Conditions for starting your own business in the Netherlands

There are several ways to run your own business:

Someone who does this is also called a self-employed person without staff (zelfstandige zonder personeel, ZZP'er). As a ZZP'er, you work for various clients without a permanent contract.

When you start your own business, you are the boss and have the responsibility to take care of everything. That means making arrangements and money matters. Do you want to hire staff? Then you also have responsibility for your staff.

Have you fled Ukraine and want to work as a business owner or start a business? Then you must meet these conditions:

• You will need a

  work permit (TWV)
  from the
  UWV

• You will need a

  proof of residence

• You will need a

  citizen service number (BSN)

• You will need a

  DigiD

It is almost impossible to work as a self-employed person without staff (ZZP-er) in the Netherlands if the TPD applies to you. You will then need a work permit (TWV) which the

The UWV rejects 99 percent of applications for work permits for business owners from Ukraine. This is due to strict European regulations. If you want to do work as a self-employed person that does not require training, the UWV will not give you a work permit. This is then work that anyone can do.

If you do work that requires special training, you may be able to get a work permit as a self-employed person. Your client or customer will then have to reapply to the UWV for a work permit for each assignment. It may take five weeks before a decision is made.

The Dutch labour inspectorate checks regularly and can impose fines if you do not follow the rules.

Please note that registering your own company with the