France · 100% remote · in English
Open a Dutch company from France.
You already have the single market — so a Dutch BV is not about access. It's a holding hub and a northern-European base: participation exemption, treaty network, Rotterdam logistics and an English-first environment, set up remotely through a civil-law notary.
- An English-first EU holding & operating base
- Online notarial deed via power of attorney
- KVK registration, BTW number and RSIN
What you get
- Registered Dutch BV with KVK number & RSIN
- Articles of association & notarial deed
- BTW (VAT) number with the Belastingdienst
- Registered office & bank-account guidance
Notary & KVK costs billed at cost. See pricing →
Why French founders choose a Dutch BV
A recognised holding hub
The Netherlands is a long-standing holding location. The Dutch participation exemption (deelnemingsvrijstelling) can fully exempt qualifying dividends and gains from subsidiaries — a core reason groups place a Dutch BV at the top.
Substance & treaty network
A Dutch BV can carry real substance — office, director, activity — inside one of Europe's widest tax-treaty networks, useful for structuring beyond a single home entity.
English-first & well-connected
The Netherlands is one of Europe's most English-fluent business hubs, with Rotterdam logistics and a stable, recognised company form in the BV.
English remote service
Intake, articles, notary coordination and the KVK and Belastingdienst steps are handled in English. No Dutch and no travel needed.
Low entry cost
The BV has a €0.01 minimum share capital (Flex-BV), so adding a Dutch entity does not require locking up capital.
A northern-European base
Many founders keep their French company and add a Dutch BV as a separate holding or operating entity closer to northern-European markets and ports.
How it works from France
1. Power of attorney
A volmacht lets the notary incorporate without you leaving France. Signed online or legalised locally.
2. Online notarial deed
Since 2024 a Dutch civil-law notary can execute the deed of incorporation fully online. We are not the notary — we prepare everything and coordinate it.
3. Document legalisation
Within the EU many documents need little or no legalisation; where required, France is a Hague Convention country and an apostille is used. We tell you exactly what's needed.
4. Registered office
Your BV needs a Dutch registered address for the KVK — we can arrange one for non-resident founders.
5. KVK → RSIN
We register the BV in the Handelsregister at the KVK, giving you a KVK number and RSIN.
6. BTW & bank account
We arrange your BTW number and guide you toward banks that onboard non-resident-owned BVs.
The remote process, and the numbers
A Dutch BV (besloten vennootschap) is the Dutch private limited company — a separate legal person with limited liability. It comes into existence only through a notarial deed of incorporation executed by a Dutch civil-law notary (notaris). We are an independent formation and bookkeeping office; we prepare the articles, UBO and KYC file, and a power of attorney (volmacht), then coordinate the notary and handle the KVK and Belastingdienst steps around the deed. Since 1 January 2024 the deed can be signed fully online, which is what makes a 100% remote BV possible from France.
| Item | Detail (2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum share capital | €0.01 (Flex-BV); often set at €1–€100 in practice |
| Notarial deed | typically €400–€1,500, billed at cost (market pricing, not an official tariff) |
| KVK registration (one-off) | €82.25, at cost — no annual KVK fee |
| Document legalisation | Minimal within the EU; apostille where required — coordinated, at cost |
| What you receive | KVK number, RSIN, BTW (VAT) number, articles & notarial deed |
Document preparation takes 1–2 days; the notarial deed and KVK registration typically complete within 3–7 working days. Updated: 2026-07-28.
How a Dutch BV is taxed (2026)
These are Dutch figures — your own position also depends on where you are resident and any tax treaty between your country and the Netherlands, which we flag but recommend confirming for your own case.
| Tax (Netherlands) | 2026 rate / threshold |
|---|---|
| Corporate income tax (Vpb) | 19% up to €200,000 profit, 25.8% above |
| BTW — standard / reduced | 21% / 9% |
This page is general information for French founders, not tax or legal advice. See the full Dutch BV guide and confirm your own situation. Updated: 2026-07-28.
From France — FAQ
Do I need to travel to the Netherlands from France?
No. Since 1 January 2024 the notarial deed can be executed fully online, and we incorporate on your behalf via a power of attorney (volmacht). You sign digitally — no visit to the Netherlands is required.
I already trade in the EU from France — why a Dutch BV?
Single-market access is not the reason. French founders use a Dutch BV as a holding company or a northern-European operating base: the Netherlands has the participation exemption (deelnemingsvrijstelling), a wide treaty network, strong logistics via Rotterdam, and works entirely in English.
Do I need to legalise my French documents with an apostille?
Often little or nothing is needed. Within the EU many public documents are exempt from legalisation; where legalisation is required, France is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is used. We tell you exactly what each document needs.
Can a French resident own 100% of a Dutch BV?
Yes. A French individual or company can own 100% of a Dutch BV and act as its director. There is no Dutch residency requirement to own or run the company.
Sources
- Notaris.nl — Digitaal een bv oprichten (online deed since 2024, power of attorney).
- KVK — De besloten vennootschap (bv) (minimum capital, KVK registration).
- HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (France is a party).
We are an independent company-formation and bookkeeping office, not a government body (KVK/Belastingdienst) and not a notary. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice; rates and thresholds change — verify your situation before deciding.
Start your Dutch company from France
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