Startup Grants in the Netherlands: What's Available and How to Apply

The Netherlands has one of Europe's better systems for non-dilutive startup funding. The programs are real, the amounts are meaningful, and they're underused by founders who assume government money is too complicated to be worth pursuing. It usually isn't. Here's what's available and how to get it.

WBSO: Tax Relief on R&D Costs

The WBSO (Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk) is the most widely used R&D incentive in the Netherlands. It's not a grant — it's a reduction in payroll tax on hours spent on qualifying R&D work. For most tech startups, that means a meaningful reduction in the cost of your engineering team.

How it works

You submit an application to RVO declaring your R&D activities and the hours your team will spend on them. If approved, you receive a reduction in the payroll tax you remit to the Belastingdienst. The savings for 2026 are approximately 32% on the first €350,000 of qualifying R&D costs, and 16% above that.

For a startup with three engineers earning €70,000 each and spending 80% of their time on qualifying R&D, the annual benefit is roughly €50,000–€60,000. That's real money at the early stage.

What qualifies

• Development of new software that involves technical novelty (not just feature development)
• Research into new processes or materials
• Prototyping with technical uncertainty

Standard product development does not qualify. Your activities need to involve genuine technical challenges where the outcome is uncertain. Work with an advisor or your accountant to frame your application correctly — the wording matters.

How to apply

Applications are filed via the RVO portal (rvo.nl). You can apply up to three times per year. Processing takes four to eight weeks. Start your first application as soon as you have employees — there's no benefit to waiting.

MIT: Innovation Credits for SMEs

The MIT (MKB Innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren) scheme is aimed at small and medium enterprises working within one of the Dutch top sectors (agri-food, energy, high-tech, life sciences, logistics, and several others).

Haalbaarheidsprojecten (Feasibility)

Grants of up to €20,000 (covering 40% of costs) for feasibility studies — market research, technical validation, or economic analysis of a new innovation. If you're still validating your technology or business model, this can fund that work.

R&D Samenwerkingsprojecten (Collaboration)

Larger grants for collaborative R&D projects between at least two SMEs or between an SME and a knowledge institution. Projects can receive €50,000–€350,000, covering 35%–50% of costs. If you have a university partnership or can structure one, this is worth exploring.

MIT applications open at specific windows during the year. Check the RVO website for the current schedule. Applications are competitive and oversubscribed in popular top sectors.

Innovatiekrediet

The Innovatiekrediet is a loan, not a grant — but it's a loan on favorable terms for companies developing a technical product that is too risky for commercial banks to finance.

What it provides

Loans between €150,000 and €5 million for clinical or technical development projects. The interest rate is above commercial rates (typically 5–10%), and repayment kicks in once the project completes. The key advantage is that if the project fails commercially, the loan can be partially forgiven.

Who it's for

This is best suited for companies with a well-defined technical development project — a medical device, an industrial process, a complex software system — where there's a clear endpoint and a commercial path. Biotech and medtech startups are the most natural fit, but industrial software and climate tech companies also qualify.

Regional Grants

Beyond the national programs, most Dutch provinces and municipalities run their own grant schemes. These are smaller (typically €10,000–€75,000) but often less competitive.

• Gemeente Amsterdam: Innovatiegeld Amsterdam for early-stage companies based in Amsterdam
• Province of North Holland: Various programs under the Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling (EFRO)
• InnovationQuarter (South Holland): Funding and acceleration programs for companies in the Rotterdam/The Hague region
• Oost NL: Regional development agency for Gelderland and Overijssel with its own grant programs

These programs change frequently. Check with your local economic development agency or the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) for current availability.

Horizon Europe

The EU's Horizon Europe program offers EIC Accelerator grants of up to €2.5 million (non-dilutive grant) plus optional equity investment for deep-tech startups with European operations. The application process is long (6–12 months from first submission to decision) and the competition is intense, but the amounts are large enough to meaningfully extend runway.

The EIC Accelerator is best suited for companies with a clearly defined technological breakthrough, some validation, and the capacity to manage a complex application process. Budget for external support — it helps.

Practical Tips

Start with WBSO. It requires the least effort relative to benefit and is accessible from your first employees. There's no good reason to delay.

Work with a subsidy advisor for anything above €50k. The Dutch subsidy ecosystem is large enough that specialists exist who work on contingency (taking a percentage of what you receive). For MIT and Innovatiekrediet applications, this is often worth it.

Document your R&D activities. For WBSO and most other R&D schemes, you need contemporaneous records of the hours worked and the technical problems addressed. A lightweight timekeeping system from day one saves enormous pain at audit time.

Apply even if you're uncertain about eligibility. RVO advisors are generally helpful and will give you a preliminary view before you invest in a full application. Use the phone.

Stack programs where possible. WBSO and MIT subsidies can often be combined. EU grants can layer on top of Dutch national programs in many cases. A good subsidy advisor will know which combinations are permissible.