How do you register a UBO with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce?

juni 25, 2026

To register a UBO with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK), you submit the required details of your ultimate beneficial owner through the KVK’s online portal or in person at a KVK office. The registration is a legal obligation under Dutch anti-money laundering legislation, and it applies to most legal entities incorporated in the Netherlands. The sections below cover who qualifies as a UBO, what information you need, and how the process works in practice.

Who counts as a UBO under Dutch law?

A UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) under Dutch law is any natural person who ultimately owns or controls a legal entity. In most cases, this means an individual who directly or indirectly holds more than 25% of the shares, voting rights, or economic interest in a company. If no one meets that threshold, the senior managing officials of the entity are registered as UBOs by default.

The definition follows the EU’s Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which the Netherlands implemented through the Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme (Wwft). For foreign-owned Dutch entities, this often means tracing ownership back through multiple layers of intermediate holding companies to identify the individual at the top of the structure. Complex international ownership chains are common among the clients we work with, and getting this identification right from the start helps avoid compliance issues later.

What information do you need to register a UBO?

To complete a UBO registration with the KVK, you need the following details for each UBO:

Full name
Date and place of birth
Nationality
Country of residence
Nature and size of the interest held (for example, percentage of shares or voting rights)
BSN (Dutch citizen service number) or foreign equivalent

The nature and size of the interest are categorised into three bands: 25 to 50%, 50 to 75%, and 75 to 100%. You do not register the exact percentage, only the applicable band. Supporting documentation may be required to verify the ownership structure, particularly where indirect ownership is involved.

How do you submit a UBO registration to the KVK?

You submit a UBO registration through the KVK’s online portal using DigiD (for Dutch residents) or eHerkenning (for businesses). If neither is available, you can submit in person at a KVK office. The authorised representative of the legal entity, typically a director, is responsible for completing the filing.

The process involves logging in to the KVK portal, selecting the relevant entity, and entering the UBO details as described above. Once submitted, the information is recorded in the UBO register, which forms part of the broader Dutch Business Register (Handelsregister). Changes to UBO information, such as a shift in ownership percentage or a change in the controlling individual, must be updated within one week of the change occurring.

Which legal entities must register a UBO in the Netherlands?

Most Dutch legal entities are required to register a UBO. This includes BVs (private limited companies), NVs (public limited companies), foundations (stichtingen), associations (verenigingen) with full legal capacity, partnerships (maatschappen, VOFs, CVs), and shipping companies. Sole traders and publicly listed companies are exempt.

For foreign companies with a Dutch subsidiary or branch, the obligation applies to the Dutch entity itself. If your group operates through a Dutch BV, that entity must have its UBOs registered regardless of where the parent company is incorporated. This is one of the first compliance steps for any foreign business establishing a legal presence in the Netherlands.

What happens if you don’t register a UBO on time?

Failing to register a UBO, or failing to keep the registration up to date, is a criminal offence under Dutch law. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and other supervisory bodies can impose fines, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution is possible. There is no grace period once the obligation applies.

Beyond the legal penalties, an incomplete or missing UBO registration creates practical problems. Banks and financial institutions in the Netherlands are required to verify UBO information as part of their client due diligence. If your registration is missing or outdated, you may encounter difficulties opening or maintaining a Dutch bank account, which is a significant operational blocker for foreign entities operating here.

Who can see the UBO register in the Netherlands?

The Dutch UBO register is partially public. Any person can request access to the basic UBO details of a registered entity, including the name, month and year of birth, nationality, country of residence, and the nature and size of the interest held. The full date of birth, exact address, and BSN are not publicly accessible.

Certain competent authorities, such as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-NL), tax authorities, and law enforcement, have access to the full dataset. Financial institutions and regulated professionals conducting due diligence also have broader access rights. It is worth noting that following a 2022 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, public access to UBO registers across the EU was temporarily restricted in some member states. The Netherlands has since maintained a structured access model that balances transparency with privacy protections.

Can a professional services firm register a UBO on your behalf?

Yes, a professional services firm or authorised representative can handle the UBO registration on behalf of the legal entity, provided they hold the appropriate authorisation. This is a practical solution for foreign companies that do not have local staff with the necessary access credentials or familiarity with the KVK’s systems.

For international businesses operating in the Netherlands, delegating this to a local partner is often the most efficient approach. UBO registration is one part of a broader set of ongoing corporate compliance obligations, and keeping it current requires awareness of ownership changes, restructurings, and regulatory updates. If your structure involves multiple layers of ownership or you are mid-transaction, getting the registration right requires careful attention to how Dutch rules apply to your specific setup.

If you are setting up a Dutch entity, managing an existing structure, or simply want to make sure your UBO registration is accurate and up to date, we can help. Our team handles corporate secretarial compliance for foreign businesses across the Netherlands, including KVK filings, UBO registrations, and ongoing governance support. Get in touch with us to discuss your situation, or visit PrimeBridge Global to learn more about how we work.