Two pieces of legislation passed in mid-2024 reduced the Dutch rental supply by approximately 40% compared to the previous year. If you’re planning to establish a business in the Netherlands, whether through DAFT, a BV incorporation, the Dutch startup visa, or a corporate transfer, finding housing has become a huge bottleneck that most people underestimate. […]
Netherlands
The 183-Day Tax Residency Rule
Many entrepreneurs believe that staying under 183 days in a country means they escape tax residency there. That is largely incorrect. The 183-day rule is a domestic threshold. It exists, but it’s more nuanced than most people realize. It becomes irrelevant the moment two countries both claim you as a resident under their local laws. […]
Why your new Dutch BV can’t sponsor employees yet
You’ve just incorporated your Dutch BV. You’re ready to bring team members from your home country to set up operations in the Netherlands. But there’s a problem: your company isn’t legally allowed to sponsor employees yet. This surprises many foreign entrepreneurs who assume company formation automatically includes the right to sponsor work permits. It doesn’t. […]
The 183-Day Rule: What EU Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Cross-Border Consulting
A practical guide to staying compliant when sending employees to work in another EU country If you’re a European entrepreneur planning to send an employee or consultant to work in another EU country for several months, you’ve probably heard about the A1-certificate and posted worker rules. But there’s a critical tax issue that catches many […]
European Exit Tax Country Comparison for Founders 2025/2026
This guide gives an overview of “exit taxes” across Europe, specifically tailored for 2025/2026. Things are moving quickly (for example, at the time of writing it is unclear how things will turn out with a potential UK exit tax). Exit taxation is a tax on the unrealized “on-paper” profit of your assets (like company shares) […]
How to finance your business in the Netherlands
You are starting up a new company in the Netherlands and you have a certain growth expectation? In that case, you will probably need to have some sort of funding. If you are not financing your business yourself, you should look for external funding possibilities. Luckily, the Netherlands offers a wide variety of funding networks, […]
Self-Employed Visa in the Netherlands for UK Entrepreneurs
Since Brexit, UK passport holders are classed as third-country nationals in the EU. This means the option to simply register and begin freelancing in the Netherlands is no longer available. The only viable path for you to live and work as self-employed, contractor or small business in the Netherlands is by applying for a Self-Employed […]
Dutch Expats in South Africa: Registration Doesn’t Mean Tax Residency
Many Dutch nationals living in South Africa believe staying registered with a Dutch municipality keeps them tax resident in the Netherlands. This is wrong. Even if you’re still “ingeschreven” (registered) in the Netherlands, if you’re living in South Africa and earning no Dutch-sourced income, you’re likely NOT a Dutch tax resident. The problem? Dutch expats […]
The Real Difference Between €1,000 and €50,000+ Company Formation
At NordicHQ, we help entrepreneurs and growing companies establish themselves across Europe. And there’s one question that comes up constantly: Why does company formation cost €1,000 at one firm and €50,000+ at another? Both numbers are real. Both are legitimate. They’re just building you completely different companies. The €1,000 Company This gets you operational fast. […]
Top Countries 2025: Competitiveness, Innovation, Development and Happiness
The Complete Rankings 2024 Rank 2025 Rank Country WCRCompetitiveness GIIInnovation HDIHuman Development Happiness Total Score (1) 1 Switzerland 1 1 2 13 17 (2) 2 Sweden 8 2 5 4 19 (3) 3 Denmark 4 9 4 2 19 (4) 4 Netherlands 10 8 8 5 31 (5) 5 Finland 14 7 12 1 34 […]