KVK Number on Your Website: Is It Required?

If you run a business in the Netherlands, you're legally required to display your KVK number on your website. Many business owners don't know this, and many web designers skip it.

Here is what the law says and how to comply.

What the law requires

Under Dutch law, specifically the Handelsregisterwet 2007 (Trade Register Act), every business must include the following information on their website:

• KVK number (Kamer van Koophandel registration number)
• Legal name of the business (as registered with KVK)
• Place of establishment (city)

If you're a BV (limited company), you also need to display your statutory seat.

This applies to your website, your emails, your invoices, and any other business communications.

The specific legal basis

The requirement comes from Article 29 of the Handelsregisterwet 2007. This article states that businesses registered in the Handelsregister must include their registration number on all documents and written communications that go out in the course of doing business. Websites count as business communications.

Article 24 of the same law covers the duty to register in the first place. If your business operates in the Netherlands, you must register with KVK before you start trading. The registration creates the number. Article 29 then says you must display it.

Article 47 covers the penalties. Failing to comply with the disclosure obligations is an economic offence (economisch delict) under Dutch law. The maximum penalty is a category 4 fine, which in 2026 amounts to 25,750 euros. In practice, penalties for small businesses are lower, but the legal basis for enforcement is real.

For BVs and NVs, there's an additional requirement under Article 2:177 of the Burgerlijk Wetboek (Dutch Civil Code). Legal entities must display the full company name, place of establishment and KVK registration number on all letters, orders and invoices. The word "all" includes electronic versions, meaning your website, emails and PDF invoices.

Where to put it

The most common and practical location is your website's footer. Put it on every page by adding it to your footer template.

Good examples:

• "KVK: 12345678 | Amsterdam"
• "Bakkerij De Molen | KVK 12345678 | Gevestigd te Amsterdam"

Some businesses also include it on their contact page, about page, or impressum page. The footer is the minimum. If you have a dedicated legal or contact page, include it there too.

BTW number too?

If your business charges VAT (BTW), you should also display your BTW number. While the requirement is less strict for websites than for invoices, it's standard practice and expected by Dutch consumers.

Format: NL123456789B01

If you're a sole proprietor, make sure you're displaying the right number. Since 2020, ZZP'ers have a separate BTW-ID that doesn't contain their BSN. Read the full details in our VAT number display guide.

What happens if you don't comply

The Kamer van Koophandel can impose a fine for not displaying your registration number. In practice, enforcement is rare for small businesses, but the risk increases when:

• A customer files a complaint
• You're involved in a legal dispute
• A competitor reports you

Beyond fines, not displaying your KVK number can make your business look less trustworthy. Customers expect to see it.

KVK enforcement: what actually happens

KVK has an enforcement department (Bureau Economische Handhaving works with them) that can investigate non-compliance. Here is how enforcement typically works.

The warning phase. KVK usually starts with a formal letter asking you to add the required information to your website within a set period, typically four to six weeks. Most cases end here. You add the number, and that's it.

The fine phase. If you ignore the warning, KVK can impose an administrative fine. These fines are based on the seriousness of the violation and the size of the business. For a small eenmanszaak that forgot to add their number, fines tend to stay in the hundreds of euros range. For a larger company that deliberately hides its identity, fines go higher.

Repeat offenders. Businesses that have been warned before and still don't comply face escalating penalties. KVK keeps records of previous enforcement actions, and repeat violations are treated more seriously.

Complaints drive enforcement. KVK doesn't have the resources to check every website in the Netherlands. Most enforcement actions start with a complaint from a customer, a competitor, or another government agency. If someone reports that your website doesn't display your KVK number, that's when KVK takes notice.

Legal disputes as trigger. Courts also look at this. If you end up in a commercial dispute and your website doesn't display the required business information, the other party's lawyer will bring it up. It creates an impression of untrustworthiness, and judges notice.

E-commerce extra requirements

If you sell products or services online, additional rules apply beyond just the KVK number. These come from the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU), which is implemented in Dutch law under Articles 6:230g through 6:230z of the Burgerlijk Wetboek.

The directive requires that consumers can identify who they're buying from before they place an order. This means:

• Your full name and geographic address must be easily accessible (not hidden behind a contact form)
• An email address where customers can reach you
• Prices must clearly state whether they include BTW
• Delivery costs and estimated delivery times must be shown before checkout
• Your return policy (14-day withdrawal right) must be clearly stated

The Consumer Rights Directive also requires that your order button clearly indicates a payment obligation. A plain "Submit" button is not legal. It must say something like "Bestellen en betalen" or "Order and pay." See our order button requirements guide for the full breakdown.

If you run a Dutch webshop, the KVK number is just one item on a longer compliance checklist. Your terms and conditions need to be in order too.

