TL;DR. The Dutch Trade Register (Handelsregister) is operated by KVK (Kamer van Koophandel) and is accessible at kvk.nl in English. Basic name and registration number search is free, with no account required. Official extracts cost EUR 14.95 and are available for immediate download. Foreign buyers can access both the free search and paid extracts without a Dutch identity document.
What is the official Netherlands business registry?
The KVK Handelsregister (Business Register) is the official Dutch company registry, operated by the Kamer van Koophandel (KVK, Netherlands Chamber of Commerce) under statutory authority set out in the Handelsregisterwet 2007 (Trade Register Act 2007). The primary portal is at kvk.nl, with the search interface available at kvk.nl/zoeken.
Every business and legal entity in the Netherlands is required to register in the Handelsregister before commencing operations. This includes Dutch private limited companies (BV, Besloten Vennootschap), public limited companies (NV, Naamloze Vennootschap), sole traders (eenmanszaak), partnerships (VOF), and foundations (stichting). The registry is overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK).
KVK also maintains two related statutory registers: the UBO Register (for beneficial ownership data, required under the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive) and the LEI Register (Legal Entity Identifier, for entities active in financial markets). These registers share the same registration number system but are accessed through separate portal sections.
What can you search?
Free search (no account required):
- Search by company name (partial match supported), KVK number (8-digit identifier), RSIN number (tax authority identifier), or trade name
- Returns: company name, KVK number, registered address (city and street), legal form, and current status (active, dissolved)
- Branch numbers (vestigingsnummer, 12-digit) are visible where applicable
Paid extract (EUR 14.95 per document):
- Full extract (Uittreksel Handelsregister) covers: legal name, all trade names, KVK number, RSIN, registered address, date of incorporation, legal form, share capital (for BVs and NVs), directors and their powers of attorney, authorized signatories, SBI activity codes, and current registration status
- Continuation sheets cover additional branch locations (vestigingen)
- Historical extracts (going back to previous registrations) are available at the same price
UBO Register:
The UBO Register contains beneficial ownership data for most legal entities incorporated in the Netherlands. A limited set of UBO data (name, nationality, country of residence, nature and extent of beneficial interest) is publicly accessible. Full UBO details are restricted to designated authorities (tax, FIU, supervisory bodies). Access is through a separate portal section.
How much does it cost?
| Product | Cost (EUR) | Cost (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Name and number search | Free | Free |
| KVK Extract (Uittreksel Handelsregister) | EUR 14.95 | ~USD 16.20 |
| Historical extract | EUR 14.95 | ~USD 16.20 |
| Annual accounts (jaarrekening, from the register) | EUR 14.95 | ~USD 16.20 |
| UBO Register public search | Free | Free |
| KVK API subscription | EUR 6.40/month base + EUR 0.02/query | Variable |
EUR/USD conversion rate used: 1.083 (approximate; verify at point of purchase). KVK products are exempt from Dutch VAT.
Payment for digital extracts is accepted by credit card, iDEAL (Dutch bank transfer), and PayPal. No Dutch bank account is required for credit card or PayPal payment.
Do you need a local account or ID?
No account is required to run a free search on kvk.nl/zoeken.
For purchasing a paid extract, a payment method is required but no KVK account registration is mandatory. Checkout proceeds as a guest transaction. No Dutch DigiD (national digital identity), BSN (citizen service number), or other Dutch identity document is required.
For API access (developers), a subscription application is required through the KVK Developer Portal at developers.kvk.nl. The application process requires a registered organization, but the documentation does not restrict access to Dutch-registered entities.
Is the website in English?
Yes. The kvk.nl website operates in both Dutch and English, with a language toggle visible on all pages. The search interface, product ordering flow, and extract documents are available in Dutch. Extracts themselves are issued in Dutch, but field labels and standard legal terms are predictable and well-documented in English-language guidance from KVK.
The KVK Developer Portal (developers.kvk.nl) and API documentation are fully in English.
