Want to cancel your lease and request a postal address?

Questioner

Hello, My situation: Starting next year, I will be traveling and working abroad for 6 months a year. I am terminating my lease for that period in the Netherlands and that means that I am requesting a letter address for that period, which is accepted by the government services. Please note that this is a letter address, so NOT a postal address or PO box. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/gemeenten/question-en-answer/kan-ik-een-briefadres- Krijgen-als-ik-geen-vast-woonadres-heb I am a freelancer and am registered with the Chamber of Commerce at my current home address. Now the Chamber of Commerce says that they do not accept the temporary postal address as a registration address, while I read on various forums that this is simply possible. I don't feel like renting an office building for 6 months that I won't be using anyway. My questions: Is it true that the Chamber of Commerce can refuse my official postal address? And if this is the case, what are my options to remain registered for the 6 months per year that I do not live in the Netherlands?

Lawyer

It is true that the Chamber of Commerce may refuse your official postal address. The Chamber of Commerce requires a business address, because that is where the work is carried out and it must be clear to third parties that they can also go there in the event of complaints, for example. That is not possible at a postal address . As far as I know there are no options to remain registered for the 6 months.

Questioner

Thanks, on a forum where I also asked this question I got the following answer: 'The most convenient thing is to establish your company at the address of a friend or family member. This must be done with permission (see previous response), but this person does not have to have anything formally to do with your company.' So this could also be at the address that I use as a postal address for the GBA/BRP, or am I wrong?

Lawyer

A postal address serves as a temporary solution to only receive your mail etc. at that address, but is therefore not in fact a business address as required by the Chamber of Commerce. If the family member or person has no objection to this, you can officially register as a freelancer at that address. Please note that in the event of any debts or bankruptcy of that person, you will also be held responsible and vice versa.

Lawyer

In addition to the above: with a postal address you temporarily register at the address of an acquaintance. This change of the BAG (Basic Administration) is automatically shared with the Chamber of Commerce. If you send a simple change of address to the Chamber of Commerce after this change, your business address will be changed to the registration address, i.e. your postal address. To my knowledge, having the same (postal) address does not automatically imply a mixing of property rights, but it will be important to be able to continue to demonstrate the separation of property and obligations.

Questioner

This is what I was looking for. Thanks and hopefully this will help someone else.