The client due diligence that we are legally required to carry out usually takes 10 business days. This therefore does not refer to the period until the execution (incorporation) of the legal entity itself, but solely to the completion of this preliminary review. Due to the sharp increase in the number of applications, this phase is currently also taking (much) longer than usual. At present, we expect a processing time of 20 to 30 business days before we can inform you whether, and within what timeframe, we are able to take on your file.

We understand that this is not what you expected and that a swift incorporation may be important to you. Nevertheless, we choose to take this additional time: this ensures that the care and quality of your file remain safeguarded, even now that demand is higher than ever.

This client due diligence applies to every file, regardless of the current workload, and is part of the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft). Without completion of this review, we are not permitted to take on a file. This is not a choice made by our office, but a statutory obligation that applies to every civil-law notary. Only after completion of the client due diligence can further preparation of the incorporation, including the drafting and execution of the deed, begin.

If the client resides abroad and does not have a sufficient command of the Dutch language, the processing time for the client due diligence is in practice often even longer. This relates to two factors: the review is generally more extensive for foreign clients, partly because additional identification and verification steps are required, and an interpreter or certified translator may be required at the signing of the deed if the client is unable to understand the content of the deed independently. We advise clients in this situation to take this into account early in the process and to discuss it with our office in good time.

Would you like the incorporation of your foundation to be completed this calendar year? Then your application must be received by us in full no later than 15 October 2026. For clients who reside abroad and/or do not have a sufficient command of the Dutch language, we strongly recommend contacting us well ahead of this date, given the additional processing time that is typically required in these situations. After 15 October 2026, we can no longer guarantee completion in 2026.

What you can do to minimise delays: please submit the requested information and documents as completely as possible with your application. This prevents delays caused by follow-up questions on our part, both for the client due diligence and for the further handling of your file.

Do you have an urgent situation or specific questions about your application? Please feel free to contact us at 0320-247394 or info@stichtingoprichten.nl, and we will look together at what is possible.

Thank you for your understanding and for placing your trust in our office!