How long am I required to keep documents?

Dutch law addresses the mandatory retention period for documents in various places. We briefly explain the most important types.

Businesses and organizations are required by the tax authorities to retain their basic records (such as invoices and bank statements) for seven years. Data on real estate, loans, etc. is required to be retained for ten years, as is data related to subsidies. It's advisable to check with your own trade association for the latest information. They will also be aware of any industry-specific exceptions.

There's no legal requirement for private individuals, but the tax authorities can impose additional assessments for up to five years. It's helpful to still have your records. Proofs of purchase are also useful for guarantees and insurance policies. It's also wise to permanently retain birth certificates, diplomas, marriage certificates, divorce papers, proof of purchase for major purchases, and wills.

Do you want to be sure that your archive is properly digitised? In a professional manner and tailored to your wishes and possibilities? Then we invite you to get acquainted with the archiving solutions of De Nationale Archiefkluis, the archive expert in the Netherlands.

Feel free to call us or send us a message via the contact form.

Advice  Think carefully in advance about the necessity of digitizing the existing archives and make a selection in (1) Necessary, (2) Desired or (3) Not necessary. This will save you a lot of time and money later on.