The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT): A Complete Guide for US Citizens
Intro If you’re a US citizen who wants to live and work in the Netherlands, the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, almost always shortened to DAFT, is usually the easiest route there is. No employer, no points test, no business plan, just a real business and a modest investment. It sounds almost too simple, and in […]
How Non-EU Entrepreneurs Can Start a Business and Relocate to Portugal, Spain or the Netherlands
For entrepreneurs looking to move to Europe, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are three of the most attractive options. All three let non-EU citizens establish businesses and obtain legal residence, but the immigration routes work quite differently. One of the biggest mistakes advisers see is starting with the question, “Which country has the easiest […]
Business Structures in the Netherlands: Which One Is Right for You?
Intro One of the first decisions you make when starting a business in the Netherlands is choosing a legal structure (rechtsvorm). It’s not a formality: your choice shapes your personal liability, how you’re taxed, whether you can bring in partners or investors, and how easily you can scale later. Pick the wrong one and fixing […]
Dutch BV vs Foreign/UK Ltd for Expats: Which Structure Actually Fits Your Move?
Intro If you’re moving to the Netherlands and planning to run a business, one question comes up early: should you set up a Dutch BV, or keep (or open) a foreign company like a UK Ltd? Since Brexit especially, a lot of founders arrive already owning a UK Ltd and assume they can just run […]
Transferring Shares in a Dutch BV: Process, Notary & Tax
Intro A BV share transfer is how ownership of a Dutch private limited company changes hands – whether you are bringing in an investor, buying out a partner, passing a family business to the next generation, or exiting entirely. What surprises many founders is that you cannot do it with a private contract: the legal […]
The Dutch BV (Besloten Vennootschap): Advantages, Costs & How to Set One Up
Intro The besloten vennootschap, or BV, is the Netherlands’ equivalent of a private limited company – and the most common legal form for entrepreneurs who are scaling, protecting personal assets, or planning to bring in investors. It is a legal entity in its own right: the business, not you, is generally liable for its debts. […]
Holding BV in the Netherlands: Benefits, Tax & How to Set One Up
Intro Once you decide to operate through a Dutch BV, the next question most founders hit is: one BV, or two? Setting up a holding BV on top of your operating company is one of the most common structuring moves in the Netherlands – and for good reason. It protects the wealth you build, opens […]
How to Convert Your ZZP (Eenmanszaak) to a BV in the Netherlands
Intro As your business grows, the structure that was perfect on day one can start to hold you back. Higher profit, real liability exposure, or plans to bring in a partner are all signs it may be time to convert from a sole proprietorship to a private limited company. First, a clarification that catches most […]
Eenmanszaak or BV in the Netherlands: Which Structure Should Expats Choose?
Intro One of the first decisions you face when working independently in the Netherlands is also one of the most consequential: do you operate as an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) or set up a BV (private limited company)? NOTE! Before going further, an important clarification that trips up almost every newcomer – ZZP is not a […]
Open a BV in the Netherlands: Requirements, Costs & How It Works (2026)
Intro Opening a BV in the Netherlands is one of the most common steps for entrepreneurs who want to operate with limited liability, attract investors, or scale their business beyond basic freelance activity. A BV – besloten vennootschap – is the Dutch equivalent of a private limited company. It is a separate legal entity, which […]
