Registering a Dutch eenmanszaak and making an appointment

Start or continue your registration. Or make an appointment to complete your registration.

Before you fill in the form

1. Check whether you qualify as an entrepreneur

You want to register your business. But is it actually necessary? Read the 3 criteria and 4 questions to check.

2. Contact UWV or your municipality if you receive an unemployment benefit

Do you want to start a business and do you receive an unemployment benefit? Then discuss it with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). If you receive an assistance benefit discuss it with the municipality.

3. Do you already have an eenmanszaak?

It is not possible to have more than 1 eenmanszaak. So, if you already have an eenmanszaak, you cannot register another one. But an eenmanszaak can have multiple trade names and activities. Changing or adding business activities may have consequences for your taxes, insurance, or permits, for example. View and change the details of your eenmanszaak via My KVK. 

4. More about the eenmanszaak

An eenmanszaak is a legal form in which you are solely responsible for the business. It can be compared to a sole proprietorship. With an eenmanszaak you are privately liable for business debts. Read more about the eenmanszaak.

Video: Registering with KVK: how it works

1. Log in with DigiD

Only the owner of a sole proprietorship can register.

2. Complete the registration form

Complete all parts of the digital registration form step by step. Logged out before finishing? No problem. Your data is saved.

3. Check your details

You need a completed form to make an appointment and register your sole proprietorship. Have you entered your details incorrectly? This can still be adjusted during the appointment.

4. Make an appointment

Have you completed the registration form completely? Then you can make an appointment at a KVK office of your choice. You can easily change or cancel the appointment online.

5. Change or cancel your prepared registration

Log in again with DigiD. Select “current registration” and then “edit registration” to edit your registration. Or click the trash can to delete everything. The appointment, if it has been made, will also be deleted immediately.

About the appointment

During your appointment, a KVK employee will check your identification and check whether you meet the registration conditions.

  • You can make an appointment at any KVK office
  • Plan your appointment well in advance. There may be waiting times at busy KVK offices
  • You pay a one-time registration fee. Please note: you can only pay by scanning the QR code on the invoice with your mobile. 
  • You can order a KVK Business Register extract directly after you have registered. You can use this as proof of registration. Some banks and wholesalers ask for an extract.

Information in English and help

The online registration process is in Dutch. You can use Registration form 1 (pdf) to see which information we need from you in English and Dutch. If you need more help, contact the KVK Advice Team on 088 585 22 22.

Go to the registration form and make an appointment

Start or edit your registration by logging in with DigiD. Finished filling in the registration form? Then make an appointment straight away.

Log in with DigiD

FAQ about DigiD

DigiD is required to confirm your identity. In this way, we ensure that only authorised persons have access to data from an organisation.

At Help & Contact you will find all frequently asked questions about DigiD.

Apply for DigiD via www.digid.nl. You need your citizen server number (BSN) to apply.

Do you live outside the Netherlands and do not have a DigiD? Check which situation applies to you.

  • You have Dutch nationality. You can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.
  • You do not have Dutch nationality. Follow these steps to apply for a DigiD:
    • First register with the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI).
    • After registration with the RNI, you will immediately receive a citizen service number (BSN).
    • With this BSN you can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.

FAQ about making an appointment

You will find all frequently asked questions about making an appointment in Help and Contact.

To visit KVK, you need to make an appointment. You can choose the office most convenient for you. It does not have to be the office in your region or place of residence. Making an appointment is easy: login to our schedule using DigiD. You can plan your appointment ahead of time, to a maximum of 8 weeks.  

Did you not receive the confirmation email? Then it is probably in your spam or deleted mail folder. If not, please call our Service Centre: 088 585 15 85. Available from Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00 hours.

Have you made an appointment to register an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), vof (general partnership) or maatschap (professional partnership)?

Then log in again with your DigiD on this page. Your appointment at KVK will be listed under 'registration details'. Here you can see when, at what time, and at which office the appointment was made. Here you can still cancel or change your appointment.

FAQ about registering an eenmanszaak

Register your business 1 week before or after the start of business activities. Prepare your registration online. Then make an appointment for the identification check and the completion of your registration. You will then immediately receive your KVK number. Registering is possible at any KVK office in the Netherlands.

You can also visit us earlier for the check of your pre-completed details and proof of identity. This is possible up to a maximum of 3 months before your start date. In this case, you will receive your KVK number by post in the week prior to your start date. You can schedule an appointment up to 8 weeks in advance.

No, when you have  a hobby we assume that you earn little or no income from it. Or that you spend a lot of time on your hobby but earn very little from it. According to the Commercial Register Act (Handelsregisterwet), this is not a business and you do not meet the criteria to be an entrepreneur. So, you are not required to register. However, if you do earn some money from your hobby, you usually have to report this income to the Belastingdienst (Netherlands Tax Administration). 

You will receive a KVK number number when you register in the Business Register. If you register your company 1 week before or after starting business activities, you will receive your KVK number immediately.

Visit earlier

You may also visit us earlier to check your pre-completed details and proof of identity. This is possible up to a maximum of 3 months before your start date. Then prepare your registration online and make an appointment at one of our offices. You can schedule an appointment up to 8 weeks in advance.

We will register your company from 1 week before your specified start date. After registration, you will receive a written confirmation, your KVK number and an invoice for the registration fee by post.

Taking over a business

Are you taking over a business? Then we will send you the new KVK number on the takeover date.

Registration in the preparation phase is possible in some cases. Preparations include ordering goods, applying for permits, or renting business premises. To complete the registration, make an appointment online by logging in with DigiD. Registration is possible at any KVK office in the Netherlands.

Only the owner of a sole proprietorship can register the business. A friend, family member, bookkeeper, accountant, or another intermediary cannot. But they can help with the registration. The owner must log in themself using their own DigiD.

You can only register your business if you have a Dutch visiting address. Do you live in an area bordering the Netherlands? And can you show genuine, physical business activities in the Netherlands? Only then you can register with a visiting address that is abroad. Follow these steps to register:

  • Choose a legal form and fill in the (digital) registration form
    To register as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), you need a DigiD. You apply for this using your Citizen Service Number (BSN). If you do not have a BSN, follow these steps:
  • Make an appointment at a KVK office to complete your registration.
  • Bring the following with you:
    • A valid proof of identity and an original extract (or a legalised copy) from the personal records database where you live, or another original proof (or a legalised copy), such as from an official organisation or a bank, showing your private address.
      Note: this proof may not be older than 1 month. Submit this proof in a language we can read. If we cannot read it, KVK can ask you to have the documents translated into Dutch, English, German, or French. This does not need to be by a sworn translator.
    • A copy of the rental, purchase or lease contract of the (Dutch) visiting address. This must be signed by 2 parties.
    • Your mobile phone, you pay the registration fee by scanning a QR code. 

You do not need to register separately with the Netherlands Tax Administration. After registration, we will pass this information on. You will receive a notification from the Tax Administration by post within 2 weeks of the start date of your business.

If you already have one eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), you cannot register a second one. You can in fact make changes to your current sole proprietorship, such as new activities or an additional trade name. If the new activities take place at an address other than the one currently registered, you need to register a branch.

Netherlands Tax Administration

We report the change of activities to the Netherlands Tax Administration. You may not need to file a VAT return at the moment, for example because your business activities are exempt from VAT. If these activities change or you start new activities, you may have to start filing VAT returns. The Tax Administration will notify you automatically.

Is your question not included? More frequently asked questions can be found on our Help and contact page. It also states how you can contact us.