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam offer you an excellent base of operations for your tech or design startup or company, with an amazing digital infrastructure, an open and artsy startup scene, lots of international talent and an ample amount of galleries and pop-up galleries to showcase your work. These two sectors work well together in social innovations like living labs and open work spaces, business models that include various different methods and partnerships that literally cross industries.

Intercompany Solutions can aid you in establishing your business in Holland

If you have an innovative idea and would like to take action, Holland is one of the best places to start. You will find that the Netherlands offer you huge benefits in terms of innovation, but also in more general and practical ways like low tax rates, an excellent bilingual workforce and a fantastic infrastructure with Rotterdam and Amsterdam never more than a moderate drive away. We can help you with registering a company in the Netherlands in just a few business days. We can also assist you with any questions you might have, just give us a call for more information.