Do you want to be an entrepreneur in Rotterdam? Before you can start working and sending your first invoices to any new clients in the Netherlands, you have to arrange a few formalities.
First check KvK online
The greatest advice we can give is to first check the website of the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, ‘KvK’). For English speakers, there are a few brochures that explain carefully how to set up a business, which type of legal entity will best suit your needs, and which conditions apply. Find the brochures at the KvK website.
Register at the KvK
In the Netherlands, registration in the KvK Trade Register is compulsory for every company and almost every legal entity. This means that the register is able to provide reliable answers to such questions as:
- Does the company I want to do business with actually exist?
- Is the person I am dealing with actually an authorised signatory?
- What has happened to the company I used to do business with?
You can register yourself at the KvK in Rotterdam at Blaak 40, 3011 TA Rotterdam (+31 (0)88 585 1585). After registering, you will receive a Chamber of Commerce number (KvK-nummer) and a national VAT number. Both these numbers are needed to send an invoice to your clients and pay your taxes. For more information, watch this webinar on registration and starting up a business.
Tax payments
Please note that if you started up your own business, you will have to maintain your accounts and you are responsible for paying VAT and income taxes on any money earned. It is highly recommended to hire a tax consultant to help you with this. For more information on business taxes click here.
Check the IND website
If you would like to start a business in the Netherlands, but you do not hold Dutch nationality and are from outside the EU, you will have to comply with particular formalities imposed by the Dutch immigration authorities (Immigratie– en Naturalisatiedienst, IND).
In this case, you will also have to meet several economic criteria before starting an enterprise in the Netherlands. You will have to prove that:
- You are qualified to run the business in question;
- You have a business plan;
- Your business serves an essential Dutch interest, i.e. has ‘added value’ to the Netherlands.
The IND does not assess these criteria itself; the Ministry of Economic Affairs is requested to review your situation and to decide whether the business you intend to run will be economically viable. If this turns out not to be the case, you will not be permitted to start your own business in the Netherlands.
Directors can be seen as entrepreneurs as well
Please note that as a director and majority shareholder, you are also seen as an entrepreneur if:
- You have at least a 25% interest in the company,
- You are liable for any company risks, and
- You can influence the level of your income.
If you do not meet the conditions specified above, you will have to apply to stay in the Netherlands as an employee instead.
Here to help
When starting a business, a lot can come your way. Rotterdam has a network to help you make your business successful.
If you are planning to locate or expand in Rotterdam, it is advisable to contact Rotterdam Partners. This institution is your official one-stop shop for everything you need to facilitate your investment decision. Rotterdam Partners strengthens the ties between the city and businesses based in Rotterdam. Their aim is to better serve Rotterdam’s needs and do what they can to help ensure that businesses remain here and possibly even expand. And even after you have settled in, Rotterdam Partners will be there for you, helping out in any way they can.
Besides that here is an overview of organizations that support startup companies in Rotterdam:
You can also find a lot of information on the government website for business
International talent
Rotterdam is part of the Greater Rotterdam-The Hague region. Within this region, we are collaborating with our partner entities in order to promote this region as talent hub by connecting companies with vacancies together with talent from all over the world. If you are ready to start expanding your enterprise, you would want the most capable staff for the job. This is where international talent becomes pivotal. If you would like to know more about what the Greater Rotterdam-The Hague region can mean for you as an employer, alongside some great tips on attracting talent, visit the Work in Rotterdam – The Hague website.
