Starting a business in the Netherlands under a treaty? Everything for your permit, in English.
US citizens under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and Japanese nationals under the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty (DJTT) need a signed balance sheet for the IND, and good books to keep the permit. Slim Geregeld does both, remotely, with a Becon-registered Dutch bookkeeper you deal with directly.
Fixed prices, no payment until your documents are in. Personal reply within one working day.
Kyle Bouwmeester
I prepare and sign your documents myself, and you deal with me directly: one email address and answers in plain English.
Which permit are you applying for?
DAFT opening balance sheet
Your first permit under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty. The signed balance sheet that shows the €4,500 of equity the IND asks for.
From €495 excl. VAT Go to DAFT → 🇯🇵 Japanese nationals · IND purpose 510DJTT opening balance sheet
Your first permit under the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty. Same requirements as DAFT, same signed document, its own page.
From €495 excl. VAT Go to DJTT → 🔁 DAFT or DJTT · renewalPermit renewal statement
Your permit is up for renewal. The IND wants a balance sheet and profit and loss account for two years, checked and signed.
From €495 excl. VAT Go to renewal → 📒 Eenmanszaak or VOF · monthlyCompliance Plan
Monthly bookkeeping in English: VAT returns, income tax return and your equity checked every quarter. Balance sheet and renewal statement included.
From €79 a month, excl. VAT See the plan →Japanese speakers: 日本語のページはこちら. Not sure which route applies to you? Ask and you get a straight answer.
The same rules for both treaties
On the IND application form the two routes sit side by side, as purpose 453 and purpose 510, with identical requirements.
€4,500 of equity
Not €4,500 in the bank, but €4,500 of owner's equity on your balance sheet. For an NV the IND asks for €11,250.
Signed by an authorised expert
An independent external expert has to check and sign the figures. A bookkeeper is on the IND's own list, so you do not need a registeraccountant.
Two years, then five
The first permit runs for two years. To renew it for five, the IND wants two years of figures showing the capital stayed in the business.
Sources: IND application form 7524 and appendix 7611, checked on 21 October 2026.
Your route, from arrival to renewal
The same seven steps for DAFT and DJTT. The highlighted ones are what Slim Geregeld does for you.
Register your business with the KVK
Most treaty entrepreneurs start as an eenmanszaak, a sole proprietorship. A VOF or BV is possible too; the paperwork differs per legal form.
Open a Dutch business bank account
The IND wants a business bank statement showing your business name and the invested amount. Not every Dutch bank takes on US citizens, because of FATCA reporting, so check that first.
Put at least €4,500 of your own money in
Savings or a genuine gift count. A loan does not, because borrowed money is debt and not equity. For an NV the minimum is €11,250.
Have the opening balance sheet checked and signed
An authorised independent expert checks the figures and signs. That is the document the IND asks for with your application.
Apply with the IND
Purpose 453 for DAFT or purpose 510 for DJTT on application form 7524. The first permit runs for two years.
Keep your books and your equity in order
Quarterly VAT returns, a yearly income tax return, and equity that stays at or above €4,500. This is where most renewal problems start.
Renew after two years
The IND wants a balance sheet and profit and loss account for two years, checked and signed. The renewal gives you five years.
Questions people ask first
What is the difference between DAFT and DJTT?
DAFT is the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, for US citizens, purpose 453 on the IND form. DJTT is the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty, for Japanese nationals, purpose 510. The requirements are the same: no points system, at least €4,500 of equity, and a balance sheet checked and signed by an authorised independent expert.
Do I need an accountant for a treaty permit?
You need an authorised independent external expert to check and sign your balance sheet. The IND names a registeraccountant, an accountant-administratieconsulent, a bookkeeper or a financial adviser, so a bookkeeper is enough. For the years after that, nobody is required to keep your books for you, but you do have to file VAT and income tax returns and keep your equity at €4,500 or more.
What does the whole process cost?
The signed opening balance sheet is €495 excluding VAT, or €595 within 48 hours. The renewal statement costs the same. The IND charges its own fee for the application, see the IND fees page. Monthly bookkeeping on the Compliance Plan is €79 or €149 a month excluding VAT, with the balance sheet and the renewal statement included.
Can I do this from outside the Netherlands?
Everything that happens here is remote: you send your documents by email and receive the signed PDF. The KVK registration, the bank account and the IND application each have their own procedure.
Do you also file my US tax return?
No. Slim Geregeld handles the Dutch side: the balance sheet, the Dutch VAT and income tax returns and the renewal statement. For your US return you need a US tax preparer.
Is everything in English?
Yes, every page, email and document. The balance sheet itself is in Dutch and English side by side. There is also a Japanese page for the Japanese treaty, but all communication is in English.