Bank account assistance in the Netherlands

A Dutch company owned from abroad needs a business bank account before it can pay its share capital, take payments or run payroll, and opening one is often the slowest step of the set-up. Dutch banks carry out their own checks on the company, its directors and the people who own and control it, and they decide for themselves whether to accept a client. A non-resident director, a parent company outside the EU or an unusual business model can all lead to more questions and a longer wait.

Firms offering bank account assistance in the Netherlands

What to ask a firm that helps with banking

Ask what the firm actually does: prepare the file, introduce you to a bank, attend the meeting with you, or only advise on which documents to gather. Ask which banks it has worked with recently for clients like you, and whether the directors will have to travel to the Netherlands. Find out which documents must be certified or translated, how long recent applications have taken, and whether the fee is charged even if the bank declines. Since no adviser can promise that a bank will say yes, be wary of any firm that does.

Firms on Accountanty

Accountanty lists 22 firms that help with bank accounts in the Netherlands: 12 corporate service providers and ten accounting firms. Fifteen are small, five medium-sized and two in large networks, and English and Dutch are each offered by 16. Amsterdam has 11 of them, Rotterdam five, The Hague three, Capelle aan den IJssel two and Hoofddorp one. The set-up steps are on the Netherlands guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-resident open a business bank account for a Dutch company?

It is possible, but each bank decides for itself and checks the directors and owners closely. Expect more questions if no director lives in the Netherlands, and ask an adviser which banks have accepted similar clients recently.

Will a firm guarantee that my Dutch bank account is opened?

No adviser can, because the decision belongs to the bank. A good firm prepares a complete file and explains your business clearly. Ask whether its fee is due if the application is refused.

Which firms help with bank accounts in the Netherlands?

Accountanty lists 22, mostly small: 12 corporate service providers and ten accounting firms. Eleven are in Amsterdam, and the rest are in Rotterdam, The Hague, Capelle aan den IJssel and Hoofddorp.

Other services in the Netherlands

Accountants by city in the Netherlands

Setting up a company in the Netherlands: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.