In the last few years,
the Netherlands has become one of the best countries in Europe for
starting a business. Among the activities that can be successfully completed here are research and development, fintech and other similar ones which rely mostly on innovation and which are suitable for
startup businesses.
Opening a startup in the Netherlands is not complicated, the only requirement for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to create such a business venture being to register a legal entity with the Trade Register.
Below, our
Dutch company formation agents present the main steps for the
creation of a startup. You can rely on us for assistance or for
registering the Dutch startup on your behalf.
You can read about the procedure of opening a startup in the Netherlands in the infographic below:
Key elements in opening a startup in the Netherlands
There is no difference between a
startup and any other business registered
in the Netherlands if we are to define this entity from a legal point of view. However, when it comes to its features, we could say that the following apply to a
Dutch startup:
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it usually relies on a thorough business plan and model in order to attract potential investors;
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it operates in innovative sectors which meet specific requirements and demands, in most cases;
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the owner or owners do not have substantial amounts of money to invest in the company;
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it is created by young entrepreneurs who rely on the professionalism of seasoned investors (usually angel investors);
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it obtains most of its funds from crowdfunding platforms, friends, and other investors.
From an incorporation point of view, a
Dutch startup does not imply going through specific procedures.
Our company registration consultants in the Netherlands can help with the creation of such a venture.
The most popular way of opening a Dutch startup
The
private limited liability company or BV is the most suitable option from a legal entity point of view when seeking to
open a startup in the Netherlands. As mentioned above, the
startup relies on an idea which usually requires a significant investment and the funds are gathered through specific means such as crowdfunding platforms which are very popular
in the Netherlands. Considering the
Dutch BV does not require a high share capital, it is one of the most suitable options for a
startup company.
In terms of registration, the startup registered as a BV requires at least one shareholder who needs not be a Dutch resident, a director and a few documents that need to be filed with the Trade Register.
The Netherlands – Europe’s largest incubator for startups
The
startup ecosystem has started developing a few years ago and
the Netherlands was one of Europe’s first countries to participate to the spreading of this culture. Relying on a younger population compared to the rest of the European states and thanks to the large number of
expats living here and embracing the Dutch business culture,
the Netherlands has quickly become
the largest incubator for startup companies on the Old Continent.
In order to ease the access of
foreign investors in the Netherlands, in 2015, the government created the
start-up visa scheme which targeted non-EU investors with innovative ideas seeking to move to the EU and open their own companies. Based on this program, an investor can
obtain a Dutch residence permit by
opening a startup in the Netherlands, the only requirement being to rely on mentorship from a Dutch-based experienced investor.
After one year of living in the Netherlands based on the residence permit, the startup owner can extend his or her stay in accordance with the self-employment scheme.
It is also useful to note that the program brought the Netherlands on the 3
rd position in the 2019 Global Innovation Index among EU countries, according to the Dutch agency
InvestinHolland.
At the level of 2019, the Netherlands hosted more than 10 innovation hubs dedicated to research and development facilities for startups.
If you are considering in opening a startup in the Netherlands, you can rely on our support.
Amsterdam – the Dutch hotspot for startups
Amsterdam is the
leading startup hub in the Netherlands as, according to statistics:
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- tech companies here have raised 750 million euros in 2018;
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- the top startup incubator in Europe in 2018 was located in Amsterdam;
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- in 2019, the city was Europe’s 4th most active startup hub;
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- in 2019, there were more than 1,200 startup companies in Amsterdam;
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- in the same year, the city also hosted 150 scale-up businesses.
