The BV is a very flexible legal entity, allowing you to structure the company in various ways while protecting your company from ‘hostile takeovers’. For example, in most cases, shareholders are required to offer any shares to co-shareholders first, before they can offer the shares to ‘the market’. This is why the BV is called ‘Besloten’, which means ‘Private’. The BV is a Dutch legal entity that can be registered if you have a minimum share capital of 0.01 EUR, according to the Dutch Companies Act. The Dutch BV is one of the most commonly used legal entities by foreign entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
Ready to set up a Dutch BV? But first, some things you should know:
Set up a Dutch BV – Quick facts
- A Dutch B.V. has a legal entity with a share capital divided into a minimum of one share.
- No local director or shareholder is required to incorporate the B.V.
- The Dutch B.V. can issue a variety of share classes
- The shares (along with voting rights) must be issued to an individual or a legal entity.
- It is possible to appoint non-resident individuals or corporate entities as a director or shareholder, which makes the Dutch B.V. a very flexible entity.
- Shareholders of a Dutch B.V. are not personally liable for losses of the company in excess of the amount which must be paid into shares.
- Once you start a business in the Netherlands with a Dutch B.V. it becomes an excellent entity to be used as a holding or “conduit” company, due to flexible regulations towards holding companies in the Netherlands.
- Your Netherlands company will be registered at the KvK (Chamber of Commerce) once the final formation requirements have been executed by the Dutch notary.
We explore more on how to start a business in the Netherlands in this Launch Guide.
When you work with Bolder Launch to start your Dutch BV, we will carefully review your situation and make sure you get personalised advice on your corporate structure that suits your needs.