How do I check a Dutch company (KVK)?
Search the company by name or 8-digit KVK number in the Business Register (Handelsregister) of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). The free search shows basic details such as the name, KVK number, establishment number and address; an official extract (uittreksel) with the officers and authorised signatories, and filed annual accounts, can be ordered from KVK for a fee. Public access to the Dutch UBO register has been closed since November 2022, following the Court of Justice of the EU ruling.
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How to check it manually
- Open the KVK search and search by company name, KVK number or address.
- Check the name, KVK number, establishment number, address and whether it is a main or branch establishment.
- Order an extract from the Business Register for officers (bestuurders), authorised signatories and their powers.
- Order filed annual accounts from KVK if you need financial information.
- Ask the company for its ownership structure, because the UBO register is not open to the public.
What it tells you
- Whether the company is registered, with its KVK number and addresses.
- From the paid extract: who can represent the company and with what powers.
What it doesn’t tell you
- Officers in the free search: you need the extract.
- Beneficial owners: the UBO register is not publicly accessible.
How SONAR automates it
When you screen a company registered in this country, SONAR looks it up in the KVK Business Register API and puts the company record (legal name, number, status, legal form and registered address) in the report with a link or ID for the source and the date it was retrieved. SONAR does not pull the directors from this register yet, so check them manually as described above.
The same run screens the company itself, and any people SONAR finds in its other sources, against 8 sanctions lists, the OpenSanctions PEP dataset, the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database and adverse media, and returns PASS, REVIEW, FLAG or NOT RUN for each check. A source that could not be reached is shown as NOT RUN, never as clear.
SONAR is a due-diligence tool for checking vendors, partners, resellers and suppliers. It compiles public-record data. It is not a regulated AML / KYC provider, does not verify identity documents, and is not legal advice.
You can try it on 2 companies a month for free, no card needed; every report includes a receipt for each source it used.
Frequently asked questions
Is the KVK search free?
Searching the Business Register for basic company details is free. Official extracts and filed annual accounts are ordered from KVK for a fee.
Can I see who owns a Dutch company?
Not from a public register. KVK stopped public access to the UBO register in November 2022, after the Court of Justice of the EU ruling. Ask the company for an ownership declaration and corroborate it.
What is a KVK number?
The 8-digit number of an entry in the Dutch Business Register. Each establishment also has its own establishment number.
Official sources
Run these checks on a company you’re about to sign
Registry record, owners, sanctions, PEP, ICIJ Offshore Leaks and adverse media in one report, with a receipt for every source. 2 free reports a month, no card.
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