The Netherlands is one of Europe’s centres for innovation and entrepreneurship. Strong infrastructure, an excellent location and investors who are willing to back new businesses have made it a popular destination for founders. If you have a creative, commercially viable business idea that could work in the stable Dutch economy, it is worth looking closely at the Dutch start-up visa. This article covers how the programme works, which startups have succeeded in the Netherlands, and how Aval Visa can help with the visa and the move.
What are the conditions for the Dutch start-up visa?
Founders and directors with an innovative idea that they can turn into a viable business can consider moving to the Netherlands on the start-up visa.
In outline, the programme involves the following steps:
- Finding a facilitator
- Presenting an innovative plan, product or service (business plan)
- A step-by-step plan for turning the idea into a trading business
- An active management role, shareholding or sponsorship on the part of the applicant
- Registering the business with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) and obtaining a KVK number
- Assessment of the business plan by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
- Proof of funds to run the business
- Booking a consulate appointment and applying for the Dutch start-up visa
- Proof of funds to live and work in the Netherlands
Recommended by Aval Visa: read our full guide to registering a company in the Netherlands.
How the Dutch start-up visa process works
Before we get to the successful startups in the Netherlands, here is how the process runs. Applicants who meet the conditions above and have found a facilitator can apply for the visa, and once in the country apply for their residence permit (the provisional residence permit, or MVV).
Successful startups in the Netherlands
As one of Europe’s most active start-up economies, the Netherlands is home to innovative companies and inventive founders. Below are the businesses that have made the strongest impression, and the sectors they work in. The first is in the field everyone is watching: artificial intelligence.
Weaviate, artificial intelligence
Weaviate works in artificial intelligence, specifically vector databases for AI models, semantic search and vector data storage. The company is based in Amsterdam and started trading in 2019.
Weaviate is now a highly active and successful business. It has raised more than 67 million USD in its Series B and has made a real mark on the Dutch economy, with a powerful API that makes it faster and simpler for companies to build AI applications.
Deliverect, smart order management for restaurants
Another of the successful startups in the Netherlands is Deliverect, which works in food and order management. The company started in 2018, has its head office in Ghent in Belgium, and has built a substantial business through its Dutch operation.
Deliverect has raised 240 million USD across its funding rounds and works with more than 43,000 restaurants in 40 countries. It is now one of the strongest and most successful companies in the sector, with high customer satisfaction.
Vico Therapeutics, protecting the brain with RNA technology
Third is Vico Therapeutics, which works in biotechnology and RNA-based therapies. Vico Therapeutics is one of the successful startups in the Netherlands, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Leiden.
The company has raised more than 90 million USD in its Series B, and concentrates on genetic neurological conditions such as spinocerebellar ataxia, rare neurological diseases and advanced drug therapies. Its promising results have made it one of the standout businesses in the Dutch economy.
Axelera AI, building Europe’s AI chips
Axelera AI is another of the successful startups in the Netherlands, working on AI chip and hardware development. It was founded in 2021.
Axelera is headquartered in the industrial city of Eindhoven and has raised more than 100 million USD in early-stage funding, along with grant support from the European Union. Its success rests on work such as:
- Developing chips designed specifically for artificial intelligence
- Image processing and deep learning
- Faster, more cost-effective performance than its competitors
- Global exports and direct European Union support
in international markets.
Betty Blocks, software development
Betty Blocks is one of the successful startups in the Netherlands and a low-code platform for building applications without programming and designing enterprise software. It was founded in 2012, making it somewhat older than the others.
Betty Blocks is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, and having raised funding and expanded into the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, it is well regarded by analysts and has become a model for many newer businesses.
What are the advantages of the start-up visa?
Beyond letting a founder live and work in the Netherlands with their family, the start-up visa carries other advantages:
- A route towards permanent residence in the Netherlands and life in the heart of Europe
- Strong earning potential in a well-developed market
- A high standard of living with economic stability
- Access to the European single market
- Quick, straightforward access to the markets of Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom
- A secure, stable commercial environment for investment and for starting a business
We also recommend: to plan properly and choose where to live, read our article on the cost of living in the Netherlands.
Starting a business in the Netherlands with Aval Visa
Having read about successful startups in the Netherlands, you may want to test your own business idea in the country’s stable economic environment.
Aval Visa supports founders starting businesses in European countries such as the Netherlands and Finland, with legal advice, administrative work including consulate appointments, document preparation and drafting business plans. If you want to look into it further, complete the Aval Visa free assessment form or leave your questions below.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the main conditions for the start-up visa? The core conditions are an innovative idea, working with a recognised facilitator, submitting a business plan and showing sufficient funds to cover your costs.
- How much money do you have to show? The applicant must have enough to cover 12 months of living costs in the Netherlands. The exact amount is set by the IND and indexed twice a year, so check the current figure on ind.nl.
- After the first year, what options does the applicant have to extend their stay? The applicant applies for a self-employed residence permit or another permit type, and the facilitator has to confirm that the start-up phase was completed successfully and that the business is generating revenue.