What’s the turnaround time?
Digital extracts purchased online are available for immediate download after payment. The process from search to downloaded PDF typically takes under five minutes. There is no processing queue for standard online orders.
Physical certified extracts (signed paper copies) can be ordered via the postal service or obtained at KVK regional offices, with a turnaround of 2-4 business days for postal delivery.
Is there an API?
Yes. KVK offers a set of APIs through the KVK Developer Portal:
- Zoeken API (Search): free per query after the monthly base subscription; returns KVK number and basic identification data for matching companies
- Basisprofiel API (Basic Profile): EUR 0.02 per query; returns full registered profile including address, legal form, directors, and activity codes
- Vestigingsprofiel API (Branch Profile): EUR 0.02 per query; returns data for individual branch locations
- Naamgeving API (Naming): EUR 0.02 per query; returns registered trade names and statutory name
- Mutatieservice (Mutation Service): EUR 1,279 per year on top of subscription; delivers change notifications when registered data for subscribed KVK numbers is updated
All subscription APIs require an application and a base subscription of EUR 6.40 per month. Open data APIs for bulk company information and financial statements are also available for download from the developer portal. KVK APIs are exempt from VAT.
What you legally cannot do
The KVK terms of use (Gebruiksvoorwaarden) restrict:
- Commercial redistribution of registry extracts or bulk data without a separate data agreement with KVK
- Automated scraping of the kvk.nl search interface (the API is the sanctioned bulk access route)
- Using extract data to build a competing commercial registry or data product without a data license
- Reselling individual extracts as if they were original documents
For compliance purposes, using KVK data for customer due diligence (CDD), UBO verification, anti-money laundering (AML) screening, and counterparty risk assessment is within the permitted scope of the registry terms, provided the stated purpose is documented.
The UBO Register has a separate legal framework under the Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme (Wwft) and associated AML directives. Full UBO data beyond the public tier is restricted to designated competent authorities.
Practical tips for foreign users
- KVK number is the primary identifier. The KVK number (kvknummer) is an 8-digit identifier, the canonical reference for Dutch companies. Use it to anchor all due diligence records. It does not change after incorporation. The RSIN (Rechtspersonen en Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatienummer) is a separate 9-digit number assigned by the Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst); both appear on the extract.
- BV vs NV disclosure differences. A Besloten Vennootschap (BV, private limited) does not have publicly traded shares, and shareholder identity is not in the Handelsregister extract. A Naamloze Vennootschap (NV, public limited) has different disclosure requirements. For private BVs, the UBO Register is the only public route to ownership data beyond the director list.
- Stichting (foundation) structures. The Netherlands has a large number of stichtingen (foundations) used as holding entities and operational structures in complex group arrangements. A stichting does not have shareholders; it has a board. The Handelsregister shows the board members but not the economic beneficiaries. Treat foundation structures with additional scrutiny and use the UBO Register.
- Dissolved entities remain searchable. Dissolved (ontbonden) and liquidated companies stay in the Handelsregister with their historical filings. An extract for a dissolved company will show the dissolution date and status. This is useful when verifying historical counterparty relationships.
- Annual accounts in the register. Most BVs and NVs are required to file annual accounts (jaarrekening) with the Handelsregister. These are accessible as a separate product. Smaller companies (kleine rechtspersoon) may file abbreviated accounts, limiting the financial data visible.
- The Netherlands is a FATF member and an OECD Global Forum member. The country completed its FATF Mutual Evaluation in 2021 and is not grey-listed as of May 2026. See fatf-gafi.org for current status.
Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly
The KVK website and search interface are accessible globally in English without restrictions. Direct access is straightforward for most foreign compliance buyers. Where barriers exist (language in extract documents, time zone, or the need for layered risk data), the following options are available:
- Local data suppliers (see section below): Altares Dun & Bradstreet and CompanyInfo.nl both provide packaged reports that layer credit risk data on top of the Handelsregister record.
