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Open a business bank account in Netherlands

Forming the BV is the easy half; banking it from abroad is the hard half. The notary-and-KVK route is well-defined and remote, but a Dutch business bank account is where non-residents stall. Traditional Dutch banks — ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank — apply strict anti-money-laundering KYC and, in practice, look for genuine Dutch substance: a resident director, a real office, local activity. A BV that exists only on paper with a foreign owner and a letterbox address reads as higher risk, and a large share of non-resident applications to the big banks are declined or stalled for weeks. The pragmatic route, just like the UK, is a fintech/EMI that onboards remotely against your KVK number.

Netherlands overview How we research
Country
Netherlands
Topic
Open a bank account
Reviewed
June 2026

By the Lanzamo Editorial Team · Reviewed June 2026 · How we research

Difficulty for non-residents: Moderate

Traditional banks

ABN AMRO

Major Dutch bank with an SME offering; will consider a BV but applies heavy KYC and generally expects local substance and often a Dutch-resident director — a slow, frequently declined route for a purely non-resident, paper-only company.

ING

Large retail and business bank; opening a business account typically assumes a Dutch address and resident director, with branch or video verification. Workable if you have real Dutch substance, hard for a foreign-managed BV.

Rabobank

Cooperative bank strong with Dutch SMEs and agribusiness; onboarding leans on local presence and a clear Dutch nexus, so non-resident founders without substance often struggle to get approved.

Fintech & EMI options (built for remote)

Wise Business

Onboards Netherlands-registered companies with non-resident directors remotely against the KVK number; provides local EU (IBAN) and multi-currency details — the default first account for cross-border BV founders.

Bunq

Dutch-licensed mobile bank (a real bank, not just an EMI) that onboards businesses digitally and is comparatively open to non-residents managing a Dutch BV; gives a Dutch IBAN, useful for paying local invoices and the tax office.

Revolut Business

Accepts companies registered in the EEA, including Dutch BVs, with fully remote KYC; eligibility still depends on director nationality/residence, so check the current list before relying on it.

Airwallex

Multi-currency business accounts with EU collection details; onboards EU-registered companies remotely and suits a BV that bills internationally and wants to hold multiple currencies.

What you'll usually need

  • KVK extract (uittreksel) and your KVK number
  • Deed of incorporation / articles of association from the notary
  • Passport(s) of directors and UBOs — already KYC'd by the notary at incorporation
  • Proof of residential address for directors and UBOs (utility bill or bank statement)
  • Dutch registered business address on file with KVK
  • UBO register details (beneficial owners holding more than 25%)
  • A clear business description, expected turnover and source-of-funds explanation for AML

Tips to get approved

  • Apply to a fintech/EMI (Wise, Bunq, Revolut) first — don't sink weeks into a big Dutch bank that will likely want local substance and a resident director.
  • Get a Dutch IBAN early (Bunq or Wise) so you can pay the notary, the Belastingdienst and your accountant from a euro account without cross-border friction.
  • Keep your KVK and UBO records perfectly current; fintechs auto-check the register and any mismatch causes instant rejection.
  • Have a credible, honest source-of-funds and turnover story — vague or inflated figures are the top KYC rejection trigger for non-resident BVs.
  • If you genuinely want a traditional Dutch bank, build real substance first (a local director or office); without it, the big three rarely approve a foreign-managed BV.
  • Open at least two accounts for redundancy — EMI accounts can be frozen during reviews with little notice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a Dutch business bank account without visiting the Netherlands?

Yes, through a fintech/EMI such as Wise, Bunq or Revolut Business, which complete KYC remotely against your KVK number and can issue a Dutch or EU IBAN. The traditional banks — ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank — generally expect local substance and often a resident director with in-branch or video verification, so they are not a reliable remote option for a paper-only BV.

Why are Dutch banks so hard for non-residents?

Strict Dutch and EU anti-money-laundering rules push banks to verify a genuine Dutch nexus and the people behind a company. A fully foreign-owned, foreign-managed BV with only a letterbox address reads as higher risk, so the big banks default to caution, demand local substance, and decline or stall a large share of non-resident applications. Fintechs accept more of this risk with stronger automated KYC, which is why they are the practical route.

Is a Bunq or Wise account a 'real' bank account for my BV?

Functionally yes for most early-stage needs — you get an IBAN, can send and receive euros and other currencies, and pay suppliers, your accountant and the Belastingdienst. Bunq is itself a licensed Dutch bank with deposit protection; Wise and Revolut operate as EMIs that safeguard rather than fully insure deposits and don't offer lending. For a young BV that is usually sufficient.

Do I need a Dutch bank account to incorporate the BV?

No. Since the Flex-BV reform there is no paid-up capital requirement, so you do not need a funded Dutch account before incorporating — the €0.01+ share capital is nominal. You will, however, want an account soon after to receive revenue and pay the notary's invoice, the KVK fee and your accountant, so open an EMI account in parallel with or just after incorporation.

Sources

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