Introduction to trust offices and Act on the Supervision of Trust Offices (Wtt)

Factsheet

Read aloud

Under the Act on the Supervision of Trust Offices it is forbidden to provide trust services without a licence. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) may grant a licence if requested and is responsible for the supervision of trust offices.

Published: 09 October 2012

Without a licence it is forbidden under the Wtt:

to operate as a trust office in the Netherlands

for any entity with its seat outside the Netherlands to operate as a trust office by providing services to the Netherlands without a licence from DNB

to perform activities relating to the provision of trust services by a trust office that has its seat in a non-designated State and that does not have a licence from DNB

Under the Wtt DNB is responsible for supervising and licensing trust offices. In order to determine whether proposed activities require a licence, it first has to be decided whether the activities constitute trust services. The activities are not allowed to be performed until a licence has been granted.

Information on applying for a licence as a trust office

Vergunning trustkantoren – overzichtspagina

Authorisation, yes or no?

Licence: yes or no?

What are trust services?

Providing trust services in a professional capacity or on a commercial basis

Exemption from the licence requirement

Applying for authorisation

Licence application form including explanatory notes

Application process (10 steps)

Application process timeline

Application fees

How to apply successfully

Background information

Prohibition on operating as a trust office without a licence

Public register

Statutory framework governing market access for trust offices

Discover related articles

Factsheet

Integrity & sanctions

Market access

Trust offices

Share:

Share on LinkedIn

Share on X

Share on Facebook

Share via Email

Interesting articles

De Nederlandsche Bank publishes ‘Integrity Supervision in Focus 2026’

25 June 2026

News item supervision

In the third edition of ‘Integrity Supervision in Focus’ (ISF), we share the key insights from our integrity supervision.

Read more
De Nederlandsche Bank publishes ‘Integrity Supervision in Focus 2026’

News item supervision

25 June 2026

Update FATF-warning lists June 2026

23 June 2026

News item supervision

FATF released an update of its ‘grey’ and ‘black’ lists.

Read more
Update FATF-warning lists June 2026

News item supervision

23 June 2026

Eurosystem presents proposals to strengthen macroprudential oversight of the non bank financial sector

05 May 2026

News item supervision

The Eurosystem has published policy proposals aimed at strengthening the macroprudential oversight of the non bank financial intermediation (NBFI) sector. The proposals seek to improve the identification and mitigation of risks to financial stability.

Read more
Eurosystem presents proposals to strengthen macroprudential oversight of the non bank financial sector

News item supervision

05 May 2026

Update FATF-warning lists October 2025

28 October 2025

News item supervision

FATF released an update of its ‘grey’ and ‘black’ lists.

Read more
Update FATF-warning lists October 2025

News item supervision

28 October 2025