Local data suppliers
If you need a packaged report rather than a raw KVK extract, the Netherlands has an established set of providers:
- Altares Dun & Bradstreet (altares.nl). Exclusive partner of the Dun & Bradstreet Worldwide Network in the Benelux and France. Provides D-U-N-S-linked company reports, D&B Finance Analytics for credit portfolio management, the indueD compliance and due diligence platform, and API-based data integration (Data Blocks). Covers over 600 million companies worldwide with Benelux as a core market.
- CompanyInfo.nl (companyinfo.nl). Netherlands-based market leader in company information covering the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Provides portal access (subscription from EUR 419/year), KYC.app for compliance workflows, API integrations for CRM and ERP, UBO identification, and real estate and vehicle data alongside company records. Covers 500+ data attributes per company.
- Graydon (CRIF Group) (graydon.nl). Formerly independent Dutch credit bureau, now part of the CRIF Group (Italian-headquartered global credit and business information group). Provides credit risk scoring, payment behavior data, monitoring services, and business intelligence reports for Dutch and Belgian companies. Used extensively by Dutch banks and insurers for counterparty risk.
Use the KVK Handelsregister for the authoritative legal filing. Use a credit bureau such as Graydon or Altares when you need payment behavior, litigation indicators, or credit scoring layered on top of the registry extract.
FAQ
Can a foreign company access the Dutch Trade Register without a Dutch identity?
Yes. The KVK search interface at kvk.nl/zoeken is open to anyone without an account or identity verification. Purchasing a paid extract requires only a valid payment method (credit card or PayPal). No DigiD, BSN, or Dutch identity document is required. The entire process can be completed by a foreign buyer in English.
What is the KVK number and how is it different from the RSIN?
The KVK number (kvknummer) is the 8-digit identifier assigned by KVK to each registered entity at the time of incorporation. The RSIN (Rechtspersonen en Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatienummer) is a 9-digit number assigned by the Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst) and used for tax administration. Both appear on the Handelsregister extract. For compliance purposes, the KVK number is the standard counterparty identifier because it maps directly to the registry record. The VAT number (BTW-nummer) typically contains the RSIN as a component (NL + RSIN + B + two digits).
What information is in a Dutch company extract?
A KVK Uittreksel Handelsregister covers: legal name, all registered trade names, KVK number, RSIN, registered address, date and place of incorporation, legal form, share capital, SBI economic activity codes, current directors and their individual signing authority, and registration status. It does not include shareholder names for private BVs. Annual accounts (where filed) are a separate product.
Where do I find the beneficial owner (UBO) of a Dutch company?
The Netherlands UBO Register is part of the KVK system and is accessible through the KVK portal. A public tier of UBO data is searchable, covering name, nationality, country of residence, and the nature and extent of the beneficial interest. Full details are available only to designated competent authorities. For private companies where the UBO register entry is incomplete or restricted, commercial data providers such as CompanyInfo.nl or Graydon may hold additional ownership data from their own sourcing.
Is the Netherlands on the FATF grey list?
No. The Netherlands is a FATF member country and completed its Mutual Evaluation in 2021. It is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. For current status, check fatf-gafi.org.
How current is the Handelsregister data?
Registered companies are legally required to report changes to KVK within one week of the event (director changes, address changes, etc.). KVK processes registrations on business days. The extract reflects the record as of the date and time of issue. An extract purchased today reflects today’s registered data, not last month’s. For monitoring, the KVK Mutatieservice API delivers change notifications in near real-time.
Can I get Dutch company data in bulk?
Yes, through the KVK Developer Portal (developers.kvk.nl). KVK provides open data bulk downloads for basic company information and financial statements. For real-time and targeted API access, the subscription APIs (Basisprofiel, Vestigingsprofiel) are the standard route. Commercial redistribution of bulk data requires a separate data license agreement with KVK.
Last verified: May 2026. Sources: KVK Handelsregister (kvk.nl), KVK Developer Portal (developers.kvk.nl), FATF (fatf-gafi.org).