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As a student organisation, you have the possibility to register as a legal entity. This is useful to gain a more official status at the university, which allows you to apply for various grants and funding. However, it will also require you to take up serious responsibilities, register through a notary, provide financial and organisational stability, …
⭐ Some of the official government information on these topics is only available in Dutch. Therefore, it is beneficial to have a Dutch-speaking member on your board. If that is not the case, approach the Student Initiative Helpdesk Coordinator for assistance.
Legal registration of your initiative can take up quite some time and energy. Be aware that you are perfectly allowed to operate as an initiative in Maastricht without legal registration. However, registration has several benefits and you should decide if and when you want to start operating as a legally registered entity. The following page will help you with your choice:
When and why is it useful to register
Once you have decided that it is the right time to register, you have to choose which legal entity fits your organisation best. Most student initiatives choose to register as one of the two legal entities - association (vereniging) or foundation (stichting). The registration for both is similar, but the form you choose will have consequences on how your initiative has to be led and how it has to operate. Below you can find an overview of the differences between a foundation and an association. The second page explains what consequences your choice of organisational form has on legality and liability.
Association or foundation - what am I?
Liability and what to do about it
Depending on the type of organisation and its jurisdiction you choose, the steps differ. Below the general milestones are presented that you will need to reach as an organisation.
| Association with full jurisdiction | Association with limited jurisdiction | Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Visit notary and ask for an association with full jurisdiction (notary registers organisation with KvK) | Step 1: Register with KvK | Step 1: Visit notary to found a foundation (notary registers organisations at the KvK) |
| Step 2: Can open business bank account | Step 2: Open bank account with addition in name "regarding Organisation Name" | Step 2: Can open business bank account |
| Step 3: Are now eligible for board months and UM Promotion fund (when fulfilling requirements) and other funds | Step 3: Can request subsidies | Step 3: Are now eligible for board months and UM Promotion fund (when fulfilling requirements) and other funds |
When you choose to register as a foundation or association with full jurisdiction, you will have to visit a notary who will help you form the statutes of your organisation. It is very helpful if you already have a clear view of the core rules, goals and purpose of your organisation. While much of the statues is a standardised legal document, certain elements are essential to be very specifically adjusted to your initiative. On the following page, you can read about how to formulate statutes.