Live the Dutch Dream, Grow Your UK Business in the Netherlands
A lot of entrepreneurs in the UK are facing difficulties in exporting their products to the European Union (EU) and having paperwork or shipment issues as well. Are you also one of those who want to expand their business in the EU but facing similar problems? A second business location within the EU solves your important issues.
You can choose from several countries in the EU and the Netherlands is one of them. Having a diverse economy, Netherlands is one fine prospect with a strategic location in Europe. The Netherlands can offer you a lot of potential customers, and its open borders can help you export your products anywhere in the EU.
What Can you Expect Related to Life and Business Overseas?
You can run your business in the Netherlands even from the UK or moving there is another good option. Netherlands or Amsterdam in particular always catches the limelight in European and global news. Some people may think that they will regret their decision of moving here, but the chances of this are pretty bleak. Still, this article is about more important issues that a newcomer may face here.
How Difficult Can it be to Start a New Business in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, the bureaucracy level for setting up a new business is acceptable. You can register your Dutch company within a week without any minimum capital requirement or approval from the government. It will hardly take a day to register at Trade Register, and the VAT number will be issued automatically if you have been in the Netherlands for a reasonable time.
In fact, several regions are supporting new companies in finding business partners, advisors, getting work permits or even residence permits for a personal residence and business address registration, etc.
What Type of Taxes Can you Expect in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has excellent import and logistical facilities. Under an article 23 status, the moment of VAT payment can be postponed from the moment of bringing the goods into the EU until the moment of filing the VAT return. Your business’ liquidity position will substantially improve from this.
In the Netherlands, corporate income tax rates are lower in comparison to any surrounding country. Dutch Tax authorities assess the tax returns on a yearly basis. The Netherlands also follows a progressive system just like the UK when it comes to personal income tax. But, the tax rates are a little higher in the Netherlands as compared to the UK.
However, there is tax relief for ex-pats as most of them become eligible for a 30 per cent ruling for a five-year period. The 30% ruling requalifies the top 30% of your salary to expense compensation for additional expenses for living abroad. With this method, you can easily compare the Dutch tax system with the UK.
How are Communications and Costs in the Netherlands?
The rent prices in the Netherlands are lower than in the UK while the general cost of living is almost the same in both countries. Moreover, you can easily convert your British driving license into a Dutch driving license. You will not face the language issue here because most people have a strong grip on basic English.
In case you want to expand your business activities in other parts of Europe you can easily find the staff speaking Russian, French, German, or Italian as per your needs. The only language problem you may face is learning Dutch. That is because people here are good at speaking English so you may get fewer chances to speak Dutch.
What About the Schools in the Netherlands?
Generally, the level of education is pretty good in the Netherlands, and there isn't much of a difference between the education level of individual universities or schools. However, the number of private universities or schools is rare in the Netherlands. Dutch students or pupils mostly attend public schools. There are international schools where the medium of instruction is English, but it is a rarity. According to the 30 per cent rule, the employer can compensate for the cost of international schools, and that compensation will not be considered a personal income of the employee.
How is the Quality of Life in the Netherlands?
Public transport and infrastructure are of great quality. You can have day trips to Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, and the United Kingdom. Overall, the quality of life is great in the Netherlands. As per the Happiness report of the United Nations, Netherlands is ranked as the fifth happiest country in the world. In the survey, the participants were directly asked about how happy they are with their lives. I guess that sums up the quality of life in the Netherlands.
