Going freelance in the Netherlands starts with one institution: the KvK (Kamer van Koophandel, Chamber of Commerce). Registering an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) is the gateway to invoicing legally, and it is more straightforward than the Dutch paperwork makes it look. Here is the step-by-step, decoded.
What you are registering, and what you need
A ZZP’er (freelancer) usually registers as an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship). As the KVK’s own guide to registering a new business sets out and Business.gov.nl confirms, you need:
| Requirement | Dutch | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Citizen service number | BSN | Via gemeente (BRP) or RNI first |
| Digital ID | DigiD | To pre-register online |
| A Dutch address | (zaken)adres | Home or accountant’s address |
| Business activity | activiteit / SBI-code | What you do |
The steps
As the KVK’s guide to registering an eenmanszaak explains:
- Pre-register online on the KVK site with your DigiD, filling in your details.
- Book an appointment at any KVK office (you can choose, even outside your region), up to eight weeks ahead.
- Attend in person to confirm your identity and details. Bring ID and proof of address.
- Pay the fee (82.25 euros in 2025, and tax-deductible).
VAT comes automatically
A relief for newcomers: you do not register separately for VAT. After KVK registration, the Belastingdienst automatically assesses you and, if you count as an entrepreneur for VAT, posts your BTW-id (the VAT number that goes on invoices) and your OB-nummer (for filing returns), usually within one to two weeks. One appointment sets up both.
The words, and what comes next
Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) (Chamber of Commerce), inschrijven (to register), eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), ZZP’er (solo freelancer), KvK-nummer (your company number), BTW-id / btw-nummer (VAT), handelsregister (business register). Freelancing then brings its own admin: the job interview if you also seek employed work, a Dutch business bank account, and changing banks cleanly, and the same officialese as applying for toeslagen and replying to the tax office.
What registration does not do
One reality check: registering makes you an ondernemer (entrepreneur), and the responsibilities that come with it are now yours. There is no employer arranging your safety net, so you set aside money for income tax and VAT, consider an AOV (disability insurance) and your own pension, and keep proper records for your annual returns. The KvK appointment is the start of running a business, not the whole of it, many freelancers pair it with an boekhouder (accountant) for the tax side.
The bottom line
To register at the KvK: get your BSN and DigiD, secure a Dutch address, pre-register online, and book an in-person appointment to finish (82.25 euros). Your BTW-id arrives automatically from the tax office afterwards. Learn the handful of words, and the gateway to freelancing in the Netherlands is one appointment away.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the business and admin Dutch you meet when going freelance, the words for registration, VAT, and appointments, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can handle the KVK and tax-office steps without getting lost in Dutch paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register as a freelancer (ZZP) at the KvK?
Pre-register online on the KVK website with your DigiD, then book an appointment at a KVK office to complete it in person. You need a BSN (and a Dutch address), and at the appointment you confirm your details and choose your business activity. Registration costs a one-off fee (82.25 euros in 2025), and your VAT details follow automatically from the tax office.
What do I need to register a business in the Netherlands?
A BSN (citizen service number), which means you must first be registered with the gemeente (BRP) or, for short stays, the non-resident register (RNI); a DigiD; and a Dutch business address (your home or, for example, your accountant’s address). Non-residents must show proof of both a foreign and a Dutch address. Then you pre-register online and book a KVK appointment.
Do I get a VAT number automatically when I register at the KvK?
Yes. You do not register separately with the tax office: after your KVK registration, the Belastingdienst automatically assesses you and, if you are an entrepreneur for VAT, sends your BTW-id (for invoices) and OB-number (for VAT returns) by post, usually within one to two weeks. So one KVK appointment sets up both your business and your VAT status.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for starting a business?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the business and admin Dutch you meet when going freelance, the words for registration, VAT, and appointments, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can handle the KVK and tax-office steps without getting lost in Dutch paperwork.
