Domiciliation is the provision of a registered office address for a legal entity that does not have its own physical premises in the Netherlands. It is a standard requirement for foreign-owned Dutch entities, and a core service of Local Management.
Why a Dutch Company Needs an Address
A Dutch company must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) and have a business address in the Netherlands. Where the owners are based abroad, a domiciliation provider supplies that address, so official mail and notices from authorities reach the company.
What Domiciliation Usually Includes
- a registered Dutch office address;
- handling and forwarding of mail;
- local representation for regulatory and administrative matters;
- support with Dutch substance requirements.
When a Licence Is Required
Under the Wtt 2018, providing a registered address combined with other services, such as record-keeping, tax returns or preparing financial statements, counts as a trust service and requires a DNB licence. A simple mailbox or receptionist service does not. Read more in What is the Wtt 2018?
An Address Is Not Substance
A registered address alone does not give a company economic substance in the Netherlands. Tax authorities and banks look at where decisions are made, who manages the company and what real activity takes place. Many international owners therefore combine domiciliation with a local director, as explained in Can a non-resident be a director of a Dutch BV?
Questions about this topic? Talk to Rolf Wemmi, Director of Corporate Clients at Local Management, via rolf@localmanagement.nl or +31 20 737 2217.