Expand to the Netherlands Without Setting Up a Company

Expanding into the Netherlands doesn’t need to begin with incorporation. If you’ve identified commercial potential, a candidate you want to hire, or a project you need to deliver, you can engage people on the ground legally, quickly, and without committing to a Dutch legal entity.

Whether you’re testing the market or securing a specific hire, there is a lawful way to operate without permanent establishment risk, incorporation delays, or regulatory exposure.

Download our guide to understand how international companies enter the Dutch market through compliant employment without setting up a company.

Download this Guide

to understand the key global expansion factors that make the difference between success and failure

If your company is exploring international hiring in the Netherlands, whether to test revenue potential, capture a local opportunity, or retain key talent, this guide outlines:

• What you can and cannot do without a Dutch entity
• How to legally employ people in the Netherlands via EOR
• Why combining immigration and employment is critical
• When to scale through local contracts, and when not to
• How to exit without long-term liabilities.

Why Setting Up a Company Comes Last, Not First

Incorporating in the Netherlands creates formal legal presence. But that also means:

• A registered office, local representative, and filings
• Tax registration and possible VAT exposure
• Social security registration, accounting obligations, and ongoing reporting
• Future dissolution processes if the market doesn’t justify continued operations

These obligations may make sense once revenue is established and local operations stabilised. But for many companies, the first hire comes before the business case for a legal entity is proven.

What You Can Do Instead

If you’ve identified someone you want to hire or already have a freelancer or candidate in mind, Acumen International can legally employ them on your behalf in the Netherlands.

We become the legal employer of record, handling:

• Employment contracts that comply with Dutch labour law
• Monthly payroll, tax reporting, and social contributions
• Holiday pay, sick leave, benefits administration, and termination if needed
• Visa sponsorship and onboarding for non-EU nationals
• Separation of employer management — you direct the work, we carry the legal obligations.

There is no requirement to incorporate, no need to register with the Belastingdienst, and no long-term tie to the jurisdiction unless you choose to expand further.

Use Cases We Support

• Hiring Dutch-based employees before your local entity is ready
• Transitioning independent contractors into compliant employment
• Sending expatriate staff to the Netherlands under lawful work permits
• Exploring market presence with a view to future acquisition or setup
• Scaling up without triggering PE risk or hidden liabilities.