Startup funding in Amsterdam & the Netherlands

Dutch startup funding: WBSO, RVO early-stage and innovation credit, MIT, Amsterdam city programs and the startup visa, with conditions, deadlines and sources.

• WBSO R&D tax credit (self-employed / starter)WBSO (Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk)Self-employed 2026: S&O deduction EUR 15,979 from taxable profit, plus starter extra EUR 7,996 (2027 amounts to be published end of 2026). Employers: payroll-tax reduction 36% of first EUR 391,020 (50% for starters), 16% above; same rates announced for 2027, hourly forfait rises from EUR 29 to EUR 33Tax credit · Netherlands
• Early Phase Financing (VFF) - RVOVroegefasefinanciering (VFF)Interest-bearing loan EUR 50,000-450,000: innovative starters up to EUR 450,000 (100% of costs), small SMEs up to EUR 202,500 (45%), medium SMEs up to EUR 157,500 (35%); interest 7.71% from 1 Sep 2026; repayment starts after 3-5 yearsLoan · Netherlands
• Innovation CreditInnovatiekredietUp to 45% of project costs for small firms (35% medium, 25% large; SMEs 50% with collaboration); max EUR 10M technical / EUR 5M clinical; at least 55% from other financing. 3% fixed compound interest plus a one-off 15% (technical) / 25% (clinical) surcharge; repaid after the project from commercial resultsLoan · Netherlands
• MIT Feasibility Projects - Noord-HollandMIT Haalbaarheidsprojecten Noord-Holland35% of eligible costs, max EUR 20,000; 2026 budget EUR 2,570,400Grant · Amsterdam
• MIT R&D Collaboration ProjectsMIT R&D-samenwerkingsprojecten35% of eligible costs; small projects EUR 50,000-200,000, large projects EUR 200,000-350,000 per project (EUR 25,000-175,000 per participant)Grant · Netherlands
• Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland - VFF fundInnovatiefonds Noord-Holland Vroege Fase Financiering (VFF-NH II)Loan EUR 50,000-450,000 depending on company category (reported as convertible); fund about EUR 5M, half Rijk via RVO, half provinceLoan · Amsterdam
• Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland - PoC2 fundInnovatiefonds Noord-Holland Proof of Concept 2 (PoC2)Convertible loans from a EUR 14M+ fund (ERDF Opportunities for West 3); loan size set per project (the first round averaged about EUR 275k)Loan · Amsterdam
• Rabobank Start and Development Contribution (Noord-Holland Noord)Start- en Ontwikkelbijdrage Noord-Holland Noord (Rabobank Innovatiefonds)EUR 2,500-10,000 non-repayable contribution; most awards EUR 2,500-5,000, above EUR 5,000 only with clear scale-up potentialGrant · Netherlands
• Rabo Innovation LoanRabo InnovatieleningEUR 25,000-200,000 as two equal subordinated loans; 10% fixed interest, 7-year term, no collateral or arrangement feeLoan · Netherlands
• Startup in Residence AmsterdamTraining, coaches, workspace, city network and a chance to test with the City as launching customer; no cash amount publishedAccelerator · Amsterdam
• ACE Incubator (Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship)ACE IncubatorNo cash; training, mentoring and 2 years of follow-up support. No equity; 2% of revenue for 5 years, only in years with revenue of EUR 250k+Accelerator · Amsterdam
• Amsterdam Circular (circulator)Amsterdam CircularCost-free, equity-free chain-financing programme; funding comes via chain partners and public/private co-financiersAccelerator · Amsterdam
• Boost je Buurt (Amsterdam Impact)Boost je Buurt 2026Jury and public prizes EUR 2,500 / 5,000 / 7,500; programme place worth EUR 25,000Prize · Amsterdam
• Rockstart acceleratorRockstartInvestment from pre-seed, co-investments up to Series B; ticket size not publishedAccelerator · Amsterdam
• Dutch Start-up Residence PermitVerblijfsvergunning Startup (start-up visa)Not funding: 1-year permit, application fee EUR 423 (2026)Benefit-linked support · Netherlands
• Creative Industries Fund NL - Digital Culture Grant SchemeStimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie - Regeling Digitale cultuur 2025-2028EUR 10,000-25,000 (single applicant) or up to EUR 50,000 with project partners; 20% co-financing required; EUR 650,000 per grant periodGrant · Netherlands

Facts are checked against official sources; each program page shows the verification date and sources. Orientation, not an eligibility decision.