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Opening a Travel Agency in the Netherlands

Opening a Travel Agency in the Netherlands

A relatively small country on the map of Europe, the Netherlands undoubtedly has a charming allure. With its canals, windmills, beautiful tulips and colourful old houses, the Netherlands is a mix of modernism and serenity, history and adaptability. Foreign investors who want to open a travel agency in the Netherlands don’t choose the country only because it has given us memorable names like Rembrandt and Van Gogh, but also because it is very accessible and investor-friendly.

Dutch travel agencies are regulated just as any other business in the Netherlands. There are a few key steps for setting up a Dutch company and our lawyers in the Netherlands are able to help you every step of the way.

How to start a travel agency in the Netherlands

The first step before incorporating a new company is choosing a name for the new travel agency. Trademarks can be registered and protected throughout Europe and it is best to register a company name to make sure that no other competing travel agency or company uses a similar name. Recognition is important and in its early years any travel agency want to differentiate itself from its competition. Our Dutch lawyers can help you reserve a company name.

All companies are registered with the Dutch Trade Register and a travel company will also register for VAT in the Netherlands irrespective of its annual threshold. The value-added tax registration can take place immediately after the Trade Register communicates the company’s unique identification number to the tax authorities.

Our team can help you with more details. Our law firm in the Netherlands can provide specialty accounting services in the Netherlands and can offer you complete information about the Dutch taxation laws.

Depending on the size of the travel agency, an office space will also be necessary. Although Amsterdam is the heart of the Netherlands, other cities like The Hague, Leiden or Rotterdam can be excellent choices to lend or buy a house in the Netherlands. In time you may need to consider expending your business and hiring employees.

A travel company will also need to complete the process for VAT registration in the Netherlands. This is a mandatory stage as there is no minimum registration threshold (according to the business’s annual turnover). All companies that provide goods and services subject to this tax will register and will observe the VAT rules that are in accordance with the relevant EU directives. The travel company will be subject to the regular VAT rate.

Travel in the Netherlands

A travel agency located in the Netherlands has great potential for development and expansion. The services offered to customers can be diverse and attractive and can include internal and external touristic packages. Depending on the size of the agency and its target customers, services can vary from consultation, ticketing, booking and insurances to more complex services like special holiday packages.

The Netherlands offers many business opportunities and our Dutch accountants are able to provide all the necessary legal services. Please contact our law firm in the Netherlands for more information about the legislation for investments.

We can help you incorporate companies in other European countries, such as Turkey and Bulgaria. Also, if you want to invest in other developing countries like Romania, our partners there will be able to assist you with a legal and accounting consultancy and even guide you towards specialists in other complementary areas such as real-estate, employment or even medical and dental services in Romania.