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EXONN ADVISORY

Incentives

Incentives for companies in the Netherlands: a guide to RVO schemes

The Dutch government supports companies with grants, tax relief, government loans and loan guarantees; most are run by RVO, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Here we cover the schemes that are genuinely relevant for a Turkish-owned BV, who each one is for and how it works. We deliberately leave out amounts, rates and dates: they change every year; every card links to the official RVO page for the current conditions.

List last reviewed:

  • R&D and innovation · Tax relief (wage tax reduction)

    WBSO

    Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk · RVO

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Companies developing new software, a product or a production process, or doing technical-scientific research; one-person BVs included.
    What it covers
    Part of the wage cost of staff working on the R&D project; for companies with staff, part of other project costs such as materials.
    How it works
    You apply before the project starts via the RVO portal (eHerkenning). After approval, hours are logged per person and day; the benefit is taken through the wage tax return and realised hours are reported after year end.
    When
    Applications year-round; the deadline for each period is on the RVO calendar. Only future work can be applied for.
    Note for Turkish investors
    A Dutch BV developing for its Turkish parent can apply too; the project must run in the EU and the BV needs its own payroll.
    RVO programme page English page Related article Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Financing · Government loan (repayable)

    Innovatiekrediet

    Innovatiekrediet · RVO

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    SMEs and larger companies developing a new product, process or service with high technical or clinical risk that will reach the market within a few years.
    What it covers
    Part of the development project costs; the company funds the rest. If the project succeeds, the loan is repaid with interest.
    How it works
    An optional, non-binding Quick Scan comes first; an RVO adviser responds within a few working days. The full application follows with a business plan and project file.
    When
    Open year-round, while budget lasts.
    Note for Turkish investors
    Where a Turkish investor develops through a Dutch BV, the equity share and genuine activity in the Netherlands (substance) matter in the assessment.
    RVO programme page English page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Financing · Early-stage loan

    Vroegefasefinanciering

    VFF · RVO

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Start-ups and SMEs with a technically innovative idea not yet ready for investors; an investor willing to step in after the project is required.
    What it covers
    The costs of proving that the idea is technically and commercially feasible (proof of concept).
    How it works
    The loan is repaid with interest, starting after a few years. In some provinces you apply through the regional development agency, elsewhere directly to RVO. A Quick Scan is recommended first.
    When
    Year-round while budget lasts; applications are handled in order of receipt.
    RVO programme page English page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • R&D and innovation · Grant (periodic rounds)

    MIT

    MKB-innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren · RVO / regional offices

    Regional / periodic
    Who it is for
    SMEs that want to run a feasibility study for an innovation or set up an R&D collaboration with another company.
    What it covers
    Feasibility projects (through the regional offices) and R&D collaboration projects; part of the project costs as a grant.
    How it works
    Feasibility applications now go only to the regional offices (for Zuid-Holland, the Den Haag region); R&D collaboration opens nationally in rounds. RVO's "Loketwijzer" tool shows which office is competent.
    When
    Periodic: at the last check the national R&D collaboration window was closed and the knowledge voucher was discontinued. New round dates are announced on the RVO page.
    RVO programme page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Investment and energy · Tax relief (investment deduction)

    EIA

    Energie-investeringsaftrek · RVO / Belastingdienst

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Companies investing in energy-saving equipment or renewable energy technology: manufacturing, logistics, real estate, hospitality included.
    What it covers
    Investments with a code on RVO's Energielijst; part of the investment is deducted from taxable profit on top of normal depreciation. Companies not yet profitable can use it too, as the deduction carries forward.
    How it works
    The investment is reported through the portal within the short period after commitment (order or contract) stated on the RVO page; RVO decides on eligibility and the deduction is applied in the corporate income tax return.
    When
    Year-round; the list is renewed every year and the list of the investment year applies.
    Note for Turkish investors
    Heat recovery, efficient motors and LED lighting in a plant equipped with machinery from Türkiye are common examples; ask before ordering, because the right is lost once the period passes.
    RVO programme page English page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Investment and energy · Tax relief (environmental investment)

    MIA / Vamil

    Milieu-investeringsaftrek / Willekeurige afschrijving milieu-investeringen · RVO / Belastingdienst

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Companies investing in environmentally friendly equipment, vehicles or facilities on the Milieulijst: electric commercial vehicles, circular production, sustainable buildings.
    What it covers
    With MIA, part of the investment is deducted from taxable profit on top of depreciation; with Vamil, most of the investment can be depreciated in a year of your choice, deferring tax. Both can be combined.
    How it works
    Like the EIA: notification to the RVO portal shortly after commitment, then application in the corporate income tax return. The asset must match the code description on the list exactly.
    When
    Year-round; the Milieulijst is updated every year.
    RVO programme page English page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Investment and energy · Operating grant (per unit produced)

    SDE++

    Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie en Klimaattransitie · RVO

    Periodic rounds
    Who it is for
    Companies producing renewable energy at scale or reducing CO2: rooftop solar plants, heat pump systems, industrial processes.
    What it covers
    A long-term payment per unit of energy produced or CO2 avoided, closing the gap between market price and cost; the operating period is supported, not the investment itself.
    How it works
    Applications are made in one yearly round, in phases set per technology; after approval, payments follow during realisation and production. Permits, a grid connection agreement and a feasibility study are needed to apply.
    When
    One round per year; dates on the RVO page.
    RVO programme page English page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Financing · Government loan guarantee

