What the KvK number is
The KvK number is an eight-digit identifier issued by the Kamer van Koophandel (the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce) when a business registers in the Handelsregister, the Dutch trade register. It identifies the business for life and appears, by law, on Dutch invoices and correspondence.
Two companion numbers complete the picture. The RSIN identifies legal entities and partnerships for tax and government purposes (sole proprietorships do not receive one). The BTW number is the VAT identity. The three are different numbers for the same business, and on a genuine counterparty's paperwork they should all trace back to one Handelsregister record.
How to check a KvK number free
Search the number, or the company name, on the official Handelsregister at kvk.nl. The free result shows the legal name and trade names, registered address, legal form, activity (SBI) codes and whether the registration is active. The paid extract (uittreksel, a few euros) adds the directors and authorised signatories, which is the part that matters when you need to know who can actually bind the company.
For routine vetting, match the KvK number, legal name and address against the documents you were given, and confirm the status is active. The wider Dutch sources are on our Netherlands company credit report page and in the registry directory.
What a KvK check proves, and what it doesn't
A KvK lookup confirms the entity exists, is registered, is active, and trades under the names shown. Dutch financial statements are filed but smaller companies file abbreviated accounts, and payment behaviour appears in no public register. Before a commercial business decision, a full company report adds what the number cannot show: financial standing, payment behaviour and adverse history.
Common questions
Is the KvK number the same as the BTW (VAT) number?
No. The KvK number is the trade-register identity; the BTW number is the VAT identity issued by the tax administration. A genuine Dutch business has both, and both should trace to the same entity.
What is the RSIN?
The RSIN is the identification number for legal entities and partnerships used across Dutch government systems. Sole proprietorships do not have one; their KvK number does the work instead.
How do I check a Dutch company for free?
Search kvk.nl by name or KvK number. Existence, names, address, legal form and status are free; the extract showing directors costs a few euros.
Need more than the number can tell you?
A Netherlands company credit report adds financial standing, payment behaviour and adverse history to the registry facts, available as an instant online report. Delivered in plain English.