Checklist transferring an agricultural business

1. Determine which situation applies to you

There are different types of business transfers. Determine which situation applies to you (in Dutch) and what you need to arrange in that situation. If you stop your business (business cessation) or the manager dies (in Dutch), you will still need to report changes but not all steps will apply.

2. Report the changes to KVK

The steps you need to take will depend on the situation. Will you take over the company, or are you transferring the company? Or are you changing the legal structure of the company? KVK explains what to do in each situation. Once the change is processed in the Business Register, KVK will give the company a new KVK number.

View when taking over or transferring a company and report your change on KVK.nl.

3. Apply for a new eHerkenning

Arrange a new eHerkenning with level 2+ or 3. You can find all suppliers on eHerkenning.nl. Do not forget to cancel your old eHerkenning if you no longer need it.

Read more about applying for eHerkenning.

4. Arrange a new relation number with RVO

You need a new RVO relation number. To do this, log onto mijn.rvo.nl with your new KVK number and your new eHerkenning. At the top of the page, click on ‘Inloggen’ on mijn.rvo.nl. RVO will then register your data.

Read more about your agricultural registration (in Dutch) at RVO.nl.

5. Arrange an authorisation for RVO

You can authorise (machtigen) yourself on behalf of your old company. Arrange an authorisation with RVO for the deregistered KVK number. This way you can update details for 1 year and view the old file for 5 years.

Read more about authorising someone or being authorised (in Dutch) on RVO.nl.

6. Report the transfer or termination of the agricultural business to RVO

Is your authorisation with RVO active? Then report the change in the company to RVO. You have 30 days to do this after KVK has removed the old KVK number from the Business Register. You report the change using the form Melding overdracht of beëindiging agrarisch bedrijf (in Dutch) on RVO.nl.

In the RVO article Stappenplan agrarisch bedrijf overdragen (in Dutch), you can read which steps to follow under step 6. Also read the points of attention (in Dutch) for more information on filling in the form. And on what else you need to arrange separately from the form. RVO will process your change within 6 weeks.

7. Buyer signs the notification

Is someone taking over your business? Then that party has to sign the business transfer notification. The buying party will receive an e-mail about this.

8 Pass on your new details to others

You should also pass on your new details to others:

9. Arrange new authorisations with RVO

Did you authorise people to act on your behalf that used the old relation number at RVO? Re-authorise the appropriate people on behalf of the new company. If you saved your authorisations in step 5, you can use them now. Read more about authorising someone or being authorised (in Dutch) on RVO.nl.