Register a Company in Amsterdam: The Honest 2026 Guide

If you want to register a company in Amsterdam, you have chosen the country’s commercial center, and the Dutch process is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide covers the KVK Business Register process, the mandatory notary step for a BV, 2026 corporate tax rates, realistic costs and timelines, and the VAT and employer registrations that catch founders out. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, so confirm your own situation with a licensed adviser before you sign anything.

Why Amsterdam Is the Netherlands’ Business Hub

Every founder eventually asks why so many people choose to register a company in Amsterdam rather than Rotterdam, Utrecht or The Hague: concentration. Amsterdam hosts the country’s densest cluster of international headquarters, fintech and technology scale-ups, plus the notaries, accountants and banks that support them.

The city also sits close to Schiphol, runs on the same EU legal framework as the rest of the country, and makes relocating staff an easy sell. Registration itself is national, so you can incorporate through any KVK office, but the concentrated support network here is why most international founders still choose to register a company in Amsterdam over anywhere else.

The KVK Registration Process, Step by Step

Every Dutch company, wherever it operates, ends up in the same national database: the Business Register (Handelsregister) kept by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK. Most foreign founders set up a besloten vennootschap (BV), the Dutch equivalent of a private limited company. Here is the sequence to register a company in Amsterdam as a BV.

1. Check and reserve your trade name. Use the KVK Name Check tool to confirm your proposed name is not misleading and is not already registered.
2. Draft the articles of association. Only a Dutch civil-law notary can draft and execute the deed of incorporation for a BV.
3. Execute the notarial deed. You sign in person or by power of attorney, and the notary formally establishes the company.
4. Registration with KVK. The same notary files the company directly in the Business Register on your behalf.
5. Register your Ultimate Beneficial Owners. The notary also registers the company’s UBOs, meaning anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights.

With your documents ready, most notaries complete incorporation within about one to two weeks of the name check, and the Tax Administration typically issues your VAT identification number within a further two weeks. If you register a sole proprietorship instead of a BV, you file the KVK form yourself and must visit a KVK office in person with ID and a citizen service number (BSN).

2026 Corporate Tax: What Actually Changed

Dutch corporate income tax (vennootschapsbelasting) is 19% on the first 200,000 euros of taxable profit and 25.8% above that, unchanged from 2025, with no provincial or municipal surcharges on top.

One 2026-specific figure matters if you plan to pay yourself as director and majority shareholder (DGA): the minimum DGA salary for 2026 is 58,000 euros a year, and the Tax Administration expects it actually paid, not just declared. Budget for this before you register a company in Amsterdam and set your own pay. Confirm your position, especially around the innovation box regime for qualifying R&D profit, with a Dutch tax adviser.

Why You Need a Notary and an Accountant

You cannot DIY a Dutch BV incorporation. Only a civil-law notary admitted in the Netherlands can draft and execute the deed of incorporation, so a notary is mandatory for every BV, not an optional add-on. Every founder who wants to register a company in Amsterdam works with one directly, and most Amsterdam notary offices bundle the deed, the KVK filing and the UBO registration into one package.

The accountant matters just as much, only slightly later. Every Dutch BV must keep proper bookkeeping, file an annual report, and submit a corporate tax return, with larger companies facing statutory audit requirements. An Amsterdam-based accountant used to non-resident founders will know which bank still opens accounts for foreign-owned BVs quickly, often the real bottleneck. Ask what quotes include: the notarial deed, a registered address if needed, annual accounts, and VAT filing.

Costs and Timelines: What to Actually Budget

Two figures get confused constantly: the statutory KVK fee and the professional fees around it. The KVK Business Register charges a one-off registration fee of 85.15 euros in 2026, paid once your company is entered in the Handelsregister.

Professional fees are where the real spending sits. Between the notary (500 to 1,500 euros) and an accountant’s onboarding, a full incorporation package for a standard BV commonly runs 1,000 to 2,500 euros all in, before ongoing bookkeeping. Budget realistically to register a company in Amsterdam without surprises, since these are planning figures, not fixed quotes. Plan one to two weeks to incorporate, then allow further time for a business bank account, since Dutch banks run their own source-of-funds checks on foreign-owned structures.

VAT and Employer Registration

Incorporation is only half the job. The Tax Administration assesses your VAT status as soon as KVK forwards your registration, and if you qualify you receive a VAT identification number (btw-id) and a separate VAT tax number within about two weeks. The standard VAT rate is 21%, with a reduced 9% rate on specific goods and services. Under 20,000 euros annual turnover, the small businesses scheme (KOR) lets a BV opt out of charging VAT, though you then lose the right to deduct input VAT. This is the second registration every founder needs to plan for after they register a company in Amsterdam.

If you plan to employ staff, including yourself as a salaried director, register as an employer with the Tax Administration before the first payday. You then receive a payroll taxes number (loonheffingennummer) and file payroll tax returns, deducting wage tax and social insurance from every payslip. International founders who register a company in Amsterdam often pair their Dutch account with a multi-currency account such as wise.com, revolut.com, bunq.com or n26.com/en-eu for day-to-day euro and cross-border payments, though these complement rather than replace a Dutch bank account for genuine local substance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to register a company in Amsterdam?

With a name check done and your notary ready, incorporating a BV usually takes about one to two weeks, and your VAT identification number typically follows within a further two weeks.

What is the corporate tax rate in the Netherlands in 2026?

In 2026, Dutch corporate income tax is 19% on the first 200,000 euros of taxable profit and 25.8% on profit above that threshold, unchanged from 2025. There are no additional provincial or municipal corporate taxes.

Do I need a notary to register a company in Amsterdam?

Yes. Only a Dutch civil-law notary can draft and execute the incorporation deed, so this step is mandatory for anyone forming a BV. The notary also files the KVK registration and the UBO entry for you.

What are the KVK fees to incorporate?

The one-off fee to register a company in Amsterdam through KVK is 85.15 euros in 2026. Notary fees are separate and typically range from 500 to 1,500 euros depending on the complexity of your structure.

When must my Dutch company register for VAT?

For a BV, the Tax Administration assesses your VAT status automatically once KVK forwards your registration, and you normally receive your VAT identification number within about two weeks. If your annual turnover stays under 20,000 euros, the small businesses scheme (KOR) lets you opt out of charging VAT.

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