Starting a webshop in the Netherlands as an expat: KVK, VAT and iDEAL

The Netherlands is a great country to start an online store. Almost everyone shops online, payments are fast and digital, delivery networks are dense, and you can reach the rest of the EU from here. For expats and international entrepreneurs, though, the first steps can feel confusing: what is the KVK, what does the Belastingdienst expect, and why does every Dutch customer ask for iDEAL?

This guide walks you through the basics in plain English. It is a starting point to help you ask the right questions, not a replacement for official information or professional advice. Rules change, so always check the official sources linked below.

Step 1: Check that you are allowed to run a business

Before anything else, make sure your residence status allows self-employment. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can generally start a business in the Netherlands freely. For other nationalities, it depends on your residence permit: some permits allow self-employment, others do not, and some require a specific permit for entrepreneurs. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and business.gov.nl explain the options.

In practice you will also need a citizen service number (BSN) and a Dutch address to register.

Step 2: Choose a legal form

Most small webshops start as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak). It is quick to set up, has no minimum capital and keeps administration simple. The downside is that you are personally liable for business debts.

Other common forms are:

• General partnership (vof) if you start with one or more partners.
• Private limited company (BV), which separates your personal assets from the business. A BV must be set up through a Dutch civil-law notary and comes with more administration and costs.

Many entrepreneurs start as an eenmanszaak and switch to a BV once turnover and risk grow. A tax adviser can help you decide when that makes sense.

Step 3: Register with the KVK

Every business in the Netherlands must register in the Business Register (Handelsregister) of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, the KVK. You register before or at the start of your business activities. Depending on your situation, you can start the registration online and may need to visit a KVK office in person with a valid ID. For a BV, the notary handles the registration.

Registration involves a one-off fee; in 2026 this is €85.15 according to kvk.nl. After registration you receive your KVK number, which you will use on your website, invoices and in contact with suppliers.

A useful detail: the KVK passes your details to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst). In most cases you do not have to register for VAT separately.

Step 4: Understand VAT (BTW) basics

VAT is called btw in Dutch. Shortly after your KVK registration, usually within about two weeks, the Belastingdienst sends you two numbers:

• VAT identification number (btw-id). This is the number you show publicly: on your website, invoices and quotes.
• VAT tax number (omzetbelastingnummer). This is only for communication with the Belastingdienst, for example when filing your VAT return. Do not publish it.

VAT rates

The Netherlands has three VAT rates: 21% (the standard rate for most goods and services), 9% (reduced rate, for example for most food and books) and 0% (in specific situations, such as certain exports). Prices you show to consumers must always include VAT.

VAT returns

Most businesses file a VAT return every quarter through the Belastingdienst's online business portal. You report the VAT you charged to customers and deduct the VAT you paid on business purchases.

Small business scheme (KOR)

If your annual turnover in the Netherlands stays under €20,000, you can apply for the small business scheme (kleineondernemersregeling, KOR). You then do not charge VAT and usually do not file VAT returns, but you also cannot reclaim VAT on your purchases. Whether this is beneficial depends on your situation. Check the conditions and application deadlines on belastingdienst.nl.

Selling to consumers in other EU countries (OSS)

If you ship goods to consumers in other EU countries, the €10,000 threshold matters. This is one combined total per calendar year for all your cross-border B2C sales of goods and digital services within the EU. Below that threshold you can generally charge Dutch VAT. Above it, you must charge the VAT rate of your customer's country.

To avoid registering for VAT in every EU country, you can use the One Stop Shop (OSS), specifically the Union scheme. You then file one quarterly OSS return with the Belastingdienst covering your EU consumer sales, and the Belastingdienst forwards the VAT to the other countries. Sales to businesses with a valid EU VAT number follow different rules (usually the reverse-charge mechanism).

Webshop platforms can usually calculate the correct VAT per country automatically, but you need to configure them correctly. This is a good moment to talk to an accountant.

Step 5: Set up payments, including iDEAL

Dutch consumers strongly prefer iDEAL, the Dutch online bank payment method. A webshop without iDEAL loses customers in the Netherlands. In 2026, iDEAL is gradually moving to Wero, the new European payment wallet. Since early 2026 you see the co-branded "iDEAL | Wero" logo at checkout, and the technical migration is planned to continue through 2026 and 2027. For most webshops, your payment provider handles this transition; check their updates.