What about foreign businesses selling in the Netherlands?

If your business is registered outside the Netherlands but you sell to Dutch customers, the KVK requirement does not apply to you directly. You don't need a Dutch KVK number just because Dutch people visit your website.

However, you still need to identify yourself. Under the EU E-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC), every business selling online must display equivalent business identification from their own country. For a German business, that means Handelsregister details. For a Belgian business, their KBO/BCE number. For a UK business post-Brexit, their Companies House number.

If a foreign business establishes a permanent presence in the Netherlands, such as opening a Dutch branch office, warehouse, or physical store, they do need to register a Dutch branch with KVK. That branch gets its own KVK number, and the display requirements apply.

Some foreign businesses voluntarily register with KVK to build trust with Dutch customers. This is allowed and can be a smart move if the Netherlands is a significant market for you. Dutch consumers are used to checking KVK numbers, and having one signals legitimacy.

The short version: you don't need a KVK number to sell to the Netherlands from abroad, but you do need to display your own country's equivalent business registration.

Multi-location businesses and the vestigingsnummer

Businesses with more than one location in the Netherlands have both a KVK number and one or more vestigingsnummers (establishment numbers).

The KVK number (8 digits) identifies your legal entity. There's one per business. The vestigingsnummer (12 digits) identifies each physical location where your business operates. Every registered business has at least one vestigingsnummer, even if they only have a single location.

For your website, the KVK number is the one you must display. You don't need to list vestigingsnummers on your site unless you want to help customers identify a specific branch.

If you run a chain of restaurants, a retail franchise, or a consultancy with multiple offices, keep the main KVK number in your website footer. If you have individual location pages, you can optionally add the vestigingsnummer for that location. Some franchise operations do this to help with local searches and customer service.

You can look up any vestigingsnummer on kvk.nl. Each location listing shows the address, trading name and activities registered for that branch.

What if I'm a ZZP'er?

Self-employed professionals (ZZP'ers) are registered at KVK and have the same obligation. Your eenmanszaak KVK number must appear on your website.

Some ZZP'ers worry about displaying their home address. You can use a registered office address or a PO box as your business address at KVK to avoid publishing your home address online. Several services in the Netherlands offer a virtual business address specifically for this purpose, starting at around 20 to 50 euros per month.

One thing ZZP'ers often miss: your KVK registration also includes a description of your business activities (SBI codes). If your activities have changed since you registered, update them at KVK. It's free and takes five minutes online.

Quick fix

1. Find your KVK number at kvk.nl/zoeken
2. Add it to your website footer with your business name and city
3. Add your BTW number if you charge VAT
4. Make sure this information appears on every page

Total time: about 10 minutes. While you're checking your business details, also make sure you're displaying the right VAT number. ZZP'ers need to use their BTW-ID, not the old BTW-nummer that contained their BSN. If you run a webshop, your checkout page has its own requirements too.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate impressum page?

In the Netherlands, there's no strict requirement for a separate impressum page like in Germany. But it is good practice to have an "About" or "Contact" page with all your business details. At minimum, put your KVK number in the footer. If you also serve German or Austrian customers, check our guide on Impressum requirements across Europe.

My web designer built my site. Why didn't they add my KVK number?

Most web designers focus on design and functionality. Legal requirements like KVK numbers are usually the responsibility of the business owner. Now you know, so you can add it or ask your designer to do it.

Is an 8-digit number always a KVK number?

KVK numbers are always 8 digits. If you see a number in that format near text like "KVK" or "Kamer van Koophandel" on a website, it's almost certainly a KVK number. You can verify any number at kvk.nl/zoeken.

Can I display my KVK number as an image instead of text?

Technically, the law doesn't specify the format. But using an image is a bad idea for two reasons. First, search engines can't read text in images, so you lose any SEO benefit from having your business details visible. Second, screen readers used by visually impaired visitors can't read image text either, which creates an accessibility barrier. Use plain HTML text.

What if my KVK registration is pending?

If you've started the registration process but haven't received your KVK number yet, you should not be trading. Under Dutch law, you must complete your KVK registration before you begin business activities. Once you have your number, add it to your website immediately. There's no grace period for displaying it.

I have a stichting (foundation). Does this apply to me?

Yes. Stichtingen and verenigingen (associations) that are registered with KVK have the same disclosure obligations as commercial businesses. If your foundation has a website, your KVK number belongs in the footer. The only entities exempt from KVK registration are some public bodies and religious organizations, and even those have limited exemptions.

Run a free scan of your website to check whether your KVK number, VAT details and other legal information are properly displayed. The scan covers legal, privacy, security and accessibility in under a minute.