Business in the Netherlands for Polish women
How to start a company in the Netherlands, what to arrange first and where to find help. A short guide for Polish women thinking about a business of their own in the Netherlands or already running one, from a community of women who have walked that road.
Starting a company in the Netherlands: five steps
This is the path most Polish women take when they open a sole proprietorship in the Netherlands. The details depend on your trade and situation, so check the official sources at every step.
- 1
BSN and DigiD
You get a BSN (citizen service number) after registering with your municipality (gemeente). With it you apply for DigiD, your login for government services, including the tax office. Without these two it is hard to go further.
- 2
Legal form
Most people start with an eenmanszaak, a sole proprietorship, where you are personally liable with all your assets. A BV (private limited company) requires a notary and fuller bookkeeping, but separates private and business assets. If you work alone, with no staff, the Dutch call you a zzp’er (freelancer).
- 3
Registering with the KVK
You enter your business in the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce (KVK). You choose a name, describe your activities and give an address. Registration carries a one-off fee; kvk.nl lists the current amount and how to verify your identity.
- 4
VAT number and returns
After you register with the KVK, the tax office (Belastingdienst) sends your VAT (BTW) numbers. VAT returns are usually filed quarterly. With a small turnover, up to €20,000 a year, you can apply for a VAT exemption under the small business scheme (KOR).
- 5
Income tax and allowances
Once a year you file your income tax return (inkomstenbelasting). If you work at least 1,225 hours a year in your business, you qualify for entrepreneur allowances, and in the first years also for the starter allowance. Log your hours from day one: that is your proof.
This is a general guide, not tax or legal advice. Rules and amounts change every year. Talk to an accountant or tax adviser before you decide.
Where to check the current rules
KVK
Chamber of Commerce: registration, legal forms and guides for starters.
Belastingdienst
Tax office: VAT, the KOR scheme, income tax and entrepreneur allowances.
Business.gov.nl
The government portal for entrepreneurs in English: permits, rules per trade, step by step.
A business in the Netherlands is more than paperwork
Your first clients
Starting is the hardest part. In the community we recommend one another, so people actually looking for your service hear about your new business quickly.
Language and culture
Dutch clients, contracts and authorities have their own ways. It is easier when you can ask, in Polish, someone who has known them for years.
Trusted specialists
An accountant, a photographer, a designer, a venue for a meeting. Among the businesswomen in our community it is easier to find someone proven.
You are not alone
Running a business abroad can be lonely. Meetings, workshops and the Gala are where you meet women in the same situation and see that it can be done.
Business in the Netherlands: common questions
How do I start a company in the Netherlands?
You need a BSN and DigiD, choose a legal form (usually an eenmanszaak), register with the KVK and then receive your VAT numbers from the tax office. From then on you file VAT returns and an annual income tax return.
Do I need to speak Dutch to run a business in the Netherlands?
It is not a requirement. The KVK and business.gov.nl publish information in English, and many Polish women run businesses with mostly Polish clients. Dutch does help a lot with Dutch clients and the tax office.
What are zzp and eenmanszaak?
An eenmanszaak is a legal form, a sole proprietorship registered with the KVK. A zzp’er is simply someone self-employed with no staff. Most zzp’ers run an eenmanszaak.
Do I have to charge VAT if my business is small?
If your turnover does not exceed €20,000 a year, you can apply to the tax office for the small business scheme (KOR). You then charge no VAT and file no returns, but you cannot reclaim VAT on purchases either. Whether it pays off depends on your trade, so work it out with an accountant.
Where can I find a Polish accountant or other services for my business?
The easiest way is to ask the community. Polish Businesswomen in the Netherlands brings together women from many trades, and recommendations from people who used a service themselves are the most reliable. Write to us or come to the next meeting.
How do I meet other Polish businesswomen in the Netherlands?
Through the Polish Businesswomen in the Netherlands community. We organise meetings and workshops, mostly in North Brabant, and the annual Gala of Polish Businesswomen. Dates are on Facebook and in the calendar on this site.
Running or starting a business in the Netherlands?
Join Polish women doing the same. Start with a single meeting or a message to us.