    BMKB

    Borgstelling MKB-kredieten · RVO (through the bank)

    Through your bank
    Who it is for
    SMEs with a sound plan but not enough collateral for the bank; a separate BMKB-Groen branch exists for green investments.
    What it covers
    A government guarantee for part of a bank loan; the company pays a one-off guarantee fee through the bank, and the loan terms are the bank's.
    How it works
    The company applies to the bank, not to RVO; the bank registers the loan under the BMKB with RVO. A prepared financial plan and up-to-date annual accounts shorten the process.
    When
    Continuously open; the scheme is extended until a date stated on the RVO page.
    Note for Turkish investors
    For BVs whose director or shareholder lives abroad, the bank's own acceptance process is decisive; the guarantee does not take the credit decision away from the bank.
    RVO programme page English page Related article Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Foreign markets · Grant (foreign market projects)

    DHI

    Demonstratieprojecten, Haalbaarheidsstudies en Investeringsvoorbereidingsprojecten · RVO

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Dutch-based SMEs that want to demonstrate a product abroad, study the feasibility of a foreign investment or prepare a production facility abroad.
    What it covers
    Demonstration projects, feasibility studies, investment preparation projects and market validation for young companies; part of the project costs as a grant.
    How it works
    A short quickscan goes first and RVO responds within two weeks; then the full application. Only one DHI project can run at a time. The target country must be on RVO's country list.
    When
    Open during a set period of the year while budget lasts; the period is on the RVO page.
    Note for Turkish investors
    Türkiye can be the target market: demonstrating your Dutch BV's product in Türkiye or studying an investment there is a typical use. We check the country list before every application.
    RVO programme page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Residence permit · Residence permit scheme

    Start-up residence permit and facilitator

    Verblijfsvergunning startup / facilitator · RVO (assessment) + IND (decision)

    Open for applications
    Who it is for
    Founders from outside the EU who want to start an innovative company in the Netherlands; for Turkish nationals assessed alongside the Ankara Agreement route.
    What it covers
    A one-year temporary residence permit, followed by a transition to the self-employment permit. A permit scheme, not a grant.
    How it works
    The founder agrees with an RVO-recognised facilitator and prepares a step-by-step plan; the application goes to the IND, which consults RVO on the facilitator, the innovativeness and the plan. A positive opinion on all three is required.
    When
    Continuous; the IND's statutory decision period applies.
    Note for Turkish investors
    For Turkish nationals the Ankara Agreement self-employment permit is often the more direct route; we decide which fits based on the plan.
    RVO programme page Related article Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

  • Staff · Grant (per apprentice)

    Praktijkleren

    Subsidieregeling praktijkleren · RVO

    Periodic rounds
    Who it is for
    Employers offering a practical training place to a vocational (vmbo, mbo) or hbo student; hospitality, workshops, logistics and office work included.
    What it covers
    Part of the cost of supervising the student, up to a fixed ceiling per completed placement; distributed pro rata if the budget is exceeded.
    How it works
    You apply after the school year, only within a set application window, through the RVO portal; the practical training agreement with the school and attendance records must be kept.
    When
    One window per year (summer); closed at the last check, the next window is on the RVO page.
    RVO programme page Request an eligibility check

    Last checked on RVO:

This page is general information. Conditions, budgets and dates are set by RVO and change; the binding information is on RVO's page. We can only say whether you fit a scheme after reviewing your project; the application decision and the outcome rest with RVO.

What we do

01 Scan

We listen to your plan and tell you which schemes genuinely fit and which would be a waste of time.

02 File

We prepare the project description, budget, hour-registration set-up and the documents RVO asks for, and handle eHerkenning and the portal.

03 Follow-up

Reporting after approval, hour statements and the tax return entries; we keep the calendar for the next round.

Grants & Funding

Not RVO, but related: advantages claimed in the tax return

Some support needs no application and is applied directly in the corporate or personal income tax return: the small-scale investment deduction (KIA) and the Innovatiebox, under which profit from a WBSO project is taxed at a reduced rate. These belong to the Belastingdienst and we apply them in the year-end return.

Related article: WBSO & Innovatiebox

Frequently asked questions

Can a Turkish-owned BV use Dutch incentives?

Yes. Most schemes look at whether the company is registered and active in the Netherlands, not at the shareholder's nationality. Genuine activity (office, staff, records) must be in the Netherlands; a BV that exists only on paper does not pass the assessment.

Can a newly formed BV apply?

In most schemes, yes; some, such as the WBSO and Vroegefasefinanciering, even include extra room for new companies. Some financing schemes ask for annual accounts or equity, so the incentive plan should be made while the company is being formed.

Can I apply myself?

You can; RVO takes applications through its portal with eHerkenning and most forms are in Dutch. The hard part is not the form but describing the project against RVO's criteria and setting up the records after approval; we take on those two parts.

Is the incentive granted for sure?

No. RVO assesses every application and budgets are limited. We stop you applying to a scheme that does not fit and make sure the file is complete where it does; the outcome is RVO's decision.

Next step

Which incentive fits you?

In a free 15-minute intro call we listen to your plan and name the schemes that genuinely fit and the first step.

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