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

There are many rules for working as a business owner and starting your business. If you do not follow the rules, you could face heavy fines.

The UWV rejects 99 percent of applications for TWV for business owners from Ukraine. This is due to strict European regulations. A work permit is only approved if your client has not found a suitable candidate for the job in the European Economic Area (EEA) in at least 3 months. Your client or customer may be fined if they do not have a TWV.

Your client must apply for a work permit for each separate assignment. For example, are you a hairdresser or florist? Then you work with private clients. These are your clients. Each client must first apply for a work permit before you are allowed to cut hair or sell flowers. If your client does not do this, they can be fined thousands of euros. The Dutch Labor Inspectorate actively monitors the work permit and can impose fines if the rules are not followed.