Website Rules in the Netherlands
Dutch websites must comply with the AVG (GDPR), Telecommunicatiewet, the European Accessibility Act, and display KVK registration details. The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens actively enforces cookie and privacy rules.
Data protection authority:
Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens
(AP)
Requirements
6
country-specific rules
Guides
9
guides available
Specific requirements for Netherlands
KVK number display
Every Dutch business must display their KVK (Kamer van Koophandel) registration number on their website, emails and invoices. Required by the Handelsregisterwet 2007.
BTW-ID (not BTW-nummer) for ZZP'ers
Since 2020, sole proprietors (eenmanszaak/ZZP) must use their BTW-identificatienummer on their website, not the old BTW-nummer which contained their BSN.
Cookie consent (Telecommunicatiewet)
The Dutch Telecommunicatiewet requires informed consent for non-essential cookies. The AP has issued warnings and fines to websites that set tracking cookies before consent.
Privacy policy (AVG)
Every website processing personal data needs an accessible privacy policy covering data collection, legal basis, data processors, retention periods and visitor rights.
EAA / Digital Accessibility (ACM)
The European Accessibility Act is enforced in the Netherlands by the ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt). Websites must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
E-commerce: Koop op Afstand
Online sellers must comply with "Koop op Afstand" (distance selling) rules: 14-day withdrawal right, clear pricing including BTW, delivery terms before checkout.
Enforcement in Netherlands
In 2024, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens fined Clearview AI €30.5 million for building an illegal facial recognition database. For smaller businesses, the AP issued a €525,000 fine to a company for fingerprinting website visitors without consent, and warned hundreds of websites about cookie banners that don't meet requirements.
Official resources
Guides for Netherlands
GDPR Fines for Small Businesses: Real Cases and Amounts
Real GDPR fines for small businesses run from about 1,000 to 50,000 EUR. See published regulator decisions, what triggers enforcement and how to avoid it.
GDPR Compliance Checklist for Your Website (2026)
A practical GDPR checklist for small business websites. Check cookies, privacy policy, consent forms, and tracking scripts.
Does the European Accessibility Act Apply to Your Business?
The EAA became enforceable in June 2025. Find out if it applies to your business, what it requires and what happens if you don't comply.
Do I Need a Cookie Banner? EU Decision Guide
Simple decision guide for EU businesses: when does your website actually need a cookie banner? Three questions to find out, with the legal basis explained.
Are Copytrack and PicRights Claims Legitimate? (EU Guide)
How to verify whether a Copytrack or PicRights copyright claim is legitimate under EU law: the mandate test, the originality test and what to do next.
Contact Form GDPR Requirements: Article 13 Compliance
What a GDPR-compliant contact form needs: Article 13 information, the right legal basis (legitimate interest vs precontractual), unchecked boxes, retention.
Google Analytics and GDPR: Is GA4 Legal in the EU? (2026)
Can you use Google Analytics 4 in the EU? The consent requirement, the EU-US DPF transfer mechanism, Consent Mode v2 limits and cookieless alternatives.
How Much Does a Copyright Claim Actually Cost? (EU)
How much a copyright claim costs in the EU: real settlement ranges for Getty Images, Copytrack and PicRights demands plus what drives the price up or down.
Product Liability Directive 2024/2853: 9 Dec 2026
Directive (EU) 2024/2853 makes software and AI 'products' for strict liability on 9 Dec 2026. What it means for SMBs, and what it does not change.
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