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Netherlands: Operating a Business

Setting Up a Company | Working Conditions | Cost of Labor | Social Partners

Setting Up a Company

Legal Business Entities

Types of Companies and Capital (Max/Min)	Number of Partners/Shareholders and Liability
The BV (Belosten Venoostschap met beperkteaansprakelijkhei) is a Private Limited Company. Minimum capital: 18,000 EUR. Up to 20% must be subscribed.	One or more. It can be constituted of several legal entities or individuals, and 1 shareholder for a BV proprietorship Liability of each partner is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
The NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) is a Public Limited Company. 45,000 EUR at least. 20% should represent the subscribed amount and 25% the amount released at the incorporation	One or more Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
The VOF (Vennootschap Onder Firma) is a general partnership. No minimum capital.	Minimum 2 partners. Partners' liability is joint and several.
CV (Commanditaire Vernootschap) is a limited partnership. No minimum capital.	Minimum 2 partners. 2 types of partners: active partners and sleeping partners. Active partners have an unlimited liability, notably corporate management. Sleeping partners have a liability limited to the amount contributed.
Bijkantoor is a branch. No capital is required, if the branch is registered with the Trade Register .	No legal entity, it depends on the status of the parent company. The parent company is liable for actions carried out by the branch except for management which is limited, joint and several.

The Competent Organization: the Trade Register.
Search a Company or a Financial Report: Handelsregister

Setting Up a Company	Netherlands	OECD
Procedures (number)	6.0	5.6
Time (days)	8.0	13.8

Source: Doing Business.

Business Setup Procedures: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Netherlands.
Trade Register

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration: 37 hours
Retirement Age: 67 years
Working Contracts: Regulated by legal clauses and to a lesser degree by collective agreements and individual negotiations.The terms of employment contracts cannot be changed, the conditions for hiring and the limits for dismissal are rather rigid.

Cost of Labor

Minimum Wage: EUR 1,300 per month. The wage is regularly adjusted.
Average Wage: Annual average is EUR 27,800.
Social contributions: Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 15.90 %.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 6.45 %.

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners: The main trade unions are the FNV (Dutch trade union center) and the CNV (Christian trade union center).
Unions: FNV
CNV
De Unie
List of all Dutch trade unions
Unionization Rate: 28 %.
Labor Regulation Bodies: Ministry for Social Affairs & Employment
Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW)

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Last Updates: January 2012