You do not connect to iDEAL directly. You use a payment service provider (PSP) such as Mollie, Stripe, Adyen, Buckaroo or Pay.nl. Points to compare:

• Supported methods. Besides iDEAL: credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, PayPal, Bancontact (popular in Belgium), Klarna or other "pay later" methods.
• Fees. Usually a fixed fee per transaction for iDEAL and a percentage for cards. Compare the fees for the methods your customers will actually use.
• Payouts and onboarding. How quickly money reaches your bank account and what documents they need from you.
• Platform integration. Make sure the provider has a reliable plugin or integration for your webshop platform.

Also good to know: Dutch consumer law generally does not allow you to require a consumer to pay more than half of the price in advance for a purchase. In practice almost every webshop asks for full payment at checkout and customers accept that, but you must not make prepayment of the full amount a legal condition.

Step 6: Arrange shipping and returns

Delivery in the Netherlands is fast and customers expect it to be. Common carriers include PostNL, DHL and DPD, and many webshops use a shipping platform (such as Sendcloud or MyParcel) to compare carriers, print labels and send track-and-trace emails.

Points to think about:

• Delivery promises. Show realistic delivery times and shipping costs before checkout.
• Pick-up points. Many Dutch customers prefer collecting parcels at a service point.
• Returns. Decide how returns work and who pays for return shipping. You must state this clearly.
• Selling outside the EU. Shipping to non-EU countries (including the UK) involves customs declarations and possibly import duties for your customer.

Step 7: Follow consumer rules for online sales

When you sell to consumers, EU and Dutch consumer law applies. The most important rules:

• 14-day right of withdrawal. Consumers can cancel most online purchases within 14 days after receiving the product, without giving a reason. You must refund the purchase price and the standard shipping costs, usually within 14 days. There are exceptions, for example for personalised products or perishable goods.
• Withdrawal button. Since 19 June 2026, webshops selling to EU consumers must offer an easy electronic way to withdraw from the contract via a clearly labelled withdrawal function in the shop interface.
• Clear information. Before the order, state who you are, the total price including VAT and shipping, delivery terms, payment options, the withdrawal right and the warranty.
• Legal guarantee. Products must meet what the consumer may reasonably expect. This legal conformity guarantee applies regardless of any extra warranty you offer.
• Privacy and cookies. You need a privacy statement and, for tracking cookies, consent.

Our article on the legal requirements for a Dutch business website covers these points in more detail.

Step 8: Choose your webshop platform

There is no single best platform. The right choice depends on your products, budget, technical skills and plans for growth. The main options are:

• Hosted platforms (such as Shopify). Quick to start, hosting and security are handled for you, and you pay a monthly subscription plus app costs. Less flexibility for unusual requirements.
• WooCommerce. A webshop on WordPress. Very flexible, with many Dutch payment and shipping plugins, and a good choice if content and SEO are important to you. You do need reliable hosting and regular maintenance. Read more on our WooCommerce page.
• A professional e-commerce platform. For webshops with larger catalogues, multiple languages, B2B pricing or links to stock and accounting systems. See our e-commerce platform pro for what that can look like.
• Custom development. When your business model does not fit any standard platform, for example for configurators, subscriptions or marketplaces.

Whatever you choose, check that it supports iDEAL | Wero and your preferred payment provider, Dutch VAT and OSS settings, multiple languages if you serve international customers, and integrations with your accounting software.

A simple launch checklist

1. Confirm that your residence status allows self-employment.
2. Choose a legal form and register with the KVK.
3. Receive your VAT ID and set up your bookkeeping.
4. Open a business bank account.
5. Choose a webshop platform and payment provider.
6. Set up shipping, returns and the withdrawal function.
7. Publish your terms and conditions, privacy statement and company details.
8. Test the full order process, including payments and returns, before going live.

Useful official sources

• KVK – Netherlands Chamber of Commerce: registration and the Business Register.
• business.gov.nl: official government information for entrepreneurs in English, including checklists for online shops.
• Belastingdienst: VAT, the KOR and the One Stop Shop.

Please note: this article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and amounts change, and your situation may be different. For decisions about your legal form, VAT or residence status, consult an accountant, tax adviser or lawyer, and check the official sources above.

Ready to build your webshop?

Smart Design is a web agency in Haarlem that builds webshops, websites, apps and integrations, in Dutch, English and Arabic. We help international entrepreneurs choose the right platform and set up payments, VAT settings and shipping correctly from the start. Read more about having a webshop built, or contact us to discuss your plans.