Legal Notice (Colofon) Requirements for Dutch Websites

Dutch law requires business websites to display certain identification information. Unlike Germany's strict Impressumspflicht with its active enforcement and quick-shot warning letters (Abmahnungen), the Dutch system is less aggressively enforced — but the obligations exist and can result in liability if a customer, competitor, or regulator raises the issue.

The requirements come from several different laws. No single "colofon" law exists; instead, the obligations are scattered across the Services Directive, the Commercial Register Act, VAT law, and e-commerce law.

The 8 Required Elements

1. Company name and legal form

Your registered business name — exactly as it appears in the Dutch Commercial Register (Handelsregister) — must be displayed. Include the legal form: B.V., V.O.F., eenmanszaak, etc.

Legal basis: Services Directive (Dienstenwet), implemented via Article 22 of the Besluit diensten informatiesamenleving.

2. Registered address

Your official business address as registered with the KVK. For sole traders who work from home and do not want to publish their home address: you can use a registered office service address, or indicate a contact address with the note "bezoekadres op afspraak."

Legal basis: Dienstenwet Article 22; Handelsregisterwet 2007.

3. KVK number (Chamber of Commerce registration number)

The Handelsregisterwet 2007, Article 27 requires every registered business to state its KVK registration number on all "outgoing correspondence" — explicitly including websites. The maximum fine for violation is €22,500 under the Wet op de economische delicten (WED). In practice, enforcement is primarily complaint-driven and fines for website omissions are rare, but the obligation is clear.

Of 499 Dutch restaurant websites we scanned, 84% did not display their KVK number — even on contact, colofon, or impressum pages.

Where to place it: Footer of every page, or on a dedicated legal notice / contact page with a footer link.

4. VAT identification number (BTW-ID)

If you are VAT-registered, your BTW-identification number must appear on your website. This is required under the EU VAT Directive (2006/112/EC) as implemented in the Dutch VAT Act (Wet op de omzetbelasting 1968). The BTW-ID format is NL + 9 digits + B + 2 digits (e.g., NL123456789B01).

When required: If you are registered for VAT. Sole traders under the €20,000 small-business exemption (KOR) may not have a BTW-ID — in that case it cannot be required.

Note: Be careful about publishing your fiscal BSN (social security number) — sole traders whose old BTW number contains their BSN should request a BTW-ID from the Belastingdienst that does not include the BSN. This has been available since January 2020.

5. Contact information (email or phone)

A contact email address or phone number must be provided so visitors can reach you. A contact form alone is not sufficient under the Services Directive — there must be a direct contact method.

If you want to avoid publishing your email address publicly (spam risk), use a contact form but also include an email address on a dedicated colofon or contact page.

6. Professional registration or licence details (if applicable)

For regulated professions (accountants, lawyers, architects, healthcare providers, real estate agents, financial advisers), you must display:

• The professional body or register where you are registered
• Your registration number
• Any applicable professional title and where it was granted
• Reference to applicable professional conduct rules

Legal basis: Varies by profession — Wet toezicht accountantsorganisaties, Wet op de rechtsbijstand, Wtfv (financial advisers), etc.

7. VAT-exclusive prices and inclusive prices (e-commerce)

For webshops selling to consumers: prices must be displayed inclusive of VAT. Price transparency requirements also include shipping costs displayed before checkout. This falls under consumer law (Boek 6 BW) and the ACM's price transparency rules.

8. General terms and conditions (algemene voorwaarden)

While not technically part of the legal notice, general terms and conditions (T&Cs) must be made available before any contract is concluded. They must be easy to access and download. For webshops, they must be available before the purchase is completed.

Note: T&Cs are only binding if the customer was given a realistic opportunity to read them before agreeing to the contract. A link in small text at checkout visible only after clicking "Order now" is borderline — best practice is a prominent link before the order button.

Where to Place This Information

The information must be "easily accessible" — the Services Directive uses the term "without difficulty." Accepted locations:

• Footer on every page — most common and most user-friendly
• Dedicated colofon or legal notice page linked from the footer
• Contact page that includes all mandatory fields
• "About" page that doubles as a legal notice

The AP (for the GDPR requirements), the KVK, and the ACM all look first at the footer and then at linked pages. If the information exists but is buried in a PDF or requires multiple navigations to find, it may not meet the "easily accessible" standard.

Additional Requirements for Webshops (E-commerce Directive)

If you sell products or services online to consumers, additional requirements apply under the Richtlijn inzake elektronische handel (e-commerce directive) and Boek 6 BW:

• Clear identification before any purchase transaction
• Price transparency including VAT, shipping costs, and any additional fees
• Right of withdrawal (herroepingsrecht) disclosure — 14-day return right for distance selling
• Order confirmation by email immediately after purchase
• Complaints procedure — how customers can complain

Since June 19, 2026, EU Regulation 2023/2673 also requires webshops to provide a withdrawal button on the order page for digital services — a single-click mechanism to exercise the right of withdrawal. Read more in our guide on the webshop withdrawal button requirement.

Practical Implementation

Create a dedicated footer link labelled "Colofon," "Impressum," or "Legal notice" that leads to a page containing:

[Business name] — [Legal form]
KVK: [number]
BTW-ID: [number]
Address: [registered address]
Email: [contact email]
Phone: [contact phone] (optional but recommended)

[For regulated professions: professional registration details]

Add the KVK number to the footer itself so it appears on every page without requiring a click.

For webshops, additionally link to your algemene voorwaarden (T&Cs) and herroepingsbeleid (withdrawal policy) from the footer.

Comparison with Germany and Belgium

German-style warning letters (from competitors for competitors) are rare in the Netherlands. But the legal obligation is real, and a customer who cannot identify who they are dealing with may have grounds to dispute a contract, claim fraud, or complain to the ACM.

To check whether your website displays all required information, scan your website free.

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This article is technical analysis, not legal advice. Consult a lawyer for advice specific to your situation.